James Baraz has been a meditation teacher since 1978. In 2003 he created the Awakening Joy course, which he teaches at the Omega Institute, Esalen Institute, and other venues across the United States and abroad. He is co-founding Teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Canter in Woodacre, California, and author, with Shoshana Alexander, of Awakening Joy, the book based on the course. Early in his life, James was an elementary school teacher in Astoria, Queen for 12 years. James lives in Berkeley, California with his wife, Jane. He has two sons and three grandchildren.