Kind Words

  • Ash Poirier’s dedication to the path of Insight Meditation and her authenticity as a person and practitioner are a rare gift to her students. Ash’s talks and guided meditations are deeply knowledgeable and carefully crafted, giving us practical ways to embody and practice the techniques of mindfulness and move towards our own realizations. She reaches out with warmth and skillful means equally to each person in our sangha.

    Adele W.

  • Finding your way is much more fun and easier with a good leader like Ash Poirier.  She has helped me see the good in myself through her loving kindness. She has showed me how to follow my breath and stay calm/ease as I breathe in and out.  I now use that often to reduce stress and anxiety.   

    Jeff W.

  • When I signed up to join Ash’s meditation sessions through the Hirsch Wellness Network, I had no idea what a positive effect it would have on my life. Her way of “seeing the world” has enlightened my relationship to my own life and to those around me in a positive and accepting way and for that I am forever grateful.

    Beatrice S.

  • I am deeply grateful to Ash for her compassionate and understanding leadership of our Sangha. She guides the participants with profound teachings, sincere care, and keen knowledge. Involvement in the mindfulness meditation gatherings with Ash brings me so much greater awareness of what is truly meaningful and deeply significant in our lives. My heart is lifted each time I am present.

    Margaret P.

  • I am an off-again, on-again meditation student but every time I come to a class led by Ash, I leave feeling so much calmer and more confident. Her ability to touch me, even through the medium of Zoom, and her knowledge of mindfulness practice is a gift to anyone who chooses to sit with her. We are fortunate to have her as a resource to our Sangha.

    Nancy A.

  • I am forever grateful and honored that our paths crossed in this journey of life.  Ash entered my life and provided me a safe, compassionate space to explore my inner self. Her guidance through her knowledge, experience, and meditation have taken me to places of tranquility and peace. Thank you Ash for allowing me to walk with you on this journey of finding inner peace.  I am so profoundly grateful and honored. 

    Shashi K.

  • As a beginner, Ms. Poirier is an excellent meditation teacher of mindfulness, and understanding more about our thoughts. Her approach is very calm and easy to understand.  She goes out of her way to incorporate different teachings such as Buddhism, etc. I’ve been quite impressed with Ms. Poirier. I think you will be too!

    Allison G.

  • Ash has improved my life in beautiful ways! Her spiritually-friendly Mindfulness Meditation guidance weaves mind and body together and is engaging, yet not intrusive. Her lessons, pulled from a wide variety of teachings, are always insightful and thought provoking. Ash has taught me that an anchor is not only a tool to steady me … it is also a tool to free me.

    Irene F.

  • I am so grateful to have an Ash as my teacher. I have not only received spiritual guidance from Ash but also a bit of humor and many practical tools. I have learned so much working with Ash…I have learned mindfulness techniques that allow me to calm myself during stressful situations. I have also learned to be more compassionate with myself and more present in my daily life.

    Kim L.

  • Having never meditated before, I was a bit unsure and intimidated about joining a meditation class, however it was during Covid, so I was stressed about a lot of things and needed guidance and release. It is now five years later, and with a multitude of new stressors everyday, my practice with Ash has helped me to recenter and to refocus and to live gratefully in the moment no matter where I am or what I'm doing.  Ash is the perfect teacher for all levels of practice as she is welcoming, loving, engaging, inspiring, calming and so incredibly knowledgeable about theory and practice.  She beautifully and creatively communicates meditation concepts that resonate, challenge and inspire.  I rise from each session feeling grateful, at peace, and with a heart full of loving kindness. Thank you, Ash!

    Jean F.

  • With Ash's kind and patient teachings, I developed a meditation practice that has dramatically improved my life, bringing much-needed calm and peace. Learning to meditate is a journey, and Ash always seems to know where I am on my journey and what I need to continue my growth. I am grateful for Ash's teachings and the confidence meditation has brought to my life.

    Lindsay J.

  • I've been dabbling in meditation for 20 + years and it wasn't until I began taking classes with Ash that I really began to understand the power of the practice. Ash has the ability to really pull threads from several places (ancient texts, poetry, modern day monks, and everyday life) and weave together teachings that guide me toward seeing in ways that clarify and heal. She can go from the most basic issues of being human to the more extraordinary possibilities found in dedicated meditators, and she keeps me laughing at myself along the way. She doesn't need to say that she cares for the people she teaches, because her deep listening, thoughtful consideration, and careful responses demonstrate that she does. I feel extremely fortunate to have her as a teacher and guide. 

    Kim Y.

  • Ash is an exceptional teacher. Her gift is the ability to help all who listen find stillness and then, the strength to discover and walk their path. She does this with kindness, and a deep understanding of people, and culture, encouraging her students to walk their path, being mindful, present, and in the moment. She’s always reading poetry and spiritual thought to support understanding. Her breadth of knowledge is wide, deep, and expansive. It often makes me smile. If all that is not enough, she adds a humor that brightens the path with wisdom. Because of Ash’s guidance, everyday, as I walk my path, I become more grounded, present and peaceful. I was taught that I would carry my teachers forever. The best would be carried in my heart and soul, lighten my load and, each day, help make the world shine. Thank you Ash. You’re the best!

    Neil G.

  • Ash offers wise teachings with clarity and grace on my path to meditation practice. Her humility, kindness, and humor create a lovely holding environment in which to share doubt, sadness, and joy. I am grateful for her generous deep guidance.

    Pat V.

  • As a newer participant with the Crow Sangha, led by Ash, I received a warm welcome. Ash always explains things clearly, so even a new participant can understand, but without talking down to anyone. She creates an atmosphere emphasizing a gentle, non-judgmental approach to learning and experiencing what comes your way. She makes time to thoughtfully address the concerns of group members. 

    Susie B.

  • For over 5 1/2 years, I have attended Ash's mindful meditation practice and learning sessions, Ash has opened ( for me ) a plethora of pathways into my inner self, my connection to the universe and everything within. Wise beyond her years, like an artist, Ash paints a picture of the possibilities that WE ARE ALL GIFTED WITH upon our recognizing the portals into our connectedness to the universe, our lives within, our heartfelt emotions, our inner soul, and our personal journeys of a seeking spirituality that awaits us all. How refreshing ! Ash emphasizes the importance of Living in the Moment, recognizing and remembering that everything is impermanent, despite ~ sometimes our wishes. We all have to learn to navigate through life's relentless maze of mental distractions in order to seek peacefulness. The answer is ~ PRACTICE ~ as Ash gently reminds us. The healing powers of STILLNESS are magical, as our awareness seeks the possibility of a momentary gift of enlightenment. Seems quite simple, and it is, as we open ourselves to unknown possibilities with a curious mind. Peace be with all…em

    Bob N.