Meet Josh Olinger

My pathway to mindfulness and becoming a mindfulness teacher began in 2019 when I was introduced to body scan and resiliency meditation practices by a therapist I was seeing regarding severe depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I remember feeling shocked by how much a regular, short meditation practice helped lower the intensity of my anxiety. These meditation practices also helped me navigate and manage anxiety and isolation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

​

Mindfulness meditation practices became a much larger part of my life in 2023 when my love, Ty "Tony" Sing (pictured to the right of me above) passed away unexpectedly. It was during this time of intense and complicated grief that I really took refuge in meditation practices. I credit meditation with teaching me how to navigate through the most challenging part of my life. To my surprise, my regular meditation practice showed me how to access a deep sense of stillness and peace at a time when I truly thought I would never feel peace again.

 

From there I dove deeper into learning meditation practices. I took the science-focused and evidence-based 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course while simultaneously attending meditation classes and retreats at the Buddha Meditation Center of Greater Washington DC. I found great benefit from learning both the science-based and historical meditation practices.   

 

In 2025 I knew I wanted to learn to teach others how to practice mindfulness, so that they too could experience the tremendous benefits. I began my mindfulness teacher journey, completing MBSR teacher-trainer courses at Brown University. I am now a Qualified Level 1 MBSR Teacher (qualified through Brown University) as well as a Certified Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness Practitioner (a graduate of Dr. David Treleaven's Advanced Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness course). I have completed over 380 continued education hours in mindfulness teacher training. This includes courses on teaching meditation and mindful movement practices, the MBSR curriculum, dialogue and inquiry, the history and science of mindfulness programs, ethics, and trauma-sensitive mindfulness teaching. I have also been studying the Buddhist foundations of mindfulness and Buddhist meditation practices for 2.5 years at the Buddha Meditation Center of Greater Washington DC. My combination of secular evidence-based mindfulness teacher training and studies in historic traditional mindfulness, guide me to teach mindfulness from a perspective of deep understanding and respect to the practices.

 

I also have a master's degree in public policy from George Mason University and a bachelor's degree in human services from Old Dominion University. In my master's program I studied social policy, focusing on research and methods of improving policy in health and human rights for marginalized communities. In my bachelor's program I completed courses on how to facilitate psychoeducational groups, human services methods, addictions: theory and intervention, family interventions and guidance, program development and funding, diversity and social issues in human services, yoga, and the following psychology courses: introduction to psychology, psychology of human sexuality, abnormal psychology, and developmental psychology. My background in human services and public policy has prepared me to teach mindfulness from a perspective of deep respect and understanding of the mental health needs and societal factors that impact us all and those that impact specific marginalized communities. 

 

I also have over 15 years of experience in non-profit leadership and management, program and event planning, and public policy. Since 2014, I have been developing and directing wellness and community-building programs for LGBTQ+ youth and families, as the founder and chair of board of directors at Diversity Camp Inc. In my role with Diversity Camp Inc., I have been an invited speaker at various universities, colleges, and programs. I am also the special events and production manager at the Center for American Progress (CAP). At CAP I organize and manages large public events regarding the following public policy areas: health, LGBTQ+ issues, technology, criminal justice reform, immigration, gun violence prevention, education, and racial equity and justice. I am also a Commissioner with the Washington D.C. Department of Health's Regional Planning Commission on Health and HIV. 

 

At Duck Pond Lotus I offer courses on evidence-based and scientifically-researched MBSR practices like meditation, gentle yoga, mindful stress response, mindful communication, mindful eating, and more. MBSR courses offer participants tools and techniques that they can use on their own to help reduce the impact of stressors in life, navigate challenges, and feel a sense of inner-peace. ​