Practice
Appointments
Connect with a teacher for practice discussion or schedule a meeting with a Zen Mentor.
Connect
Teachers
Connect with a teacher for practice discussion. Practice discussion is offered during morning and Sunday zazen periods or online by request. Sessions are 20 minutes and start on the half hour. Learn more about practice discussion.
Nathan Smalley, Senior Teacher Contact | Schedule
Peg Syverson, Senior Teacher: Contact | Schedule
Flint Spark, Senior Teacher: Contact
Todd Bankler, Dharma Teacher: Contact
Joel Barna, Dharma Teacher: Contact
Kim Mosley, Dharma Teacher: Contact
Laurie Winnette, Dharma Teacher: Contact
Zen Mentors
Zen Mentors are experienced practitioners available for conversation as spiritual friends. This is not practice discussion — it's companionship on the path. Reach out to any mentor directly.
Jess Ambiee, Zen Mentor: Contact
Sandra Medina Bocangel, Zen Mentor: Contact
Rosemarie Gates, Zen Mentor: Contact
Joan Harman, Zen Mentor: Contact
Ellen Hippard, Zen Mentor: Contact
Ann Lipscomb, Zen Mentor: Contact
Head Student
Head students offer themselves as a friend to the community during a practice period. They are available for tea - informal meetings between students.
C. Seren8y Ferandes, Head Student: Contact | Schedule
One of the most important parts of Zen practice is the conversation between a practitioner and a teacher. At Appamada, where we understand practice as fundamentally relational, these conversations are not an add-on — they are central to the path. We wake up in the presence of another person, in the willingness to be seen and to speak honestly about our lives.
This takes two forms at Appamada: practice discussion with a teacher, and informal conversation with a Zen mentor. Both are available to you, and both begin with you reaching out to connect.