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.

Michele Lilyanna has taught in the public education system for the past 25 years, although all of her principals have described her as "out of the box" and out of the building with her students! For most of that time her focus has been social and emotional learning. When Michele is not teaching parents, educators, or children, you will find her awakening joy on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia with her partner Peter and her two sons.