“Have you tried meditating?”… This question, often considered cliché these days and seen across social media, can sometimes be the definitive solution to our problems. Breath in, hold and exhale. These three actions done consciously might be what we need to alleviate the stress of daily life. Fortunately, you don’t have to go on a retreat to India or the desert to achieve this, as our city offers several places to disconnect. Let’s discover the top 10 meditation spots in Los Angeles.
1. Zen Center Los Angeles
Zen Meditation Center of Los Angeles (ZCLA), founded by Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi in 1967, is a beacon of serenity in the heart of the city. Operating in the White Plum lineage, ZCLA offers a rich daily schedule of zazen, Buddhist services, and work practice.
Its diverse programs cater to all levels, from introductory classes and workshops to intensive sesshin and training periods. Personal guidance from Abbot Wendy Egyoku Nakao and other esteemed teachers enriches the experience, making ZCLA a must-visit for anyone seeking profound meditation in Los Angeles.
📍 Location: 923 S. Normandie Ave, Los Angeles 90006
🧘 Services: Classes, trainings, meditation retreats
2. InsightLA
InsightLA stands out as a premier meditation center in Los Angeles, renowned for its non-profit commitment to mindfulness and compassion practices. With over 20 years of experience, they offer a unique blend of secular, evidenced-based mindfulness training and traditional Buddhist teachings within the Vipassana or Insight tradition.
Whether you’re new to meditation or seeking to deepen your practice, InsightLA provides a supportive community and expert guidance to help you cultivate peace and mindfulness in your life.
📍 Location: 9940 Westwanda Drive Beverly Hills CA 90210
🧘 Services: Retreats, Buddhist teachings, practice groups
3. Kadampa Meditation Center
Kadampa Meditation Center Hollywood, a modern Buddhist temple and Meditation Center nestled in the heart of Los Feliz, offers classes on inner peace, modern Kadampa Buddhism, and meditation.
This center, realized through Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s vision since 1977, has expanded the New Kadampa Tradition across America, inviting visitors to experience the peace of mind that meditation brings.
📍 Location: 4953 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
🧘 Services: Monthly Open House + tours, guided meditation and refreshments.
4. UCLA Health’s Mindfulness Education Center
UCLA MARC (Mindful Awareness Research Center) is committed to advancing mindful awareness through research and education in Los Angeles. They offer a range of meditation classes, workshops, and mindfulness skill teachings.
The center hosts specialized events like Mindfulness in the Workplace and Youth Mindfulness, all facilitated by experts in the field. Whether you’re interested in brief drop-in meditation sessions or comprehensive six-week courses, UCLA MARC provides numerous options for deepening your meditation practice and enhancing overall well-being.
📍 Location: 740 Westwood Plaza Room C8-237, Los Angeles, CA 90095
🧘 Services: Free guided meditations, classes, events
5. Self-Realization Fellowship
Founded in 1925 in Los Angeles by Paramahansa Yogananda, the renowned author of Autobiography of a Yogi, the Self-Realization Fellowship invites visitors to explore the serene grounds of its international headquarters at Mount Washington, the Hollywood Temple & Ashram Center, and the Lake Shrine Temple & Retreat in Pacific Palisades.
📍 Locations:
- 4860 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- 3880 San Rafael Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90065
- 17080 Sunset Blvd. Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
🧘 Services: Introductory meditation classes, group meditation, Hatha Yoga class
6. Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens
Nestled in West Adams, Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a “spiritual oasis in the city,” welcoming visitors to walk its stone labyrinth or meditate in lush gardens. This meditation center in Los Angeles, with Italian Renaissance-style architecture, reflects the heritage of original owner Secundo Guasti, a pioneer in California winemaking.
Tours are free with advance reservations, while returning visitors can skip the tour and simply enjoy the tranquil surroundings.
📍 Location: 3500 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018
🧘 Services: Talks, sound baths and yoga classes
7. Hare Krishna Cultural Center
Established in 1970 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the ISKCON Los Angeles temple serves as the Western World Headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Every Sunday, the temple hosts the Sunday Love Feast, a community open house that includes kirtan (call-and-response chanting) starting at 10am, an aarti ceremony at noon, a lecture, and prasadam—a free vegetarian feast. For those interested in meditation in Los Angeles, ISKCON also provides a serene environment for spiritual practice and reflection.
📍 Location: 3764 Watseka Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034
🧘 Services: Workshops, Bhakti yoga classes, festivals and celebrations
8. Forest Bathing
Officially known as the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, The Arboretum offers “Forest Bathing: Second Sundays at Sunset” each month.
This guided experience immerses participants in the tranquility of the Arboretum’s trees, plants, and wildlife, providing a serene way to meditate in L.A. and reset for the week ahead. Open to ages 12 and up, the cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Register on The Arboretum’s website.
📍 Location: 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
9. The Sound Bath Center
Immerse yourself in a sonic massage with a sound bath, where the soothing vibrations of crystal singing bowls, gongs, flutes, wind chimes, and more envelop you in a meditative experience that lingers within your body for days.
A sound bath, also known as “sound meditation,” “sound healing,” or “sound therapy,” involves a practitioner playing musical instruments to relax the body and calm the mind. Participants typically lie down with closed eyes, allowing themselves to be enveloped by the therapeutic sounds.
📍 Location: 4688 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
🧘 Services: Gong play, theta beats and breath work sound lab.
10. Floating
Floating is a weekly outdoor arts series for all ages, harmonizing soundscape and landscape to create unique meditative experiences in LA. Each gathering features curated performances and activities such as meditation, sound baths, and scenic hikes. Recent venues include the Audubon Center at Debs Park, Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, and Vasquez Rocks.
📆 Upcoming events: feelslikefloating.com