Justin Michelson began practicing Insight Meditation in 2000 in Seattle, WA. Over the past 23 years, his practice has led him on travels through diverse meditation groups, retreat centers, and inspiring teachers and teachings. He now shares the Dharma under the auspices of senior dharma teacher, Rodney Smith. He is also certified as a Community Dharma Leader through Spirit Rock Meditation Center and is a teacher of Awake In The Wild nature meditation through Mark Coleman.

Since 2017, he has co-guided weekly sessions and silent retreats for Eugene Insight Meditation and Nature’s Heart Retreats. He is also the author of upcoming work The Dharma of Healing: the path and practice of liberation from stress, pain, and trauma (to be published with Shambhala in 2025). His passionate and warm-hearted teachings emphasize the importance of emotional healing on the spiritual path, and the foundational role of self-compassion in the maturation of wisdom. In addition, he believes that nature provides perhaps the truest reflection of Dharma, and helps students use the practice to open to the liberating insights that exist in the natural world.