Vinny Ferraro
Vinny Ferraro has been a practitioner of insight meditation (Vipassanā) since the mid-90s. He is a co-Founder of the Dharma Punx and he’s been the Guiding Teacher of the Big Heart City Sangha in San Francisco for 20 years. He is also a nationally recognized leader in designing and implementing interventions for at-risk adolescents and is a Senior Trainer for Mindful Schools. In 2001, he began teaching for Challenge Day, a nationally recognized, social & emotional learning program, eventually becoming their Director of Training and leading workshops for over 110,000 youth on four continents.
Vinny is also the former Training Director of the Mind-Body Awareness Project and is the principal author of the MBA’s mindfulness-based curriculum for incarcerated populations. His focus continues to be delivering direct services to folks that have limited access.
He has been trained and empowered by Spirit Rock/IMS and he doesn’t like talking about himself in the 3rd person.
Upcoming Programs by Vinny Ferraro
An Undefended Heart: A Big Heart City Retreat (390R26) - On Land
Also Matthew Brensilver, PhD and Cara Lai, MA
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on October 7, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on December 5, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? - learn more below. In need of a scholarship? - see "Scholarship offerings" information below. Description This retreat […]
An Undefended Heart: A Big Heart City Retreat (390A26) - Self-Paced@Home/Online
Also Matthew Brensilver, PhD and Cara Lai, MA
Join Waitlist for On-Land Retreat Registration closes at 3:00pm (Pacific Time) on December 6, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. Recordings* will be available for this program. We’re offering this retreat in two formats over the same dates. 1. On-land Residential Retreat: Learn more here - SOLD OUT 2. […]
A Year to Live (YL8T27)
Also Frank Ostaseski, Monika Son and Christian Howard
Teaching Team Vinny Ferraro and Frank Ostaseski assisted by Monika Son and Christian Howard. Prerequisites Minimum of 3 days of either: silent meditation residential retreat, or mindfulness daylongs/workshop(s), or a combination of both. Consistent meditation practice highly encouraged. Description This yearlong journey, inspired by Stephen Levine’s A Year to Live, is a heartfelt invitation to […]
Young Adult Insight Meditation Retreat (236R27) - On Land
Also Matthew Brensilver, PhD, Cara Lai, MA, Hakim Tafari and Fernmarie Rodriguez
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on July 15, 2026, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on June 13, 2027. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Applying for a residential scholarship? - see our Financial Support FAQ's. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? - learn more below. Designed for young […]
An Undefended Heart (286R27) - On Land
Also Cara Lai, MA and Matthew Brensilver, PhD
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on September 2, 2026, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on November 30, 2027. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Applying for a residential scholarship? - see our Financial Support FAQs. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? - learn more below. Description This retreat […]