Matthew Tift, PhD, RYT-500
I teach mindful yoga and insight meditation rooted in the teachings of the Buddha. My classes bring together gentle movement, breathing, and stillness to help people meet the stress and struggle of daily life with more clarity and less reactivity.
Students come in carrying tension from work, unease in their bodies, or a sense that something needs to shift. You don’t need to be flexible, fit, or experienced. You just need to be willing to pay attention.
The practices I teach aren’t just for the mat. Mindfulness, patience, and honest self-observation are skills we can bring to our relationships, our work, and the difficult moments that catch us off guard. When we learn to pause before reacting, life can become more spacious.
My practice is grounded in the Thai Forest Buddhist tradition and shaped by the approach to dharma and meditation teaching developed at the Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock. I trained as a Kripalu yoga teacher because Kripalu's emphasis on self-observation and compassionate awareness fits naturally with insight meditation. I’ve practiced and sat retreats in these traditions since 2012 and owe a great deal to my teachers.
I also lead workshops, day-long retreats, and silent mindful yoga retreats for people who want to go deeper.
Currently:
- Yoga Teacher, The Marsh
- Host, Pretty Good Meditation podcast
- Lead Engineer, Lullabot
Previously:
- Board Chair, onelove.yoga (yoga in schools)
- Buddhist Meditation Group Facilitator, Minnesota Department of Corrections
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Musicology, University of Iowa
Credentials:
- PhD, Musicology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- RYT-500, Kripalu School of Yoga
- Eagle Scout
I live near Minneapolis, Minnesota. These days I mostly play harmonium, though I’ve been playing violin since age 5. I love any opportunity to play string quartets with my wife (on viola) and our two children (on cello and violin).
More information in my full CV.
