Introduction – So you want to be a meditation teacher – Here’s how to know if you are ready
A meditation teacher is a person who has solid knowledge of meditation and can teach it to other people. They are sometimes called a meditation coach.
There are many different types of meditation, and all of them have their own specific benefits, so it’s important to know what you want to achieve before choosing the type of meditation that you want to teach.
A good way of deciding if you’re ready to be a meditation teacher is by assessing your current level of mindfulness. If you’re already in touch with your feelings and thoughts, and if you have a strong regular practice, then you might be ready!
This article will give you the necessary knowledge and skills to know if you are ready to become a meditation coach or a meditation teacher.
My Story – How I Became A Meditation Teacher
I first learned about meditation when I was in high school. One of my teachers told me that he had been practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) for many years and that it helped him to relax and focus. This piqued my interest, so I started researching the topic and found that there are many different types of meditation.
Then I got a copy of the book “The TM Book” by Denise Denniston and read it in one sitting.
It was one of those books where you can’t put it down because you want to know what happens next, but at the same time, you don’t want to finish because it’s so good!
After reading the book, I decided to try meditating for 10 minutes every day before going to bed. After a few weeks, I noticed that my mind felt more clear and less cluttered during the day.
I got so interested in TM that I took a formal course in TM, which was quite expensive for me. The Transcendental Meditation Teacher gave me my own private and secret mantra. All I can tell you is that it was a short sequence of Sanscrit syllables.
In TM they teach you to ignore the meaning of the syllables , and just repeat the syllables over and over in your mind for 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening.
After 5 years of doing this every single day, I took the TM teacher training and got certified by the TM organization to teach under their direction and completely in their system.
Over the years I came to believe TM was too restrictive, too expensive to learn, and that other ways could be just as good.
I now have certifications as a Mindfulness Teacher Trainer, and even have a course for people like you who want to get ready to be a really good mindfulness teacher and coach.
The following are suggestions for getting ready to be a meditation teacher:
1) You should have completed at least 10 to 50 hours of training in mindfulness or an equivalent practice.
2) You should have completed a course in psychology or psychiatry, or have some other relevant training.
3) You should have practiced meditation for at least 1 year and be able to demonstrate that you can meditate for 20 minutes without difficulty.
4) You should also have some experience in teaching mindfulness practices to others.
What makes a good meditation teacher?
To be a good meditation teacher, one should have patience, empathy, understanding, and humor.
For you to be a good meditation teacher you should also have the following qualities:
1. Patience: A good meditation teacher should be able to teach without getting frustrated or impatient with the student. They should also be patient with themselves and not get frustrated if they are not as good at it as they would like to be.
2. Compassion: A good meditation teacher should have compassion for their students and have a desire to help them learn how to meditate in order for them to improve their lives and well-being.
3. Kindness: A good meditation teacher is kind towards the students and ensures that everyone is comfortable during the class, even if they are struggling with something or having difficulties understanding what is going on.
4. Humility: A good meditation teacher has humility, which means that they are confident in their teaching abilities but know that there is always room for improvement, which means that they will never stop learning about meditation themselves or from other teachers who might have more knowledge.
You are ready to be a meditation teacher if you have these 4 qualities above.
Can you make a good living as a meditation teacher?
The answer is yes!
There are many ways to make a living as a meditation teacher.
Some teachers offer private sessions, while others teach at yoga studios or offer workshops. Some people teach online, and some teachers even have their own podcast.
There are also ways to make money by teaching meditation online. There are many websites that offer courses and certifications for certification in meditation and mindfulness practices.
There are many opportunities available in the world of meditation and mindfulness and many people who have found success in these fields.
You just need to be aware of what you want out of your career and how you want to present yourself to the world.
Is there a demand for meditation teachers?
The demand for meditation teachers is growing.
There are many ways in which meditation has been beneficial to people. These benefits range from improved focus, better sleep, less anxiety, and increased happiness. Meditation also has the ability to help people with mental illnesses such as depression, PTSD, and addiction.
This means that there is a definite demand for meditation teachers.
The demand can be seen in the increased number of people who want to learn how to meditate and who are looking for a qualified teacher.
What is it like to be a meditation teacher?
Meditation teachers are often the first teachers that people meet in the beginning of their meditation journey. They provide guidance and support for their students, and they also teach them how to meditate effectively.
The role of a meditation teacher is not just about teaching people how to meditate, but also about helping them develop self-awareness and mindfulness through meditation practice.
My experiences as a mindfulness teacher trainer and coach.
Helping people learn how to “run their own mind” better is one of the most satisfying experiences I have ever had.
Since the pandemic, I have moved all my teaching online and no longer do any in-person trainings.
Teaching Meditation is Truly Fun and Fulfilling — Especially Online!
Recently I began teaching online courses via video conferencing and creating online video presentations and lessons. This allowed me to reach a larger audience of students who were interested in learning from me.
In addition, it allowed me to design my own courses and schedule my time as I pleased. This was a major advantage as people were still questioning whether you could effectively teach meditation online by video then. By being able to design my own courses, I could control the message and quality of what I was teaching which gave me an edge over the competition.
I discovered there were many advantages.
After years of teaching students through telephone and email and in small groups in person, I was excited for the opportunity to teach them through video. It felt like a fresh and innovative way to connect with my students. And, it turned out to be an incredibly effective method of instruction.
You can now connect with others like never before with the great new video meeting apps such as Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet. These apps allow you to have face-to-face interactions with ease, which makes communication more pleasant and more powerful.
There is Incredible Flexibility in Teaching Meditation Online.
- You can teach from anywhere in the world.
- You can teach at your time, and from your place
- You can teach meditation to people anywhere in the world
If you are ready to be a meditation teacher- email me.
Jim (at) JimVanWyck dot com
