Kirsten Rudestam, PhD
Residential Retreat Teacher
A dedicated meditation practitioner since 1997, Kirsten has been authorized and trained to teach in the Theravādan tradition by her mentors, Gil Fronsdal and Andrea Fella. Kirsten holds a PhD in environmental sociology, is a trained vision fast guide through the School of Lost Borders, and is a facilitator of Joanna Macy’s “Work That Reconnects.” She believes that practices of (re)connection are vital for cultivating the resilience needed to face ecological loss and embrace our inherent interdependence. She has been teaching meditation in the Theravādan tradition since 2002, and co-founded and co-teaches the Sati Center’s Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Training Program.
Kirsten Rudestam's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | On-Land
September 27 - October 2, 2026 | Sunday - Friday | 5 nights
The Dharma of Nature: Nature as Refuge, Teacher, Beloved
Spaces Still Available! Through guided nature-based meditations, together we will cultivate embodied mindfulness, deepen our connection to the earth, and awaken to the profound wisdom found in nature. Explore teachings on impermanence, interconnection, and letting go while opening to joy, awe, and inner stillness. This retreat offers a powerful refuge—nourishing the spirit, supporting resilience, and inspiring heartfelt presence in the midst of our changing world.
Mark Coleman
Victoria Cary
Kirsten Rudestam
Lissa Edmond (Teacher in Training)
Fernmarie Rodriguez (Teacher in Training)
Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith (Teacher in Training)
Retreat | On-Land
February 2 - March 28, 2027 | Tuesday - Sunday | 54 nights
2027 Insight Meditation 2-Month Retreat - Application
Application Open! An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional Four Foundations of Mindfulness combined with training in lovingkindness and compassion, and practice will be structured around a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, Dharma talks, and practice meetings with teachers.
Tara Mulay
Tempel Smith
Tuere Sala
Anushka Fernandopulle
Devin Berry
Guy Armstrong
Susie Harrington
Mei Elliott
Kodo Conlin
Kirsten Rudestam
Rasika Link (Movement Teacher)
Teresa Todoroff (Movement Teacher)
Namu (Teacher in Training)
Rae Houseman (Teacher in Training)
Mia Monos (Teacher in Training)
Adam Stonebraker (Teacher in Training)
Retreat | On-Land
March 1 - March 28, 2027 | Monday - Sunday | 27 nights
2027 March Insight Meditation 1-Month Retreat - Application
Application Open! Awareness, or consciousness, is the very heart of sentient life. Yet in our practice we may not have learned how to meditate directly on this aspect of our experience. In this retreat we will explore the nature of awareness in three stages. First, we will develop concentration through mindfulness of breathing. Then we'll introduce lovingkindness meditation, inviting the beautiful qualities of the heart. Finally, we'll focus on specific meditative techniques that allow us to rest in the pure nature of awareness itself.
Guy Armstrong
Susie Harrington
Tuere Sala
Mei Elliott
Kodo Conlin
Kirsten Rudestam
Teresa Todoroff (Movement Teacher)
Mia Monos (Teacher in Training)
Adam Stonebraker (Teacher in Training)
Retreat | On-Land
March 31 - April 5, 2027 | Wednesday - Monday | 5 nights
Awake in the Wild: Contemplating Joy, Wisdom, and Wonder in Nature
Registration Open. For centuries, the natural world has offered a direct path to presence, insight, and renewal. On this silent retreat in the hills and meadows of Spirit Rock, we practice outdoors, guided by the living world. Nature becomes both teacher and mirror, revealing impermanence, interdependence, and the ease of letting go. Through embodied mindfulness, we rediscover quiet joy, wonder, and belonging, supported by silence and community, returning to a deeper sense of connection.
Upcoming Drop-Ins
Drop-in | Online
Monday, November 2 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Monday Night Meditation & Talk
For over 35 years, the Monday Night sitting group at Spirit Rock has been a welcoming refuge to gather, hear the teachings of the Buddha, and practice Insight Meditation together as a community. The program includes a 30-40 min guided meditation, a short break, and a Dharma talk.
Kirsten Rudestam
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Kirsten Rudestam through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.