Austin’s Home for Meditation,
Sound, & Healing
For over a decade, a trusted space for calm, clarity, and connection
Why Bar?
People go to bars for many reasons, most often to relax and to connect with others. At Meditation Bar, we offer a healthier version of that same experience.
Relaxation, Without the Side Effects
While we are not judgmental about drinking alcohol, we know you can find the same sense of calm, and so much more, through practices like meditation and sound therapy without the negative side effects. These experiences help you unwind, find clarity, and restore balance.
Connection That Lifts Everyone
People also gather in bars to socialize. Human beings are wired for connection. Whether through shared meditation, group sound baths, or intimate private sessions, there is a unique energy that comes from being together. Sitting in stillness or immersing in sound not only uplifts you, it creates a ripple that supports everyone around you.
A Culture of Calm and Connection
We believe contemplative practices, whether through breath, sound, or stillness, are among the most powerful ways to feel better. Science confirms what experience has shown us: these practices transform, heal, and change lives.
Our mission is to make these tools accessible, like stepping into a favorite bar and ordering a drink. We have created a community space, both in-person and online, where you can experience meditation, sound, and healing practices, discover more about yourself, and connect with others who share your values.
Most importantly, Meditation Bar is a safe and welcoming space. We are committed to allyship, inclusivity, and respect. You are invited to come exactly as you are. Here, you will be seen, heard, and supported as part of a diverse community of like-hearted people creating their best lives.
Join us, and help create a culture of calm and connection.
Our Story
The idea of a sober bar for meditation was brought to life in 2015 by four visionary Austin women: Cathy Bonner, Lauren Foreman, Joene Grissom, and Leslie Strickler. Their belief was simple and powerful: meditation is for everyone who needs it, and everyone needs it. Their leadership and dedication laid the foundation for what Meditation Bar has become.
In 2018, the vision was carried forward by Josh Walpole, a student turned teacher whose own practice transformed his life. Josh deepened the studio’s roots in mindfulness and community until his family relocated to California the following year.
Since 2019, Meditation Bar has been led by Tracy Sage King. With more than two decades of teaching experience, a background in business and the healing arts, and a passion for making meditation accessible, Tracy embraced both the legacy of the founders and the call to guide the studio into its next chapter.
That chapter has been one of evolution and resilience. What began as a space devoted primarily to seated meditation has grown into one of Austin’s most established homes for sound-based practices, from immersive sound baths to vibroacoustic therapy in the Sound Lounge. Meditation remains at the heart of all we do, but sound has become the doorway through which many people discover rest, healing, and balance.
Meditation Bar also weathered the challenges of the pandemic. The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, and we are grateful to have endured by adapting and continuing to offer care when it was most needed.
Now celebrating more than ten years in Austin, Meditation Bar is proud to be both a pioneer and a constant. Rooted in the vision of its founders, strengthened by each leader who has carried the torch, and continually evolving to meet the needs of today. As we move into our second decade, our mission remains clear: to be a trusted home for meditation and sound in Austin, a place where you can find calm, clarity, and connection whenever you need it.
Leaders Who Shaped Our Story
