English-Speaking Meditation Classes in Berlin: A Complete Guide for Expats

Moving to Berlin as an expat can be exhilarating yet overwhelming. Between navigating bureaucracy, learning basic German, and building new social connections, maintaining your mental wellbeing becomes crucial. Meditation offers a powerful anchor amidst this transition, and Berlin’s diverse spiritual landscape provides numerous options for English-speaking practitioners.

Whether you’re completely new to meditation or looking to deepen an existing practice, Berlin’s meditation scene welcomes you with open arms. Here’s your comprehensive guide to finding the perfect meditation community in Germany’s vibrant capital.

Why Meditation Matters for Berlin Expats

Living abroad presents unique stresses that meditation can address effectively. The constant mental translation, cultural adjustments, and occasional isolation that expats experience create ideal conditions for developing a mindfulness practice. Berlin’s international community has responded by creating numerous English-speaking meditation opportunities that blend ancient wisdom with modern expat realities.

Firstly, Dailymeditationberlin.de was created by expats, and has an incredibly extensive list of retreats, meditation courses, group meditations, and content – all in natural English. And is welcoming and a safe space for all english & german speakers.

But, that’s enough about us. Here’s some others. 

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Traditional Buddhist Centers for Authentic Practice

Buddhistisches Tor Berlin

Located in the heart of the city, Buddhistisches Tor offers authentic Buddhist meditation in a welcoming environment. Their Saturday morning classes from 11 AM to 1 PM are specifically designed for beginners and include both meditation instruction and Dharma teachings. The center operates on a donation basis, making meditation accessible regardless of financial circumstances.

Bodhicharya Berlin

This traditional center provides deep Buddhist meditation experiences with regular teachers who offer classes in English with German translation. They maintain open meditation sessions Monday through Friday from 8-9 AM and Monday evenings from 5:30-7 PM , creating multiple opportunities for busy expats to maintain consistent practice.

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Zen Practice for Focused Minds

Kwan Um Zen Center Berlin

As the main temple of the Kwan Um Zen School Germany, this center in Wedding provides traditional Korean Zen meditation. They offer introduction sessions on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:00 PM, followed by regular evening practice. Morning practice runs Monday through Friday from 5:30-7:30 AM , perfect for establishing a daily routine before work.

Akazienzendo

This contemporary Zen center offers a secular approach while maintaining traditional depth. Their “Zen in English” sessions occur every second Friday from 7:30-8:45 PM via Zoom , making it accessible for expats across the city. They also provide hybrid meditation sessions throughout the week.

Insight Meditation Communities

Berlin Dharma

Led by experienced teacher Peter Doobinin, Berlin Dharma specializes in insight meditation from the Theravada tradition. Their Tuesday evening sessions at 7:15 PM create an intimate community atmosphere with typically 8-10 participants. The practice focuses on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and welcomes students from all backgrounds.

Lake Studios Berlin

Marlon Barrios Solano conducts “Mindful Mornings” rooted in early Buddhist insight meditation tradition. These sessions explore the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and conclude with sharing circles for deeper understanding. Operating on a Dana (donation) basis, they embody the Buddhist principle of freely given wisdom.

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Scientific Mindfulness and MBSR

Mindful Moments

Offering certified MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) courses in English, this organization provides the 8-week Jon Kabat-Zinn program. Their structured approach combines meditation with stress management techniques backed by scientific research.

Dayaraja

This yoga studio provides MBSR courses on both Wednesday mornings and Sunday afternoons in English. They combine meditation with neurological research findings on stress , offering both in-person and online participation options.

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Community-Focused Groups

Community Village Berlin

Founded by Nina and Caleb, this international meditation community operates on a purely donation-based model. Their approach combines Western Insight Meditation with neuroscience and psychology, creating a modern yet authentic practice environment. They organize various mindful activities including running series and everyday mindfulness workshops.

English Yoga Berlin

Pinelopi’s 6-week meditation course covers different aspects of meditation practice, from “Realizing we are Lost in Thought” to “What is the Here and Now”. The course operates in a hybrid format, with live Thursday sessions and weekend online availability.

 

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Meetup Groups and Casual Communities

Berlin Meditation and Introspection

This active Meetup group with over 1,600 members hosts regular “Evenings of Meditation” at Yoga Sky Berlin. Sessions focus on collective introspection around specific topics rather than individual silent sitting.

Wake Up Berlin

Part of the international Thích Nhất Hạnh tradition, this multicultural group meets every Tuesday at 7:45 PM in members’ homes. Their format includes weather reports, guided meditation, and dharma sharing, creating authentic community connections.

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What Makes Daily Meditation Berlin Different

While Berlin offers numerous meditation options, Daily Meditation Berlin takes a uniquely personal approach to meditation instruction. It’s created by expats, and we speak English as a mother tongue. Rather than following the typical model of ongoing classes and recurring payments, they focus on creating genuinely independent meditators through intensive, personalized training. With English courses weekly, and weekly group meditations also in English, it’s great vibes overall. 

Their philosophy centers on meditation as a deeply personal practice that shouldn’t require constant external support. Through their signature 4-day course, students receive individual attention in small groups of just 5 participants, ensuring each person’s specific challenges and natural advantages are addressed.

What sets them apart is their commitment to long-term student success rather than ongoing dependency. Unlike many centers that rely on continuous enrollment, Daily Meditation Berlin provides unlimited lifetime email support, free weekly refresh sessions, and open-door access to teachers. Students learn an authentic 4,000-year-old technique using time-tested instruction methods, then receive the tools to maintain their practice independently.

Our approach recognizes that “meditation is easy to do – but hard to understand”. Rather than leaving students uncertain about their practice, they provide comprehensive structure and clear progression paths, helping people move from confusion to confidence.

The teaching emphasizes adaptation to individual lifestyle rather than conforming to rigid structures. As we put it: “We give you the hardware of a powerful mindful technique… you add the software of your own lifestyle, your own beliefs”. This philosophy particularly resonates with expats who need meditation practices that integrate seamlessly with their complex international lives.

We hope the post was valuable, and we’re always here for questions!