How to Teach Meditation

Meditation, an ancient practice that is supposed to calm the body and breath while focusing the mind, is practiced by many as a way to reduce anxiety and stress. If you've enjoyed meditation's life-altering health and spiritual benefits and have become inspired to pass your wisdom on to others, you'll want to learn more about how to teach meditation. Depending on the meditation discipline you practice, you may need to attend a teaching college or workshop--or it may suffice to take a relaxed, informal approach.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Place to meditate

Master Meditation

1. Decide which of the many different styles of meditation you're interested in learning. It is always best to choose a discipline that reflects your personal values and religious or spiritual beliefs.

2. Learn from a master. Sign up for a workshop, class or individual instruction from an experienced and qualified practitioner of the style of meditation you've chosen. Be mindful of scams, and always ask your teacher for referrals from former students.

3. Practice, practice, practice. In order to gain the amount of experience you'll need to feel confident teaching meditation to others, you will have to spend many hours meditating, studying and refining your technique.

4. Join a local organization or society dedicated to furthering awareness of your meditation discipline. This will help you meet people who share your interest, some of whom may become prospective students.

5. Know as much as you can. Become well-versed in major meditation texts and spiritual figures. A knowledge of Nhat Hanh's life and work will be illuminating if you're a novice. Start by reading "A Lifetime of Peace" (see Resources below).

Become a Meditation Teacher

6. Find out if your meditation discipline offers special instruction on how to become an accredited teacher. Transcendental Meditation, for example, does offer workshops for those who have mastered it and are interested in teaching it.

7. Network with other people interested in the style of meditation you practice. Let them know you are interested in becoming (or have become) a teacher, and ask if they know anyone who is interested in receiving lessons.

8. Advertise in meditation newsletters, meditation centers or your local New Age store. Newspaper ads will also reach a lot of readers, though little of your target market may see the ad.

9. Invest in creating a professional but comfortable teaching setting. You will be more likely to attract students if you convey an air of professionalism.

10. Encourage your students. Help them become the best they can be and they'll refer others to you.

Tips & Warnings

• Mastering any type of meditation to the point where you'll be qualified to teach can take many months or years of practice. Costs involved can be considerable if you take lessons or classes from a qualified instructor, especially for Transcendental Meditation (TM). TM tuition costs can be quite expensive.
• Meditation is a supplementary treatment for stress and for health conditions such as obesity and high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor immediately if you are experiencing panic attacks or intense feelings of depression.