Best Meditation Centers In The Pittsburgh Area
Summer is in full swing, and with that comes a schedule virtually bursting with kids activities, vacation, work, play and every other kind of commitment under the sun. Fortunately for you, you live in the Steel City, which is an epicenter of culture and variety, so along with the chaos, you can also find peace. Meditation is a great way to de-stress, unwind and recharge your batteries. In this list, you'll find the five best meditation and yoga centers in Pittsburgh, many of which are free or low-cost for residents.
Yoga Matrika
401 Biddle Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
(412) 855-5692
www.yogamatrika.com
Not to be confused with the traditional perception of yoga, which is designed for greater flexibility and weight loss, Yoga Matrika is a far greater concept. Developed to connect women to the most inner part of their mind's eye, Yoga Matrika is the institution to visit to effectively manage stress, enhance fertility and embolden your personal meditation techniques. A free, completely no-obligation consultation awaits you, and convenient appointment times are readily available to fit around your busy schedule.
Olmo Ling Bon Center & Institute
1101 Greenfield Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 904-1112
www.olmoling.org
Preserving the ancient teachings of Tibet's Bon tradition, Olmo Ling is a religious educational non-profit organization that hosts weekly meditation, yoga, Ngondro and Sidpa Gyamo practices. Bon chant classes are also available and most sessions are free; the center only asks for a nominal fee or donation to help support the initiatives. If you're new to the Bon concept, it means "boundlessness" and examines the spiritual tradition and ancient culture of the Zhang-Zhung Civilization of Tibet.
Pittsburgh Sahaja Meditation
Sewickley Public Library
500 Thorn St.
Sewickley, PA 15143
(412) 527-5627
www.pittsburghsahajameditation.com
Date: Saturdays at 11 a.m.
Sahaja Meditation provides simple techniques to awaken your inner energy and relax the mind to submerge yourself in a deep tranquility and peace. Through Sahaja, one can learn how to diagnose and decode one's inner state, and also learn simple cleansing techniques to rebalance. You may choose to learn these techniques through the website, or join of Sahaja's various meetings in locales throughout the city to build relationships and strengthen your own meditation abilities.
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Pittsburgh Shambhala Meditation Center
733 N. Highland Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
(412) 345-1759
www.pittsburgh.shambhala.org
This one-of-a-kind personal enlightenment center offers group meditation, yoga, meditation for those struggling with addiction and Buddhist philosophy discussion. Sessions are free, though donations are accepted, and any and all abilities are welcome. Retreats are also regularly scheduled and are a great way to deepen your understanding of your personal meditation experience and meet likeminded community members. If interested, you may also certify to teach other students the principles of Dorje Kasung.
Stillpoint
137 41st St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
(412) 578-0111
www.stillpointzen.org
Such an apropos name for a zen community, Stillpoint offers introductions to zazen (seated meditation), Sunday services, monthly day-long sittings, retreats and educational seminars by visiting instructors. For those who are out-of-town or cannot easily access Stillpoint's center, a Yahoo community is available for support, building connections and general meditation practice information. Visit Stillpoint's website for continually updated retreat info, membership details and practice schedules.
Related: Best Yoga Retreats In The US
Nikki Tiani-Moroney is a full time mum of two boys, wife of a professional poker player/photographer/amateur pencil-sharpening competitor and writer from Pittsburgh, PA. When she isn't studiously neglecting her housework in favor of a good book, she's out simultaneously fighting crime and picking up sidewalk litter while savoring an occasional cigarette. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
