Dr. Femke E. Bakker

18.3k Followers

Dr. Femke E. Bakker is a selfgentleness teacher, behavioral scientist, and TEDx speaker. She explores what it means to be selfgentle: radically accepting yourself as the most important person to consistently deserve your own gentleness. Especially in those moments when old patterns creep in and caring for your own wellbeing suddenly feels off. Femke's work blends behavioral science, meditation, and lived experience into clear, selfgentle practices that help you remember: you don’t need to fix yourself anymore. She is also a professor at Leiden University, where she studies leadership, beliefs, stress release during crisis decision making and the impact of meditation on social and political processes. For those who’ve done the inner work and are now ready to stop working and start living with more ease and joy, Femke created the Selfgentleness Academy. It’s a safe and encouraging space—self-paced or shared with likeminded others—where you can get steady in the art of selfgentleness, no matter what life throws at you. On Insight Timer, Femke offers courses to help you bring selfgentleness into your personal and professional life. Every second Friday of the month, she hosts The Selfgentleness Hour LIVE (3:30pm EST), where you can experience her guidance in real time.

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Reviews

Bev

Feb 9, 2026

I love this warm short talk, I will use it often . 🙏💐

C. Bigoni

Feb 6, 2026

Nice teacher and I enjoyed your lessons. Gratitude.

mimi

Jan 29, 2026

Very calming, very gentle. I will sleep well tonight! <3

Leigh in Australia

Jan 26, 2026

Thanks Femke for this short, yet helpful course. Self gentleness has certainly been something missing in my life and I'll aim to softening and bring this attitude into all my activities 🙏🫶

Linda

Jan 25, 2026

Korte meditatie waardoor ik in het nu kom en weer meer in contact met mezelf kom. Ik pas deze bijna dagelijks een aantal keer toe. Dank je wel Femke!

Mark D60

Jan 25, 2026

It was good, program of my nostrils was closed. It was nice to just breathe along at that pace.

Tamara

Jan 20, 2026

I am grateful for you. Thanks very much 💗 Beautiful end to the day.

Jessi Lewis

Jan 11, 2026

Thank you for this absolute gem of a morning meditation! I honestly didn’t realize how much I start my day with worry until now. I’m going to be saving this meditation to my favourites and practising often. thank you!

Windy

Dec 28, 2025

I really needed this. I am sick with a bad cold. I am giving my body time to heal by resting and loving care.

Camelot

Dec 26, 2025

So lovely. Gentle, soothing, peaceful 💕 Here in Southern California on this very rainy, sleety day. Thank you

About

Speaks English and Nederlands

Joined Insight Timer in March 2019


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