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
Love, Loss, and Letting Go (VF1D26)
Also Frank Ostaseski
Register for Online Please only register for one of the two formats: On-Land or Online. Registration closes at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on October 31, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording* will be available following the program. Description: There is no getting through a human life without loss. […]
Love, Loss, and Letting Go (VF1Z26)
Also Frank Ostaseski
Register for On-Land Please only register for one of the two formats: On-Land or Online. Registration closes at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on October 31, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording* will be available following the program. Description: There is no getting through a human life without loss. […]
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 […]
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 and Hakim Tafari
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 […]