In art and practice, it’s about getting in there, exploring, and probing to see what’s alive. It’s about doing whatever you need to get into contact with your body before you start your creative exploration. It could be Tai Chi or Qigong, dancing or swimming, taking a walk or sitting in meditation—whatever puts you in touch with the felt sense of being human and the senses of being human. Creativity is often deeply entwined with that free flow of sensual experience.
Anne Cushman
Residential Retreat Teacher
As a teacher and writer, Anne Cushman explores the intersection between meditative practice, creative expression, and the down-to-earth details of embodied human life. A practitioner of both dharma and yoga since 1982, she is a Spirit Rock residential retreat teacher; core faculty for Spirit Rock’s Dharma Yoga Mindfulness Training; director of mentoring for the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program; and a founding teacher of Cloud Sangha, an online mindfulness community. She is the author of the memoir The Mama Sutra: A Story of Love, Loss, and the Path of Motherhood; the novel Enlightenment for Idiots; the India pilgrimage guide From Here to Nirvana; and Moving Into Meditation, a mindfulness manifesto for yoga practitioners. Her essays on spiritual practice in daily life have been widely published in venues that include the New York Times; Yoga Journal; O, The Oprah Magazine; Tricycle: The Buddhist Review; Lion’s Roar; and many other publications. She mentors writers and practitioners of embodied mindfulness worldwide, teaches retreats in person and online, and leads courses that combine creative writing, meditation, and yoga.
Anne Cushman's Upcoming Programs
Class Series | Online
January 23 - February 13, 2026 | 4 Fridays | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Embodied Dharma: Mindful Yoga and Meditation
This four-week online series offers Dharma as fully embodied practice. Together, we'll engage Buddhist wisdom teachings, meditation, yoga asana, pranayama, and somatic movement as one integrated path to awakening. Practice sessions will be gentle, accessible, and trauma-informed, honoring each person's unique relationship with their body. Your guides are lead teachers from Spirit Rock's year-long Dharma Yoga Mindfulness Training, each with decades of experience. This series offers a welcoming space to explore embodied Dharma, whether you're beginning or deepening practice.
Retreat | On-Land
August 9 - August 14, 2026 | Sunday - Friday | 5 nights
Grounded and Spacious: Mindful Yoga and Embodied Dharma
Spaces Still Available! How do we stay rooted like a mighty oak when the winds of life blow strong? This retreat draws on Dharma and Yoga traditions to help settle the nervous system, ground energy, and cultivate ease amid personal and global challenges. Each day includes gentle Yoga; seated, walking, standing, and lying down meditation; Dharma reflections; and small group meetings with a teacher. With steadiness and heart, we’ll explore how to hold life’s changes with grace and resilience.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Anne Cushman through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.