Founded in 2022 by Johnathan Woodside. Dallas Insight Sangha is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing Insight Meditation instruction rooted in the Buddhist Theravādan tradition of practice. DIS offers daily meditation sessions, weekly Dharma talks, teacher practice meetings, and a variety of weekend workshops and meditation retreats. We extend an invitation to all to join DIS for any of our public sittings or evening Dharma talks.
Johnathan Woodside is a Dharma teacher with over 35 years of meditation practice and 15 years of teaching experience. He is dedicated to sharing the timeless wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings, offering a compassionate, grounded, and accessible approach to Insight Meditation. Through his teachings, Johnathan empowers individuals to cultivate mindfulness, wisdom, and inner resilience, creating a path to greater freedom and joy in daily life. As the founder of Dallas Insight Sangha, he is committed to building an empowering meditation community that explores the intersection of Dharma and modern life in meaningful ways.
Johnathan teaches in various settings, from local meditation groups and wellness studios to corporate environments, residential retreats, and international offerings. Known for his clarity and warmth, he guides students in developing their practice, deepening their understanding of the teachings, and integrating mindfulness into all aspects of life. To learn more about Johnathan, click the link below for his bio.
Johnathan Woodside is an Insight Meditation teacher offering Dharma instruction rooted in the Theravada tradition of ethics, concentration, and wisdom. He began his formal meditation practice in his youth and has been teaching Insight Meditation since 2011.
Johnathan founded the non-profit Mindfulness Outreach Initiative (MOI) an Insight Meditation and outreach organization based in Omaha Nebraska in 2012.
His mentor in the Dharma is Joseph Goldstein who he has met with regularly since 2016. He has practiced at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS), Forest Refuge, and Spirit Rock, among other renowned meditation centers, and has a cumulative two years of silent meditation retreat experience. He is currently enrolled in the 2021-2025 Insight Meditation Center (IMC) Dharma Teacher Training Program with Gil Fronsdal and Andrea Fella.
With an unwavering commitment for encouraging and promoting mindfulness practice, Johnathan founded Dallas Insight Sangha (DIS) a non-profit organization committed to sharing Insight Meditation and the Buddha’s Dharma in Dallas Texas in 2022.
Beyond individual instruction and leading retreats, Johnathan provides meditation services to medical professionals, educational institutions, correctional facilities, recovery programs, community centers, and partners with corporations and nonprofit organizations.
For those seeking a more personalized approach to their meditation practice, the teachers at Dallas Insight Sangha offer exclusive one-on-one and small group sessions tailored to your unique needs. Whether you’re just beginning or have an established practice, these sessions provide the opportunity to receive individualized guidance, explore the teachings in greater depth, and integrate mindfulness into your daily life. From refining meditation techniques to studying the Dharma, our experienced teachers are here to support your journey toward clarity, wisdom, and inner peace. Contact us today to schedule a session designed to meet you where you are on the path.
At Dallas Insight Sangha, our teachers are dedicated practitioners committed to sharing the wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings. With years of experience in meditation and guiding others, they provide compassionate support and personalized instruction to help you deepen your practice and connect with the Dharma. Explore their profiles to learn more about their journeys and the unique perspectives they bring to our community.
Jennifer Ventrelle integrates over 20 years of experience in nutrition, physical activity, and mindfulness-based interventions to guide people on a path towards healthy lifestyle habits through compassion-based intuitive eating and practical stress management techniques.
She is a registered dietitian nutritionist certified in adult weight management and qualified through the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Jennifer’s inspiration began with her own meditation practice over 10 years ago and continued through formal mentorship with Megan Prager through the UC San Diego Centers for Integrative Health and Vipassana-based silent meditation retreats with master teachers such as Joseph Goldstein, Jill Shepherd, and Sylvia Boorstein at the Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock retreat centers.
Jennifer guides in-person and online meditation groups at the Buddhist Center of Dallas and maintains her role as Assistant Professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, participating in research on the impact of behavioral lifestyle habits and cognitive decline. She is also the co-author of The Official MIND Diet: A Scientifically Based Program to Lose Weight and Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.