Ava Louise Stanton, LCSW

Teacher

Ava Louise Stanton is a long-time Zen student, beginning with 10 years of study as a founding member and resident of the Providence Zen Center with Zen Master Seung Sahn. She and Trudy Goodman had practiced there in the 1970’s, and she joined the teachers at InsightLA in 2010. She’s a certified Mindful Self Compassion teacher, and currently teaches Mindful Self Compassion and Deepening Self Compassion, and leads daylong retreats at InsightLA.

Ava was recognized by her teacher, Tony Patchell (Russian River Zen Center, Sonoma County, CA), as a Lay Entrusted teacher in the Suzuki Roshi lineage through the San Francisco Zen Center. Please come join the two morning sittings she leads each week, on Mondays and Fridays at 14th Street in Santa Monica. No experience necessary. Please check the Sitting Groups listing for times.

As a psychotherapist in private practice in Santa Monica, CA, Ava works with meditation students and other adults. She leads small groups for people interested in cultivating self-compassion. Her website is AvaLouiseStanton.com


Upcoming Events

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
December 8, 2025
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
December 12, 2025
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
December 15, 2025
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
December 19, 2025
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
December 22, 2025
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
December 26, 2025
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
December 29, 2025
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
January 2, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
January 5, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
January 9, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
January 12, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
January 16, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
January 19, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
January 23, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
January 26, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
February 2, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
February 6, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
February 9, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
February 13, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
February 16, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
February 20, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
February 23, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
February 27, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
March 2, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
March 6, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
March 9, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
March 13, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
March 16, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
March 20, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
March 23, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Friday Class

Friday
March 27, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:45 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online Just Show Up Zen | Monday Class

Monday
March 30, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)