Dr. David Vago
Neuroscientist and Meditation Teacher
David Vago, Ph.D., is on a mission to alleviate suffering and improve wellbeing through investigating connections between the mind, brain, and body. He has over 15 years of experience studying the basic neurobiological mechanisms supporting mind-body practices in relation to wellbeing and over 25 years of formal meditation training.
Vancouver
British Columbia
Canada
- Mindfulness Research
- Neuroscience
- Mental Health
- Mindfulness
- Integrative Health
- Contemplative Neuroscience
- Learning and Memory
- Stress
- Mind and Body
Featured Works
View All
Mantra for Releasing Fears
Pizza Meditation
Tame challenging thoughts with a familiar visual.
Gratitude Boost
Lift your mood by focusing on the good things in life.
Magic Eyes
Teach kids about compassion through "seeing" how we're all connected.
Nurture Love and Kindness
Imagine sharing kindness and love straight from the heart.
Rainbow Feelings
Learn about emotions through a colorful visualization.
Tasty Thoughts
Learn what it means to savor a happy moment.
The Flashlight
Learn to direct your focus like a beam of light.
The Mindful Sound Detective
Search for clues in the sounds within and around you.
My Body Scanner
Find calm by scanning your body with an imaginary spotlight.
Strong Like a Tree
Help kids find strength during tough moments.
Train Your Super Senses
Activate the power to sense trouble like a superhero.
Buzzing Bee Breath
Buzz like a bee to feel more peaceful and relaxed.
Relax at the Beach
Take a trip to the beach and let the waves wash away stress.
Wiggle Worm Meditation
Help fidgety kids shake out the urge to move.
Future Me: Time Machine Meditation
Help kids imagine their future selves and learn about intention-setting.
Dream for Peace
Use your imagination to visualize a peaceful, loving world.
Animal Power
Imagine being a favorite animal to feel happy, relaxed, and powerful.
Breathe Like a Lion
Roar like a lion to feel strong, powerful, and courageous.
Calm the Monkey in the Mind
Try this fun visualization to quiet busy, noisy minds.
Mindful Conversations
Practice speaking with kindness, even when you disagree.
Find Focus
Three practices to sharpen concentration.
Morning Mood Boost
A mini-course to arm you with the tools to start each day off right.
Get Energized
Power up with these dynamic breathwork and movement practices.
Daily Mindfulness for Better Sleep
Learn to quiet your busy mind so you can finally find some peace at night.
Detach From Negative Thinking
Break free from rumination and minimize the power of negative thoughts.
Tools for Tension Relief
This three-part mini-course will help you relax your body's aches and pains.
Midday Work Break
Three practices to pause stress and increase wellbeing.
Stop Anxiety in Its Tracks
Practices to quickly interrupt anxious thoughts and feelings and help restore a quiet, balanced mind.
Learn to Respond Rather Than React
Retrain your knee-jerk reactions by learning to pause and take a breath in response to triggering words, thoughts, and experiences.
Lift a Low Mood
Feeling better is just around the corner when you identify, accept, and breathe through your emotions.
Ease Pain with Meditation
In the race to find relief, researchers are increasingly looking at non-pharmaceutical solutions like meditation.
Breathwork for Inner Heat
Practicing Tummo will boost your immune power, and generate heat and energy when you're cold or tired.
Soothing Alternate Nostril Breathing
This practice is uniquely calming and helpful if you are stressed, anxious, or are having trouble falling asleep.
Breathwork for Instant Relaxation
This breathwork practice will strengthen your mind's capacity to deal with stress and your body's resistance to disease.
Energizing Breath of Fire
Try this cleansing and stimulating breath technique at the start of each day, or when running low on energy.
4-7-8 Breath to Fall Asleep Quick
If you're tossing and turning at night, this practice may facilitate relaxation and help you fall asleep in no time.
Power Breathing to Boost Immunity
This breathwork practice will give you an energy and immunity boost.
Box Breathing for Maximum Calm
Try three or four cycles of this box breathing exercise daily to achieve maximum calm, focus, and concentration.
Breathwork for a Better Mood
This breathwork exercise will help synchronize your heart and brain rhythms so you can feel more stable emotionally.
Change Your Habits with Meditation
We see meditation as not just a healthy habit, but as a lifestyle practice that helps build healthy mental and behavioral habits.
Mind-Body Benefits of Meditation
Meditation offers a variety of scientifically-backed benefits like improved sleep, reduction in stress, and higher overall happiness.
What's Your Meditation Style?
Some prefer guided-meditation, and for teachers or individuals with an advanced practice, self-meditation may work better.
The Mindfulness Effect on Stress
'Breath control is the most effective way to control our stress, and regulate the stress response when we're reactive.'
Here’s How Music Can Help You Sleep
Few adults fall asleep to lullabies anymore, but studies show we might want to consider it.
How Meditation Can Help You Sleep
While focusing on fluffy white sheep can be helpful, focusing the mind through meditation practices is even better.
5 Health Benefits Of Mindfulness
Mindfulness skills are well-suited to help people engage with uncomfortable, frustrating, and traumatic encounters.
Pause Before Overreacting
This short guided noting and labeling meditation will help you remain in a state of emotional balance through challenging situations.
Cultivate Love, Kindness, and Joy
Cover yourself in love by practicing this unique and powerful benefactor loving-kindness meditation.
Body Scan for Anxiety
This mindfulness practice will help you get out of your anxious mind, focusing on the sensations of the body instead.
Invigorating Mindful Walk
When you feel too energized or overwhelmed to sit down, try this walking meditation with wonderful health benefits.
Breath Meditation for Stress
Learn to use the power of your breath to activate your body's relaxation response and experience immediate calm.
Gain Clarity and Perspective
This open monitoring meditation is a core mindfulness practice that will help you gain insight and understand the way your mind works, giving you clarity and a sense of inner peace.
Increase Focus and Concentration
When thoughts and emotions are cluttering your mind, this focused attention meditation has been found to strengthen and stabilize attentional systems in the brain, regulate emotion, and control impulses.
Presenting My Research to The Dalai Lama
'I will watch you, whether you are really helping to build a happy, peaceful world or not [...]'
Featured Works
View All
Pizza Meditation
Tame challenging thoughts with a familiar visual.
Magic Eyes
Teach kids about compassion through "seeing" how we're all connected.
Nurture Love and Kindness
Imagine sharing kindness and love straight from the heart.
Rainbow Feelings
Learn about emotions through a colorful visualization.
Tasty Thoughts
Learn what it means to savor a happy moment.
The Flashlight
Learn to direct your focus like a beam of light.
Featured Works
View All
Mantra for Releasing Fears
Pizza Meditation
Tame challenging thoughts with a familiar visual.
Gratitude Boost
Lift your mood by focusing on the good things in life.
Magic Eyes
Teach kids about compassion through "seeing" how we're all connected.
Nurture Love and Kindness
Imagine sharing kindness and love straight from the heart.
The Flashlight
Learn to direct your focus like a beam of light.
Education
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University of Utah
PhD 2002 - 2005 -
University of Utah
Master's Degree 1999 - 2002 -
University of Rochester
Bachelor's Degree 1993 - 1997
Experience
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Associate Professor
Vanderbilt University Sep 2016 - Present (8 years) -
Core Training Faculty
Vanderbilt Brain Institute Sep 2016 - Present (8 years) -
Research Director
Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Sep 2016 - Present (8 years) -
Associate Psychologist
Brigham and Women's Hospital Jan 2009 - Aug 2016 (8 years) -
Instructor
Harvard Medical School Jan 2009 - Jan 2016 (7 years) -
Senior Research Coordinator
The Mind & Life Institute Aug 2007 - Aug 2011 (4 years)