Free Online Meditation Resources for Times of Social Distancing / COVID-19
As each of us faces a unique set of challenges related to COVID-19, it’s our hope to be supportive to you in the coming days and weeks as a source for inspiration, practices, and community connection.
There are a lot of free teachings, practices, and other resources being shared online by compassionate teachers and organizations. Here, we aim to keep an updated list for you.
May you find all the forms of support that you need to take care of yourself, your loved ones, and your community.
Free Mindfulness Resources to Find Calm and Nourish Resilience During the COVID Outbreak — Mindful
Whether you’re looking for live guided meditations connecting you to others, a quick practice to help you find your ground, or a free course on how to meditate, here’s how the Mindful community is coming together to serve during this time.
Resilience in Challenging Times, A Care Package — Sounds True
Video sessions, webinars, group meditations & meetups, and other free digital resources.
Recorded Online Practice Sessions — Tricycle
During the early days of the pandemic, Tricycle hosted live meditations with teachers such as Jack Kornfield, Pema Chödrön, Sharon Salzberg, and others to help ease anxiety. Recordings of all of these sessions, and many more, are available on Tricycle’s YouTube channel. Tricycle has also created a series of short practices and other relevant resources.
Daily Mindfulness and Compassion Meditations — The UCSD Center for Mindfulness, The Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, and Compassion Institute
Daily live streams and recordings of mindfulness and compassion sessions and other online resources.
Meditate Together — Mindful Leader
Free 30 minute drop-in online group meditation sessions, on the hour, 24 hours a day, every weekday from Monday to Friday.
Transforming Obstacle into Opportunity — Tricycle / Andrew Holecek
A special online workshop led by Andrew Holecek in response to the coronavirus pandemic, by donation. This series on Transforming Obstacle into Opportunity will help you understand what’s happening in the world—and within yourself—and how to bring it onto the spiritual path. The bardo teachings help us work with our mind when forced to “shelter within.” They help us transform contraction into openness and replace defensive reactivity with kindness.
Being Resilient During Coronavirus — Dr. Rick Hanson
A short video message, guided practice, 45 minute podcast episode, weekly Live sessions, and other resources. Dr. Hanson also offered a meditation and talk specifically for healthcare professionals, which you can watch here and here.
Guide to Well-Being During Coronavirus — Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley
Practices, resources, and articles for individuals, parents, and educators facing COVID-19.
Practicing in a Pandemic — Tricycle
Six new practices, plus a live talk series, and other timely resources for Buddhist practitioners.
Free Resources for the Global Health Crisis — Shambhala Publications
Free ebooks, an online course, and lots of free videos from Shambhala Pubs authors, including Pema Chödrön. Plus an updated calendar featuring a variety of online events, talks, and retreats is posted here.
Daily Free Live-Online Community Practice — Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Mindfulness and Compassion
Over 20 CMC teachers are coming together to offer sessions in mindful movement; bringing kindness to our stress, anxiety, grief and fear; supporting caregiving during this difficult time, and expressing appreciation and love for each other. In addition to the daily live sessions, there are a number of audio recordings.
Coronavirus Sanity Guide — Dan Harris / Ten Percent Happier
Daily live practice sessions w/ Q&A, plus podcasts, blog posts, meditations and talks.
Pandemic Care Resources — Tara Brach
A wealth of talks and guided practices, including some specific to the pandemic, as well as a free half-day home retreat. Tara also leads a weekly class each Wednesday night at 7:30 eastern time live on Facebook and Youtube.
Responding Wisely to Coronavirus — Wisdom Labs
Offered free for the next 90 days, an app including lessons and practices to navigate fear and anxiety, and a virtual community platform featuring a weekly 30-minute gathering for social connection and skill-building to navigate the COVID-19 crisis.
How to Work with Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic — NICABM
Three therapists share ways to help clients reduce anxiety and find some relief from ruminating thoughts.
Healthy Minds Program – Free Mindfulness App — Dr. Richard Davidson / Center for Healthy Minds
Neuroscience-backed meditation app / training program. By donation.
10 Days of Happiness — Action for Happiness
A free 10-day online coaching program which guides you through daily actions for happier living. “The Covid-19 pandemic brings big challenges for our mental health, whether you’re isolating at home or trying to live with the new restrictions. This program can help you cope and find a little more happiness in these difficult times.”
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche message on COVID-19 outbreak — Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche shares his thoughts on the coronavirus outbreak around the world and offers an inspiring message to all those learning to live with awareness, compassion, and wisdom.
Creating a Home Retreat: Finding Freedom Wherever You Are — Tara Brach
A heartfelt message from Tara Brach in response to the coronavirus pandemic, guidelines and advice for creating a home retreat, and a link to a free half-day program (below)
Free Half-Day At-Home Mindfulness Retreat — Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield / Sounds True
The material is divided into three segments of approximately 45 minutes each. With the scheduled breaks and walking meditation sessions, you will need a little more than three hours to complete this retreat.
Mindfulness Daily — Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield / Sounds True
A free 40-day mindfulness course led by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. Each session is 15 minutes or less, and includes a short talk and guided meditation, as well as instructions for bringing your practice alive throughout the day.
Guided Compassion Meditation For Anxiety — Ethan Nichtern
A practice and contemplation about what you can do for yourself and others during this time of pandemic and social distancing.
Daily Live Online Group Meditation — Mind Oasis
The nonprofit Mind Oasis (MindOasis.org) has opened all Community Meditation sessions to the public for free, at least through June. Community Meditation sessions are live, friendly and led by meditation guides, and happen every weekday at 7, 8, 9, and 10 am ET; Saturday and Sunday at 9 am ET; and Tuesday and Thursday at 9 pm ET.
Free Mindfulness Apps Worthy of Your Attention — Mindful
Recommendations and reviews of five free meditation apps.
Let us know if there’s anything we haven’t included here yet that you’re finding helpful!
Travis Newbill earned his MFA in creative writing and poetics from the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University. He is the author of many poems & innumerable sentences for The Awake Network which all basically say the same thing: I hope this helps. Travis lives in Santa Cruz.
thank you so much for sharing this information.
SHAMBHAVI MAHAMUDRA
This is an amazing collection. I’m looking for a long covid meditation. Anything out there? many thanks
The quality of the product is good and statisfied.
Can’t connect to Mindfulness for Challenging times. Never received a password. Just an ID. For Monday at 3:30. ID was 98444592204.
Thank you. Gladys Diener
Hi there, there is also another site for free online meditation everyday. A total of 8 different free meditation classes held on a weekly basis. Free RSVPs at onlinemeditationevents.com
Hi. forgot the ones from the center for mindful self compassion. they offer live guided self compassion meditations 4x daily.
based on the work of germer and neff.
Hi, I am the lead developer and designer of a new platform which offers free Zoom meditations every Tuesday and Saturday. There’s a full list of meditations available on the site, and they are all displayed in your local time. It’s called Manifest Nirvana, I hope that some of you will find it useful: https://www.manifest-nirvana.com
I have explained the emotional state of Dhamma in each step. Reasonably detailed in which the practitioner knows that himself Where and How to practice? If any practitioner stuck somewhere in practice. Can write a question (Facebook at below). I will explain it to you. With suggestions Which I see that. If someone has recommended the right way will not waste time practicing.
Thanks, admin permission. (Phra Chaiwat Chayawatno Phickhu)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GU2vktq-BA
thanks for this list
Hello! Thank you for this list it is immensely helpful. I found a twitch stream that has meditation sessions twice a day along with open conversations. It has helped me stay grounded during this quarantine and feel supported. Please check it out if you have a second. The entire program is also run by this non-profit youth foundation and the people that help run it are amazing. There is one girl who has a long fight against depression after her brother got shot due to gang violence and her mom overdosed a few years after. She tried taking her life several times and ended up in the hospital, but is now with this foundation and helping run their program. Her story is incredible. They also do these longer streams on Thursdays and I learn a lot from them as well. Anyway, here is the link, they have a schedule if you scroll down on their page: https://www.twitch.tv/inspirehouse
Not sure if this qualifies but there is a Taoist teacher offering a free daily practice series for the next three months. https://sunshendailypractice.thinkific.com/courses/sunshendailypractice?ref=bd1110&coupon=moreenergy
This is a fantastic resource! Thank you very much for sharing it!
Travis,
As a school psychologist practicing in a state where schools are closed through the end of this school year, I appreciate the many resources you have provided. Reaching out to my students during this time is my primary focus, as well as my own self-care.
Thank you for sharing the riches of resources!
Barbara
Hi Barbara, sorry I missed this comment until now! I want to give you a heads up that we’ve put together a list specific to educators that you may want to check out as well: https://www.theawakenetwork.com/updated-list-free-online-resources-for-educators-parents-and-kids/
Thanks for compiling this list!
You are providing a valuable service. Much thanks.
You’re welcome. Thanks for the note, Ellen.
Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness. I could not be more grateful.
You’re welcome.
Inspiring generosity – thank you so much for sharing and making it happen 🙏❣️
Gladly. Thanks so much for the note.
Thank Kaliegh for your generosity sharing these resources. A very comprehensive list and I want you to know how very grateful I am.
Thank you for saying so!
Thank you for such a concise listing!
Namaste
Sharon
You’re welcome. Namaste—
Your generosity of sharing these valuable resources is greatly appreciated!
Thank you for this list. I am grateful to have so many resources for support but was feeling overwhelmed by the random and sometimes repetitive emails and posts . This list is organized and looks comprehensive. 🙏
Right, I know how you feel. Glad this is well received, Arpita.
Dear Kaleigh, I would like to make a small offering for the 4 days sessions (The Awake Network/Mindful Livin Summit) I attend, from March 20th.
Please let me know how to do this.
Thank you and best to you.
Soheyla