UCLA Mindful celebrates 20 years (10/24)

"Mindfulness" is more than sitting still

UCLA Mindful (previously MARC, the Mindful Awareness Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles) is celebrating 20 years of mindfulness at UCLA.

For 20 years, UCLA has been a home for mindfulness (Buddhist sati) education, research, and practice. New website: UCLA Mindful - Mindfulness Education Center | UCLA Health

Join us in celebrating this journey—from the founding of the Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) to the growth of UCLA Mindful and its reach across Los Angeles and around the world.

Join us on October 24, 2026, for a Day of Mindfulness featuring opportunities for practice, learning, and connection, followed by an evening 20th Anniversary Evening Reception to celebrate two decades of growth and impact and look ahead to the next 20 years.

There are two exciting celebration opportunities, the Day of Mindfulness and an Evening Reception.

• Participate in a free Day of Mindfulness in-person or live-online. Full event details now available.
• In-person and online Day of Mindfulness October 24, 10:00 am-5:00 pm (Pacific Time). All are invited to participate in a Day of Mindfulness, co-sponsored by and partially held in the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden, on Oct. 24 from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. This special anniversary celebration brings together longtime members of the UCLA Mindful community, educators, practitioners, students, and friends for a day of meaningful practice, reflection, connection, and learning.
• The garden will host a variety of creative ways to practice mindfulness including movement, forest bathing, relational mindfulness, and much more.
• All are welcome to join in continuing the milestone celebration at the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden for the Evening Reception. Limited spots still available.

Two ways to participate — one meaningful celebration

Los Angeles leads mindfulness movement

The Day of Mindfulness will be offered in a hybrid (in-person/online) format, with opportunities to participate both in person at UCLA and online from around the world.

While both formats are part of the same celebration, the experiences are intentionally designed to be different. See website for in-person and online experience details (uclahealth.org/uclamindful). Full session details now available.

Together, we will reflect on the history of mindfulness at UCLA, celebrate the people and practices that have shaped the program, and look toward the future of mindfulness in our community and beyond.

• UCLA Mindful 20th Anniversary- Day of Mindfulness - UCLA Mindful | UCLA Health
• Mindfulness Day (September 12th)
• Diana Winston (UCLA Health); SHEIN USA; Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Dhr. Seven, Jen B., CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly