We became an official nonprofit in January 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Our Founder, Paula Jane Newman, turned to meditation to manage lifelong chronic pain—seeking healing without mind-altering substances. As part of an underrepresented group in wellness spaces, she was called to make this work accessible to others.
After years of teaching Vedic Meditation to low-income and marginalized communities, Paula shifted her focus from profit to service, officially filing for nonprofit status in 2019. Her mission is to facilitate healing and uplift people around the world.
During the 2020 pandemic, we introduced Rise Up Comedy, using laughter to support mental health with clean, inclusive shows- we brought much healing through laughter with our cleanish comedy shows. This project has grown into a vibrant branch of our outreach, producing family-friendly performances and uplifting comedic talent. Learn more on our Rise Up Comedy page.
At Aware Meditation, we foster self-sufficiency, inclusivity, honesty, creativity, and joy. We offer programs in meditation, comedy healing, yoga, and wellness education covering chronic pain, carpal tunnel, anxiety, depression, and more—all to help people reconnect with their authentic selves.
Ashley Ware
CEO
Ashley was our first student at 6 years old and has never missed a day of practicing our techniques. A star of many of our young and teen videos, they are an ambassador for meditation during family introductions to the practice. Ashley was appointed CEO in hopes of bringing in Generation Z's advocacy for mental health to a more diverse audience. They attest that meditation has helped them with school bullying, academic stress, ADHD, autism, creativity, and strengthened their intuition. Ashley is currently majoring in Interactive Media and Game Design at USC in the School of Cinematic Arts.
Paula Jane Newman
Founder
Paula is known as “the Real Deal." Her honesty and integrity precedes her. She is our lead meditation teacher, Rise Up Comedy outreach head, immigrant, and first-generation college graduate from Carnegie Mellon University. A chronic pain warrior for over 20 years, Paula experienced a debilitating repetitive stress injury (filing/computer work) and sought meditation as an alternative to long term pharmaceutical drug dependency for pain management. Her meditation training required 6,500+ hours including being in Rishikesh, India. Paula is a 200 hour Vinyasa Yoga instructor, motivational/inspirational speaker, performer (comic, corporate improv, voice over artist), has worked on over 100 TV/Film projects and is the author for Vedic Meditation Stories.
She has appeared as our meditation founder for CBS’ GoodDay Sacramento, ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap (as George Hamilton’s meditation teacher), Fox21's Loving Living Local, numerous podcasts, and various publications. She was invited to the Cambridge University Press’ Bio Ethics in Education conference.
Willie Ware Jr.
CFO
Willie found Aware Meditation over 13 years ago after practicing many techniques. He experienced immediate results with improved sleep, more energy and awareness. He is an advocate of meditation for underrepresented groups and is an entrepreneur.
Jane Potelle
Board Secretary
Jane is head of development at TimeFrame Entertainment and a community leader. She is Commissioner of the Glendale Parks, Recreation & Community Services Board, steering committee member of the Glendale Environmental Coalition, a former board member of the Glendale College Parent Education Association and a mum of a very lively 10 year old boy. Jane seeks out community based organizations focused on advancing equity, providing educational opportunities, and unifying collectives.
Kaila Morris
14. March, 2025.
I just got the 2nd Vedic meditation upgrade from Paula Newman. I love my experience with the practice ( I have been doing VM twice daily for 17 years now) and I loved my experience of Paula's teaching! Her gentle, respectful manner of communicating is in itself very healing, and she has a way with words that empowers my understanding, exploration and broadening of my practice to an uncanny degree that seems as though it must be bespoke, right? So grateful for the new level of consciousness! I have been craving a reconciliation between spirit and body, creative inner kid and practical adult, Higher Self and shadow self for quite some time now, and this upgrade is a major breakthrough into a new rich and full experience of reality from all of these sides, all of me! Aware meditation for the win!
Randy Cusick
9. February, 2025.
This class was amazing. I had zero confidence going in. I never thought I could get up in front of a crowd, but after only four classes, I was able to not only to perform, but perform confidently in front of a crowd and the response from the crowd was spectacular. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who has an interest in comedy. I was taught how to use life experiences to my benefit.
Debbie Fan
9. February, 2024.
I had never taken a stand up class before and wasn’t sure what to expect. Paula made it really fun and I even performed my set in front of a live audience on stage. It was a great experience. If you’re thinking about taking class…go for it!
Tylor P
7. November, 2022.
Paula taught a meditation course at my workplace and she was really great to work with. She responds timely, took great care with each student, and brings some levity to learning to meditation. If you want to learn to meditate, I highly recommend Aware Meditation!
Harmon W
23. March, 2021.
I have personally benefited from the wonderful meditation training at Aware Meditation. My doctor recommended I meditate to relieve unrelenting stress, anxiety, and anger ... and it worked (almost immediately). Trainer is always available for support and follow up questions, and regular free group meditations help keep me on track. I contributed to the eBook and also attended the Rise Up comedy event supporting mental health awareness. The work this non-profit does should not be underestimated. To be able to bring these life-changing tools to underrepresented groups who need it most can quite literally transform the planet. Organization is currently on a skeleton budget and needs donations to not only sustain but to take it to the next level. The meditation techniques taught have proven ability to quiet an addict's busy mind and bring peace and productivity into the lives of the long suffering. Contributions will allow more lives to be reached and impacted. As a practitioner and member of the Aware Meditation family for many years now, I can honestly say no amount of money can be placed on the life-enriching, soul-level peace that has entered my heart. The founder herself has physical restrictions and the non profit is 100% for underrepresented groups - women, BIPoC or with disabilities. Please support!
Sarah Sawyer
8. May, 2019.
I have meditated on and off (mostly off and/or once a day) for 18 years. Just over a year ago, I saw Paula for a weekend class and finally made the commitment to a twice daily meditation practice. Wow! What a difference it has made in my overall peace of mind and clarity. I am so grateful that I have a tangible way to get a reprieve from the constant thought loop in my head, manage stress and get deep rest in this practice. As a result of my mediatation practice, I feel more self-aware and intentional about the choices I make because I am more present. It is not hyperbole to say that this meditation technique has changed my life. Meditation has also served as a catalyst to a larger personal journey of self -discovery and mindfulness. If you are considering a meditation practice, I can’t recommend Paula and Aware Meditation highly enough.