Know Your Power
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With a special focus on how mindfulness and Buddhism can empower us, I practice to find liberation in a world built to oppress, I practice to find solid ground amidst chaos and helplessness. Mindfulness has changed my life in this way. It has helped me realize that my greatest form of power is living with ease, joy and as my authentic self.
I share these transformative practices out of gratitude, out of wanting nothing more than for us to all be free.
May this work be of service and liberate us all.
Kim is available for speaking engagements, workshops and retreats on:
• Reclaiming your power in the world
• Finding liberation among oppressive systems
• Tapping into joy amidst suffering
• Embodying your authentic self
• Practicing groundedness amongst chaos
• Pop culture x Buddhism
— Elizabeth F. Emens (she/her), Thomas M. Macioce Professor of Law and Director, Mindfulness Program at Columbia Law School
“Kim is an extraordinarily gifted teacher. She combines deep knowledge, from her years of practice and study, with an open heart and a light and welcoming energy. Her personal stories enrich the insights she shares, and her teachings feel spontaneous and playful, even though she is clearly well-prepared and well-organized. She has had a profound impact on the community at Columbia Law School.”
— Lisa Weinert, Author & Founder of Narrative Healing
"Collaborating with Kim Thai has been a rare and profound gift. She doesn’t just teach mindfulness—she embodies it, making ancient practices deeply personal, accessible, and urgently relevant. She has shown me how to bring this work off the mat, onto the page, and into the world. In a world that so often asks us to choose between compassion and power, Kim reminds me that stillness and action are partners in transformation. She inspires me not just to navigate this world with more grace, but to meet it with courage, conviction, and an open heart. I am endlessly grateful for the fire she continues to fan in me and in so many others.”
— Jungmin Kang, student
"Accessible, authentic, and affirming. These are the words I would use to describe mindfulness sessions with Kim. Not only is Kim an engaging storyteller and skilled instructor, the generosity with which Kim brings parts of herself into her teachings allows me, as a gay Asian man, to feel seen in a way I seldom do with other teachers. For me, Kim's practice bears a strong connection to critical ideals of equality and justice while also serving as a grounded support system for dealing with the workaday challenges of everyday life. Simply put, she is amazing, and I feel lucky for the opportunity to learn with her!"
— Nancy Langer, student
“In May 2020, just as the pandemic was starting, I joined a weekly online Share Circle Kim facilitated. This group was a port in a storm. Each week, Kim provided insights, discussion questions, and meditations. Soon she was guiding us through an introduction to Buddhism. I will always be grateful to Kim for creating a space for connection and mindfulness during a difficult time in my life. Her wise and thoughtful approach to teaching set me on a path I am still on today.”
Support Your Practice
Talks & Teachings
I approach my teaching by sharing my own personal experience and exploration of mindfulness and Buddhism. I am often searching for answers and trying to make sense of the world like so many of us.
These materials are from previous workshops, classes, and talks where I've explored topics ranging from the foundations of mindfulness to committing to a life of service, also known as the Bodhisattva Way. These materials are free and open to the public.
May they be of service to you.
On: Being your authentic self
In this episode of Phoenix Tales, listen to Kim discuss how she embraced yoga, explored her queerness, confronted generational trauma, and established her community non-profit.
On: Writing as a healing practice
In this conversation with Lisa Weinert, read Kim's journey from corporate burnout to founding her community non-profit, highlighting how writing and mindfulness became tools for healing and community building.
On: Reclaiming your righteous anger
In this interview with The Art Corner, read Kim's journey as a first-generation queer Vietnamese-American, discussing how personal storytelling became a tool for healing and community building.
On: The ripple effects of mindfulness and justice
In this episode of Yellow Glitter, listen to how Kim and Steven talk about the importance of ancestral practices, the attention economy, and transparency in our collective pursuit of equity.
On: The future of Queerness
In this episode of Future of XYZ, listen to a thoughtful conversation about the evolving landscape of Queerness and how it with identity, spirituality, and community.
Coaching
Individual and group coaching in another way in which I share these practices. Pulling on my media and storytelling background, I'll work with you to meet you exactly where you are -- and map a pathway towards where you want to be. I believe in a collaborative, head-and-heart approach that I hope will empower you to jumpstart your journey of success, defined on your own terms.
Resources
Mindfulness practice can be hard work. We are, after all, rewiring our brains and digging deep into our personal and collective consciousness. These are some resources that have helped me, and many others, along the way. I hope they will serve you well on your journey. And please remember: Your practice is unique -- so don't be afraid to experiment, play, and get messy. It's sometimes the only way for us to get to the other side.
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In Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh’s Plum Village Buddhist tradition: The Lotus Institute and Plumline
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A BIPOC weekly meditation group
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In Vajrayana Buddhist tradition with Susan Piver
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Audre Lorde’s The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House
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Kimberlé Crenshaw on The Urgency of Intersectionality
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Trauma Resource Institute: Community Resilience Model Workshops
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Alchemystic Studio with Meesha Sharma and friends
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Yoga and sacred drumming with Linda Lopes
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Yoga with Felipe Gonzalez
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On demand yoga with Tisha Samuels
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Yoga for Everyone with Dianne Bondy
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Hip hop and lati dance with The Wonder Collective
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Causes to Support
As a practitioner of Engaged Buddhism, a child of Vietnam War refugees, and someone who has dedicated their career to uplifting marginalized voices, I believe it is vital that we bring our attention to issues, causes, and communities who are actively being oppressed. I know first-hand as a Queer Asian woman that our lives are often politicized against our will. This makes it even more vital for us to have a sustainable practice of engaging with the world.
These are a few causes that are closest to my heart and feel the most pressing during this time. But there is much suffering in the world, and I hope that this compels you to take mindful action. We each must find a way to build the compassionate world we want to live in.