Advice for Meditation Teachers

By Sangeetha Saran

Becoming a meditation teacher is an incredibly rewarding experience, but there are a few factors that need to be considered in order to successfully help others on their path to enlightenment. Teachers know that helping others learn the practice of meditation takes patience, dedication, practice, understanding, and kindness. The path to becoming a good teacher can be a long one, but here are five things every teacher should know about teaching meditation.

1. Master what you Know

Most of us have heard a variation of the saying: "Jack of all trades, master of none." Most teachers are good at one style, but few can master two styles. Understanding what you know about your style of meditation is important for those looking to teach the ancient subject. Meditation and spiritual enlightenment have been around for thousands of years, and the roots of the practice are important. Due to the dynamic history of each style, teachers are likely to encounter a wide variation of meditation practices as they begin teaching students. 

Getting a good grasp on history is important, but having a mastery of the meditation style and practices you do know by heart and where they come from helps others feel comfortable in trusting this ancient tradition.

2. Environment is Key

While inner guidance is the crucial aspect of meditation, having a space that students feel comfortable in is a must. The path to enlightenment requires students to let go of their surroundings so they have the opportunity to focus within. That’s why ensuring that students have a safe place to sit and reflect will have a major impact in creating long-term clients. Here are a few key fundamentals to having a comfortable meditation studio.

A meditation room must be silent so students can focus. It’s also very important to have tools that make meditation postures more comfortable. Another excellent way to help create a supportive environment for meditation lighting up calming fragrances, and having a calming light emission. Electronic devices (smart phones, tablets, etc.) should also be banned from the meditation room to avoid unnecessary distractions during class.

Meditation teachers pride themselves in building a space that allows students to relax and let go of the physical plane. At the end of the day, any environment that’s free of distraction will improve quality of life. Disconnecting from the world fosters progress and decreases stress for students, and it’s absolutely crucial for students to focus if they’d like to improve quickly through practice. 

3. Encourage Students to Start Slow

While this may feel counter-productive, starting off students with long and extensive meditation practices lead to quitting. Sometimes it’s hard to remember the times when we first set foot on our spiritual journey, but the absolute truth is we didn’t develop mental control overnight.

Taking over a busy mind takes time, and it’s important to have a program in place for those who are new to the journey. Guided meditations are an incredible way to help beginners start their journey into meditation, but there are plenty of ways teachers can help new students quickly develop enough self-control to sit through full meditation classes with others.

Sitting through an advanced meditation class for beginners can be discouraging, so it’s important to find a nice balance between those just beginning their journey and those who have been practicing for years. 

4. Stick to a Routine

Having a consistent class schedule and a planned curriculum is another crucial aspect of teaching yoga. In fact, meditation teachers often love having the ability to teach different variations of meditation to students as they progress, but the class schedule should be planned to optimize the results of students.

5. Reward Loyal Students

Students tend to come and go in waves, but a few people will stick around for years if you treat them well. Having a “loyalty program” will go a long way in keeping dedicated students around for the long haul. While filling up classes is nice, it can be counterproductive to those who are dedicated to mastering the practice. 

Giving students who successfully complete beginner programs is a wonderful way to ensure that dedicated students have the environment and curriculum they need in order to succeed. Some teachers even create custom-designed programs for students who successfully finish the beginner programs so students can make the most of their practices.

Knowing these five simple aspects of teaching meditation will make teaching more smooth, productive, and enjoyable.

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