Ronya Fakhoury Banks (she/her) has been the founding teacher of the Asheville Insight Meditation group in Asheville, NC, since 2020. In addition to having served as a traditional Theravada Buddhist nun, Ronya’s teaching is informed by 40 years of daily meditation practice, studying with more than 30 different Vipassana teachers in the Theravada tradition, and spending more than one year cumulatively on numerous silent Vipassana meditation retreats. As a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader training program, she considers Chanmyay Sayadaw, Jack Kornfield, and Joseph Goldstein, her primary teachers. She is presently enrolled in the joint IMS/Spirit Rock Teacher Training Program.

As an LCSW, Ronya combines her Buddhist knowledge and clinical experience as a therapist to better serve her clients. She has also supplemented her meditation experience and passion for Buddhism with over 25 years of experience in business management, training, and consulting with individuals and groups. Ronya combines her training in the Mahasi Sayadaw and Thai Forest traditions and introduces meditators to the style to best suit their challenges and personality. Her teaching style is characterized by her love for the traditional Buddhist teachings, as well as her authentic, down-to-earth personality.

Born originally in Kuwait and of Palestinian descent, Ronya values diversity, inclusiveness, and equality among all human beings.