ABOUT US
Jillian Lavender and Michael Miller are founders of London Meditation Centre and New York Meditation Center. They’re based in London and teach Vedic Meditation full time. See more below…
Jillian Lavender
Co-founder
When I learned to meditate back in 1995 I had no idea that I would end up being a full-time meditation teacher. At the time I was walking right up to the line of a major burnout. Living in Sydney, setting up a publishing company, spending my life on a plane. I felt tired and stressed.
On the recommendation of a friend I took the course and from that point things changed for me in a big way. My life was still full-on but I could handle it. I wasn’t exhausted. I felt the anxiety melt away. I was better at my job and I was nicer to be around. And I knew it was meditation that was making the difference.
Fast-forward five years and (after a stint in Paris) I was living in London and looking for a change. I quit the big CEO job and travelled for a year. Then I took up the invitation of my teacher, Thom Knoles, to train with him one-on-one in the U.S. and India. In 2003 I graduated and came back to London to start teaching.
In 2005 Michael and I met in India on a retreat and after some long-distance back and forth he moved from LA to London. We live together, teach together and have a daughter so we are partners in every sense.
India is special for us and we’re there at least once a year to teach and study. I feel grateful to be able to teach Vedic Meditation. Helping people be their best has always been the thing that motivates me. In my experience meditation is the tool that has the power to transform. I love seeing that process play out with our students.
Michael Miller
Co-founder
I first tried meditation at university in 1988. I found it fascinating, and continued to explore meditation, yoga, martial arts, and alternative therapies (alongside a career in business) for more than a decade.
In 2003 I was living in Los Angeles and managing the creative department of an entertainment magazine. It was exciting and inspiring work, but I was starting to feel the impact of working and playing hard.
Then a friend learned Vedic Meditation. I saw positive changes in just a few weeks, so I decided to try as well. Immediately I was feeling less stressed, getting more done, and sleeping better. The benefits were so clear, I never went back!
After about a year, I had a conversation with my teacher (world-renowned expert Thom Knoles). He suggested that I become a teacher myself. That led to another two years of study and several extended trips to India. Finally in July of 2007, I undertook a three-month residential training programme and began a full-time teaching career. In early 2008, Jillian and I founded London Meditation Centre and New York Meditation Center.
Since then I’ve spoken to more than 6,000 people about meditation, stress, creativity, neuroscience and peak performance. I’ve presented to tech companies, non-profits, government institutions and business organizations. And I’ve taught thousands of people to be self-sufficient meditators and get the same benefits that inspired me.
Emma Rae
Communications Manager
Michael taught me to meditate in 2013. At the time, I was working for a high-end wellness club in London, and heard of London Meditation Centre through a client. He was leading an intense lifestyle, constantly travelling across the globe running his multi-million dollar company. He never seemed stressed, and was one of our nicest clients. When I learned that meditation was his secret, I knew I wanted in.
Learning to meditate has changed my life. With meditation I have clarity, good mental health, balance, and so much more. I love being right at the heart of this potential for change, and connecting people with the incredible teachings of Jillian and Michael inspires me.
Supporting our students in their path as meditators is a privilege. People come to us eager to feel better. Then they learn to meditate, and it’s like a light’s been switched on. It is truly fulfilling to be a part of their development, knowing our work is making a real difference.
IN THE PRESS
We’re really pleased to have been noticed in the national and international press.
Here are just a few places we’ve been featured: