Cultivating Mindfulness, Compassion, and Community
The mission of the Encinitas Mindfulness Community (EMC) is to embody and propagate mindfulness teachings through practice and compassionate action. We welcome everyone, in person or online, whether you are new to meditation or have been practicing for years.
Upcoming Practice
Encinitas Mindfulness Community (EMC) invites you to practice with us both in-community and online.
New to Saturday In-Person Practice?
Contact Us Here
For most Practices you can also join us online at the
Zoom Link Here
Weekly Schedule
Upcoming Retreats
Fall Retreat October 26-31.
Commuter and overnight options, guided or silent. Please carefully read options below.
October 26-31, 2026
Questhaven Retreat Center
20650 Questhaven Rd
San Marcos, CA 92078
SILENT Sitting: October 26–28
Silent retreat sitting with Diana, with no instruction. Begins Monday at noon and ends Wednesday evening. Overnight and day (commuter) options available. Residential start 6 AM on Oct. 27 and 28; commuter starts at 9 AM.
GUIDED Retreat: October 29–31
The guided retreat runs Thursday (10/29) through Saturday (10/31), with both commuter (day) options and a three-day, two-night overnight option.
Upcoming Special Opportunities
Service Opportunities
In addition to our regular group sessions, we participate in and support a number charitable activities year-round. Encinitas Mindfulness Community participates in several regularly scheduled volunteer events, as well as one-time special opportunities, and we can provide some assistance in connecting with other charitable organizations to offer service in a multitude of ways.
Volunteering
As part of our mission, EMC offers and supports volunteer efforts both through our own organized activities and through connections with other volunteer organizations and communities. We support all positive action, and are not exclusive to our own programs.
Donations
EMC welcomes monetary, service, and in-kind donations, and distributes gifts in a multitude of ways. We also support direct giving to other organizations that engage in inclusive and compassionate service to the broad community.
Special Events
Throughout the year, EMC sponsors and participates in individual special events and activities in addition to our regular schedule and programs. Connect with us (and check our current calendar) for more information on these unique and fulfilling opportunities.
Teacher
Diana Shimkus, LCSW, is a California-licensed psychotherapist who has been actively practicing in Encinitas since 1985.
As co-director of North Coast Counseling and founder of Everyday Mindfulness, Diana offers a variety of programs, courses, and opportunities for mindfulness training to those experiencing the effects of life stressors, including physical illness and treatment, life transitions, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and the ordinary stresses that come with being human.
Diana has been teaching Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) since 1996. She completed the seven-day Health Professional Training and Teacher Development Intensive (1998) through the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness.
Since then, she has continued to deepen her training and practice, dedicating her life’s work to cultivating and teaching mindfulness in a variety of settings, including the San Diego Cancer Center, Scripps Research Institute, corporations, schools, hospice, and other healthcare environments.
In addition, Diana offers private individual, couples, and family psychotherapy from her outdoor garden office in Encinitas, California.
Diana is devoted to cultivating mindful, compassionate, and loving relationships with oneself and others in everyday life.
