There's plenty of research showing that sustained practice over time yields the most benefits to the practitioner. No real surprise there. And there's nothing (for most of us) like a regular group/community to provide us with the support, motivation and accountability to keep our home practice going.
Here are some groups that meet regularly (or soon will);
Bellingham area:
Free Drop-in class: Meets Thursday evenings starting February 1st. Mostly practice, with some instruction. Suitable for beginners. Click here for more.
Other groups: Check our website for more: Mindfulness Practice in Bellingham.
Seattle area: There are quite a few Mindfulness groups that meet regularly and are free. More information on our website: Mindfulness Practice in Seattle.