The American Meditation Institute in Averill Park, New York was founded in July 1996 by Leonard Perlmutter and Jenness Cortez Perlmutter for the teaching and practice of authentic Yoga Science as holistic mind/body medicine. In January 1999 the Internal Revenue Service extended tax exempt status to the The American Meditation Institute as a 501(c)3 educational organization.

Located in the picturesque foothills of the Berkshire Mountains just 12 miles from Albany, AMI provides a peaceful, healthy setting to learn practical skills that enhance physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Since 1996 the mind/body medicine teaching at AMI has reflected the best of the ancient Himalayan wisdom tradition and of all major meditation traditions.

1996
  • The American Meditation Institute (AMI) is founded by Leonard Perlmutter and Jenness Cortez Perlmutter.
  • AMI begins offering its first six-week mind/body medicine course AMI MEDITATION.
1997
  • “Transformation,” The Journal of Meditation as Mind/Body Medicine begins publication.
  • AMI establishes its first Easy-Gentle Yoga class.
1998
  • AMI launches Sundays in Saratoga meditation program in co-operation with The Center for Workforce Advancement, SUNY Empire State College.
  • Sacred Journey (The Art of Living and Dying) course, a study of the ancient Katha Upanishad, commences.
1999
  • The Chakras System and Human Anatomy is offered for the first time.
2000
  • AMI inaugurates Yoga Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita, High School Meditation and its weekend mind/body medicine retreat program.
2001
  • Sunday Meditation and Satsang program inaugurated.
2002
  • Kitchen Yoga: Food as Medicine workshop and Dinner & Movie Night established.
2003
  • First mind/body lecture series in Naples, Florida.
2004
  • AMI Speakers Bureau established.
2005
  • AMI Publishers releases The Heart and Science of Yoga®: A Blueprint for Peace, Happiness and Freedom from Fear by AMI founder Leonard Perlmutter. The book receives six national awards.
2006
  • The New York State Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association accredit AMI MEDITATION course for continuing medical education.
2008
  • AMI conducts a retrospective case study of participants who completed Leonard Perlmutter’s AMI MEDITATION Self-Care Program. The findings included various positive, reproducible, long-term health-promoting changes.
2009
  • The Albany Medical College and American Medical Association accredit AMI MEDITATION course for physicians’ continuing medical education. The first CME conference for physicians and healthcare professionals is held at the Cranwell Resort in Lenox, Massachusetts.
2010
  • Mind/body medicine pioneer Dr. Bernie Siegel joins the faculty of The American Meditation Institute.
  • AMI inaugurates computer distance learning for its Yoga Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita course.
2012
  • AMI expands its computer distance learning program to include the courses Sacred Journey (the study of the Katha Upanishad) and Best Choices (the study of the Yamas and Niyamas).
2013
  • The Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses and the American Psychological Association accredit AMI MEDITATION course for continuing education credit. The 5th Annual CME Conference is held at Cranwell Resort in November.
  • AMI constructs a Buddhi Yoga Labyrinth and creates woodland paths and seating areas on its campus. The labyrinth, paths and seating areas are available for anyone who wishes to visit and experience their positive effects.
2014
  • AMI launches its online meditation video course, Comprehensive Meditation and Easy-Gentle Yoga. The complete course is 5 1/2 hours, broken down into 40 segments which are available 24/7, allowing students to learn at their own pace and at times convenient for them.
2015
  • The summer of 2015 marks the completion of a three-year project of extensive walking trails that wind through AMI’s beautiful grounds.  Benches and sculptures were also added, inviting those who visit to sit for contemplation, meditation and prayer.
  • AMI holds it’s 7th Annual Continuing Medical Education conference for physicians and other health care providers at the Cranwell Resort and Spa in Lenox, Massachusetts.
  • AMI’s online meditation video course, Comprehensive Meditation and Easy-Gentle Yoga, is granted Continuing Medical Education accreditation by the American Medical Association and the Albany Medical College.
2016
  • AMI celebrates it’s 20th Anniversary. A special Thanks-Giving Dinner and Chamber Music Concert is held to commemorate the auspicious occasion.
2017
  • AMI Publishers releases a new revised and expanded edition of The Heart and Science of Yoga.®  Entitled The Heart and Science of Yoga,® The American Meditation Institute’s Empowering Self-Care Program for A Happy, Healthy, Joyful Life, the new edition includes two additional, previously unpublished chapters.
  • AMI begins a Facebook Live broadcast to provide seekers an opportunity to interact with Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) in real-time on a variety of topics for 20 minutes each week.
2018
  • AMI received IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval through Berkshire Medical Center to conduct a research study to examine the impact of a basic, daily mantra-based AMI meditation practice on the symptoms of burnout, compassion fatigue and stress in healthcare providers.
  • AMI holds its 10th Annual Continuing Medical Education conference for physicians and other health care providers at the Cranwell Resort and Spa in Lenox, Massachusetts
2019
  • AMI announced new Co-Chairs to its Department of Medical Education: Renee Rodriguez-Goodemote MD and Anthony Santilli MD.  Beth Netter MD, who had served as Chair since its inception in 2008, will serve as Chair Emeritus.
2020
  • AMI Founders, Leonard and Jenness Perlmutter create the 1st Annual National Conscience Month. National Conscience Month takes place each January, encouraging observers to “Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide,” explore more about their conscience — from what it is, to how it works, to how to access it reliably.
  • In honor of National Conscience Month, the first annual National Conscience Month Scholarship Contest is created offering high school students an opportunity to receive a $500 award in the categories of creative writing, visual art, song or music and video.
2021
  • AMI Publishers releases a new book entitled YOUR CONSCIENCE, The Key to Unlock Limitless Wisdom and Creativity and Solve All of Life’s Challenges.
  • AMI launches a special webinar series entitled Conversations on Your Conscience to present new perspectives on the role of the Conscience.  Special guests were invited to share their own unique experiences during each hour-long program
2022
  • AMI presents a special webinar New Year’s Transformation: Let the Experiments Begin! to encourage everyone to take a different approach to resolutions – use Your Conscience to make positive changes in your life.
  • The Lifestyle Magazine journal publishes The American Meditation Institute’s new peer-reviewed clinical study by Mark Pettus MD and Beth Netter MD entitled The effects of mantra based AMI Meditation on burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction levels in healthcare providers.” The study finds that AMI Meditation® reduces burnout and secondary traumatic stress while increasing compassion satisfaction levels in healthcare providers.  Read the full study:  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lim2.72
2023
  • After a four year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, AMI announces the return of The Heart & Science of Yoga® Physicians Conference and holds the 12th Annual CME conference in October at a new venue — the historic Equinox Resort in Manchester, Vermont.