Loch Kelly

Loch Kelly, M.Div., LCSW, is an award-winning author, meditation teacher and psychotherapist, and the founder of the non-profit Effortless Mindfulness Institute. His teaching brings together ancient wisdom practices, neuroscience and contemporary psychology, and is aimed at relieving suffering at its root and helping people live from their basic goodness. He is known for his warm sense of humor and his trust that awakening is the next natural stage of human development.

At the heart of his work is effortless mindfulness, also called nondual mindfulness: an advanced yet simple form of mindfulness that can be practiced with eyes open. Rather than watching the contents of consciousness, such as breath, sensations or passing thoughts, it invites people to be aware of awareness itself. Loch teaches through short "glimpses" and an inclusive style of dialogue and inquiry, starting from the view that the awakeness, wisdom and love we seek are already inherent in each of us.

Loch studied at Columbia University and Union Theological, and was awarded a fellowship to study forms of nondual meditation in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. He has practiced psychotherapy in New York City for 30 years, teaching seminars and supervising clinicians. He served on the New York Insight Teachers Council, is affiliated with Adyashanti, and has co-taught with Dick Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems, and Dan Siegel. He has also collaborated with neuroscientists at Yale, UPenn and NYU on how awareness training can enhance compassion and wellbeing.

His books include The Way of Effortless Mindfulness and Shift into Freedom, and both have been recognized with awards and best-of-year honors. He offers in-person retreats, workshops, and online video, audio and streaming courses. He is also the creator of the Mindful Glimpses app, which offers brief guided micro-meditations, and he blends Effortless Mindfulness with IFS parts work in his trainings.