Hey y’all,

Since the mid-1990s, I’ve practiced insight meditation (vipassanā) and now serve as the Guiding Teacher of Big Heart City Sangha in San Francisco, where I’ve led a weekly meditation group for over twenty years.

I am a fully empowered Dharma Teacher through Spirit Rock and the Insight Meditation Society, and I regularly teach residential retreats at Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Soiety, and many centers internationally. Currently, I lead Spirit Rock’s Year to Live course and continue to offer retreats and day-longs as well as through Big Heart City.

For decades, I’ve also worked with at-risk and marginalized communities, leading groups in schools, juvenile halls, and prisons. I’ve facilitated emotional intelligence workshops for more than 100,000 youth on four continents.

Meditation wasn’t my first path. My own journey included addiction, incarceration, and violence before I found practice as a way to heal and be of service. Today, I draw on both Dharma training and lived experience to support others in discovering their inner strength and breaking free from the forces—personal and systemic—that hold them back.

And while I’m not a big fan of talking about myself in the third person, I hope this gives you a sense of the path I’ve walked and the work I care most about.

Press

In the Heat of the Moment
Mindful Magazine

  • "Vinny Ferraro is a remarkable and heartfelt visionary, whose powerful work I know firsthand. Whether in business, education, for youth or other settings, Vinny offers tremendous experience and skill to uplevel, open, inspire and bring out the best in all who join him."

    — Jack Kornfield PhD, Bestselling author and Founder Spirit Rock Center

  • "Vinny Ferraro is a gifted mindfulness and meditation teacher. His deep knowledge and experience is delivered through humor and real-speak, and teachings that provide practical application in today’s world."

    — Annette Griffin, Vice President, George P. Johnson

  • "By far the most important attribute in someone who dares to teach meditation is authenticity...Vinny Ferraro meets and exceeds that standard. What Vinny has to offer will always come fresh and straight from the heart. No BS."

    — Barry Boyce, Founding Editor, Mindful magazine and mindful.org

  • "I have worked with Vinny in several capacities over a period of 15 years in both nonprofit and corporate environments. During that time he has consistently displayed competence, emotional intelligence, integrity and is skilled at accomplishing goals and working with a diverse set of people and points of view."

    — Bill Duane, Google

Speaking Inquiries

As someone who is deeply passionate about mindfulness and its transformative power, I enjoy sharing my insights and experiences with others. As a result, I accept speaking engagements for those seeking to deepen their understanding of mindfulness and its applications in different areas of life. 

Whether you are a corporation looking to increase employee well-being and productivity, an educational institution seeking to enhance social and emotional learning, or a group interested in learning about Buddhism and meditation, I am well-equipped to deliver engaging and informative talks. I take pride in tailoring my presentations to meet the specific needs of each audience, and I work diligently to ensure that each engagement is an insightful and empowering experience. 

If you are interested in having me speak at your event, please reach out, and let's see if it’s a fit. To ensure a seamless experience, I appreciate receiving as many details upfront as possible regarding your event, including the topic, audience size, and audience demographics.

Reach Out

All my life, I have made it complicated, but it is so simple. I love when I love. And when I love, I am myself.

— Hugh Prather