Meditation is an ancient practice of focusing the mind and body. Meditation in all its forms permeates numerous world cultures and religions and has become a popularized wellness activity to this day for its many benefits, both spiritual and physical. But meditation is not just a matter of quietly sitting cross-legged on the ground for an extended period of time—meditation teachers can help demystify just what meditation is, how to do it well and how it can benefit you.
Becoming a meditation teacher and passing its traditions along to others is no simple feat, however. There are many paths you can take to becoming a meditation teacher, all of which stem from developing a strong personal practice in meditation yourself.
“Meditation is built into us in the same way that we’re meant to sleep. It is part of our toolbox of rest.”
-Kimberly Novosel
What is meditation and what does it do?
Meditation originated in India during the ancient Vedic period, approximately 1500-500 BCE, though meditation practices are found in numerous cultures and religions around the world. According to Vedic science, human beings are made up of three aspects: the physical body, our inner faculty (the mind, ego, memories, etc.) and our deep inner self (pure consciousness and the source of all knowledge and creativity). Since they believed that the deep inner self activates the inner faculty which then activates the physical body, meditation was viewed as a way to initiate this energetic feedback loop to reduce stress, promote inner harmony and improve one’s health.
Today, the term “meditation” is used to describe many different techniques that cultivate mind-body awareness and a sense of peace. Indeed, many people have touted the benefits of meditation and have attributed their success or ideas to their meditative practice. Steve Jobs is just one example. The revolutionary co-founder of Apple Inc. and the brain behind the iPhone became interested in Buddhism in the 1970s and practiced Zen meditation throughout his life.
“Meditation is built into us in the same way that we’re meant to sleep. It is part of our toolbox of rest,” said Kimberly Novosel, meditation teacher and founder of Flourish Meditation, which offers a meditation teacher training program.
How one meditation teacher found her calling
Novosel discovered meditation by way of a unique personal journey that began within another career. For 17 years she worked in the music and entertainment industries doing artistic development and management for musicians.
“During that time, I functioned personally from a place of ego where I felt like the busier I was, the more important or successful I would be. I wore it as a badge of honor that I felt like I could do more in a day than most people could. My productivity was something that I felt like I excelled at and that made me better than other people. But I was anxious all the time.”
Over the years she tried whatever she could to manage her anxiety, but nothing was really making large improvements.
“I woke up super anxious one day and I thought, ‘What can I do right this moment that would help me to feel better and be able to move on with my day?’ So I started to think about the things that I have experienced, love about myself and know about myself to be true.”
For Novosel, these included things like her love of writing and knowing she was good at it, or her favorite trip she took to Paris all on her own. Reflecting on these “unshakable” parts of herself that she loved—things that, say, a career or a breakup could not take away—had a profound effect.
“I was calmer faster than I had ever been before. After practicing that for a couple of weeks, then to a couple of months, I wasn’t even waking up anxious anymore. And I came to realize that I was meditating.”
After eventually leaving behind her old job, Novosel attended a meditation teacher training and then founded Flourish in 2019.
Benefits of meditation
In addition to helping her manage her anxiety, Novosel said that meditation was incredibly helpful during a particularly difficult time in her life.
“Having the practice behind me was such an aid in having this foundation of how to handle myself, and then continuing to practice showed me what I wanted to do and gave me a lot of peace about the pace at which I can make changes in my life.”
Since then, her relationship to meditation has continued to evolve.
“I have come to view the absolute core purpose of meditation is clearing the path to our true selves. Clearing away the noise, clearing away the expectations of society or of our parents, or of the career we’re committed to because we went to college for it,” Novosel said. “Meditation clears all of that out of the way and we’re able to see ourselves and we’re able to hear our inner voice really clearly.”
In addition to the spiritual benefits of meditation, studies show that meditation can also have many other physical and mental health benefits including:
Strengthened immune system
Improvement in some brain functions
Reduction of inflammation and symptoms from associated conditions like asthma and arthritis
Reduction of hypertension and blood pressure
Delay of aging processes
Reduction of symptoms in depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental health disorders
What do meditation teachers do?
Whether they are instructing students in a physical location or online, the bulk of a meditation teacher’s job is all about verbally guiding students into meditative states and teaching them how to effectively practice meditation on their own.
Guide and instruct:
Meditation teachers provide clear and concise instructions on various meditation techniques to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for students. They often select music to accompany their verbal instructions.
Tailor their practices:
A good meditation teacher can cater to students’ diverse needs and experience levels by offering modifications and adjustments to meditation techniques.
Cultivate awareness:
Teachers help students develop their self-awareness and cultivate a deeper understanding of their thoughts and emotions.
Create a safe space:
Meditation teachers must foster a sense of peace and tranquility within their classroom to allow students to connect with their inner selves. They must prioritize a positive, judgement-free space that is open to all types of people.
Answer questions about meditation:
By understanding the history, purpose and benefits of meditation, a meditation teacher can educate their students and be prepared to answer any questions they may have.
Novosel said she often spends her mornings working on marketing, answering emails or planning her next workshop or group retreat. Later in the day she does her one-on-one coaching sessions.
“In a 50-minute session I have students I work with where we will meditate, we’ll do some reflective journaling and then we have discussion and we’re working on building that connection to self.”
Students are not only learning to meditate but are often seeking meditation as a way to cope with something going on in their lives, be it a divorce or breakup, dissatisfaction with their job, dealing with grief, thinking of moving to a new city or whatever it may be.
How to become a meditation teacher
Becoming a meditation teacher is not a straightforward process, which can make the journey a bit confusing. Unlike massage therapists or acupuncturists that need a specific license to practice, there aren’t any educational or other requirements that you must have to be a mediation teacher. What it really comes down to is honing your own meditation practice and slowly building a credible reputation.
Formal meditation education and training
Consider enrolling in meditation teacher training programs offered by reputable schools or meditation centers. These programs can provide in-depth instruction on meditation theory, teaching methodologies, ethical considerations and more. Meditation teacher training can be one-time retreats, months-long programs or something in between.
“Some people do a yoga teacher training where there might be a very small section on meditation since yoga really is in the family of meditation. In a sense, that is enough to teach. There are trainings that you can take from home and it’s maybe a few hours and it gives you an overview of meditation. Or you can go live in an ashram for weeks or months and study—there is a huge spectrum,” Novosel said.
For Novosel, she completed a 200-hour teacher training program that covered the history of meditation, different types of meditation, provided several meditation class scripts and more. Although it gave her a great foundation, she felt like the class lacked important instruction on how to actually turn meditation teaching into a career. As someone who already had the experience of creating her own business, she founded Flourish to create a program that included how to do exactly that.
“Not only are you learning about meditation—what it really means, how to practice it, many different types, the history, all of that stuff—but you’re also doing creative writing and learning to write your own powerful meditation classes. We’re teaching things like how to use your voice, how to present yourself, how to hold space for your students. There’s also business marketing and branding for if you want to have a brand or a business as a teacher, or just learn how to work as an independent contractor,” Novosel said. “When students finish our program, we feel so confident that they are able to do every piece of this work.”
Flourish’s program is now entirely online so students can take the class at their own pace, but it also provides one-on-one mentorship to students so that they are supported throughout the course.
“I would look for something that has comprehensive information [about meditation] as well as the support about finding your own teaching style, your own voice and being able to write your own meditations.”
Mentorship
No matter what stage of training you are in, finding a mentor can be incredibly helpful on your journey. By connecting with experienced meditation teachers, you can receive guidance on how to hone your craft and practical advice on how to break into the profession.
In fact, some schools of meditation—especially those which are closely affiliated with Buddhism or other religions—are not open to the public. Students must be invited to join by existing members or teachers. Because of this, mentorship from an initiated teacher may be a requisite to attend some programs.
Build your community
Finding your Sangha (Sanskrit for “community”) is an essential part of both honing your personal meditation practice and leveling up to a teacher yourself. Simply talk with other students and instructors at meditation studios and retreats to learn more about new opportunities, especially regarding becoming a teacher.
You might even offer to volunteer or apprentice at meditation centers or yoga studios to gain practical teaching experience under the supervision of seasoned teachers.
Skills needed to be a meditation teacher
Since the requirements to become a meditation teacher are relatively unfixed and fluid, making sure you have the right skills is incredibly important to become a successful meditation teacher.
Strong personal practice
A solid foundation in your own meditation practice is essential to becoming a meditation teacher. This allows you to speak from experience and guide students with authenticity. Before you can teach others how to meditate, you need to be a voracious student of meditation yourself. Practicing meditation just ten minutes every day can be a great place to start, as well as attending as many meditation classes and workshops as you can.
“A common misconception is that there’s some set of rules about meditation, like you have to sit a certain way, you have to close your eyes, whatever,” Novosel said. “The definition of meditation is what you can do with your mind, body and breath to shift your state of consciousness.” This could mean sitting in silence, absolutely, but it can also be going for a walk and noticing the sensations within you (both physical and emotional) and deliberately taking in the things around you. She likes to reference a quote from Eckhart Tolle to her students, especially when they’re struggling to meditate: “One conscious breath in and out is a meditation.”
Knowledge of meditation techniques
Many different forms of meditation exist. Mindfulness meditation is one of the most popular techniques practiced today and might be the one you are most familiar with. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on and acknowledging your present physical sensations, thoughts and feelings without passing judgement or subjecting them to interpretation. In its simplest form, mindfulness is all about awareness followed by acceptance.
Other types of meditation include:
Spiritual meditation: A focus on connecting with a higher spiritual power is emphasized. Forms of prayer are a prime example of spiritual meditation.
Movement meditation: Movement is utilized to better connect with the body and facilitate mediation through activities like yoga, walking, tai chi and more.
Mantra meditation: This form of meditation involves repeating a word or phrase to focus your mind and enter a meditative state. Many people are familiar with the word “Om” which is a sacred sound in Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions, but other words or phrases can be used.
Meditation practices may incorporate multiple forms of meditation at once.
By exploring and understanding these different types of meditation, you can infuse multiple techniques into your instruction and simply have a broader knowledge base to draw from as a teacher. You could also choose to specialize in any of these types of meditation if certain forms resonate with you.
Communication, compassion and empathy
Meditation is all about cultivating a sense of inner peace. This can’t be done (or done well) in an environment that is chaotic, negative or lacks emotional safety. That’s why it’s imperative that any meditation teacher be committed to creating a space that is positive, welcoming and supports students’ individual journeys.
“I really like being able to step into somebody’s vulnerable moment with them. That’s such an honor to be trusted that much,” Novosel said. “Often when I teach a workshop, even if it’s a group of only three, five or seven people sitting in front of me and they don’t know me, in the first 30 minutes there are often tears. That is such a testament to feeling like I was made to do this.”
Work settings for meditation teachers
Careers as a meditation teacher can be incredibly varied. Some may make meditation instruction their full-time job, while others may incorporate it into other professions as a yoga teacher, massage therapist, holistic health practitioner, mental health professional or something else. This can influence where and how you work.
Some of the places you could work include:
Meditation studios and centers:
Lead group meditation classes in dedicated meditation spaces that cater to a variety of student needs and interests.
Yoga studios:
You could teach meditation instruction as part of yoga classes or workshops which integrate meditation practice with physical postures or asanas. Some yoga studios also offer stand-alone meditation classes.
Workplace wellness programs:
As the concepts of “wellness” and “mindfulness” continue to permeate the mainstream, many employers nowadays have wellness programs or workshops to cater to employees’ mental health needs. Meditation teachers could find work within these programs, guiding corporate employees in meditation techniques to reduce stress and promote focus within the workplace.
Online platforms:
Develop and deliver online meditation classes or workshops, reaching a wider audience seeking guidance on their meditation journeys. This can be a great way to reach people in more suburban and rural areas where meditation and yoga studios are less common.
Wellness centers:
Health and wellness centers that offer holistic and alternative health services like nutrition counseling, acupuncture and the like may also offer meditation classes and employ meditation teachers.
How much do meditation teachers make?
Meditation instruction is a tough field to determine how much money you could make. Some teachers who conduct classes online or at a meditation studio set their own rates. Others who instruct within religiously affiliated schools may make very little or nothing at all.
It may be helpful to estimate how much you could make as a meditation teacher by considering the median annual salaries of several related careers. Unfortunately, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not have a category for meditation teachers specifically.
Career
Median Annual Salary
Teachers and Instructors, All Other
$64,690
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
$46,180
Recreation Workers
$35,380
Acupuncturists
$78,140
Religious Workers, All Other
$45,120
Ready to take the first step?
Becoming a meditation teacher begins with becoming a devoted student of meditation yourself. You need a well-developed personal meditation practice and knowledge of different techniques and traditions, which you can begin to learn through meditation classes and connecting with experienced meditation teachers and mentors.
With enough dedication, a commitment to self-improvement and a passion for sharing the practice of meditation, you can embark on a fulfilling journey to becoming a meditation teacher that inspires and empowers others to find peace and well-being in their lives.
