One could picture a long-bearded sage sitting cross-legged in the foothills of Rajasthan when the phrase “meditation instructor” is used in a sentence. While there have always been great teachers who match this somewhat stereotyped mold, meditation teachers today arguably hit closer to home. Even your cab driver, favorite barista, coworker, or neighbor could be pursuing a career in education.
Are you interested in learning how to start teaching others how to improve their practices? Here are six stages to accomplishing that:
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- Research the topic.
This section should be simple if meditation is something you’re interested in. Spend some time learning everything you can about it. Learn about the many kinds, enroll in a course, get in touch with instructors, and establish a regular practice schedule. There is no excuse for not being well-versed in the practice given the wealth of offline and online tools (think of guided meditation phone apps and online classes).
2. Hone your practice.
Being a teacher requires more than just talking the talk—you must also walk the walk. You must have a regular practice of meditation yourself if you intend to instruct others in the art. Start by allocating a specified period of time each day to practice meditation (a 10-minute morning session works best for me). To further your awareness, you can also go on retreats, meditate with friends, and—most importantly—speak with members of the meditation community. You will be able to navigate your own practice and develop a deeper understanding of your future students if you expose yourself to various viewpoints and approaches.
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- Verify that you’re entering it with the appropriate intentions.
You must first ask yourself why it is that you want to teach meditation in the first place. You can be in this for the wrong reasons if your ambition is to rise to the status of a famous and extremely wealthy meditation teacher. Your aspirations are likely more in line with what this journey requires if you fit into one of these three categories, though:
You have a thirst for information and desire to learn more about the fundamental styles of meditation. You don’t have any plans to become a regular teacher; instead, your goals are to improve as a meditator and devote more time to your daily practice.
You are an authority on health. Maybe you teach yoga or work in the field of mental health. You want your clients to benefit from meditation’s many beneficial effects, including improved sleep, less stress and anxiety, and other special advantages.
The calling you have is to teach meditation. You are passionate about spreading meditation to as many people as you can since you have personally witnessed its amazing effects.
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Whichever category you fall into, as long as your intentions are pure, this path is one that will welcome you with open arms and continue to grow and evolve with you.
4. Participate in an immersive teacher training with a credible instructor.
You need a lot of practice to become good at anything. The best strategy for quickly advancing your learning and for genuinely grasping the ins and outs of teaching is to commit to a lengthy and well-defined course. Choose careful you make a good program selection. Do your homework on the course, the instructors that will be assisting you, and the outputs you’ll receive after the training. Your future as a teacher will be influenced by the training you receive. To totally surrender into the position of student as you go deeper into this study, be sure the values of the organization and the teacher fit with your own.
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- Prepare your practice and spread the word about your talent.
Although it can initially appear intimidating, teaching others just requires practice. Keep each session to 10-15 minutes and begin with a small group of friends or coworkers. It’s a terrific approach to ease into teaching new people to start with people you know. As you mentor your students, remember to talk with clarity, competence, and a calming tone to encourage mental relaxation.
Are you prepared to start exposing more people to your talent? Here are a few excellent approaches:
Create a meetup.com meditation group.
Put a collection of meditations on YouTube or Insight Timer.
Post posters all throughout your neighborhood and organize a meditation session for a large group in a park or community center.
To promote your teachings and draw in additional meditators, start a Facebook group.
Speak with a nearby yoga or wellness center about scheduling one or two sessions each week.
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Observations on certifications
The 100-Hour Teacher Training at The Path in NYC (Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science, The Path and Pure Yoga) and Journey Meditation’s 100-Hour Teacher Training in NYC are two options for certification, while there isn’t a formal body that accredits all meditation instructors (Journey Meditation Teacher Training Program).
Know that every time you meditate, you are growing your own inner calm and sharing that gift with the world, which is sorely needed right now. This is true whether you wish to expand your practice or are ready to become a teacher. Learn more about meditation teacher salary.
- Verify that you’re entering it with the appropriate intentions.
