Revelations from Meditation Teacher Training
Lessons Learned
Embrace the Classroom of Life: The Spirit of a Lifelong Learner
When I felt the calling to become a meditation teacher, I soon realized how many courses there were to choose from. I researched them all, but wholeheartedly resonated with Chopra’s Primordial Sound Meditation course. I was already meditating with a mantra at the time, but wanted to dive deeper into the rich history of Vedic philosophy. It was truly a perfect match for me - in depth and spiritual yet grounded in reality. Deepak’s scientific background and experience as a practicing physician roots him firmly in the real world, yet his years of involvement with the transcendental meditation movement indicated to me that he is dedicated to the mind-body connection. Simply put, I like the duality of Chopra, and trust that anything he is involved with would be comprehensive and illuminating.
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What did I gain from my education:
How to better weave my meditation into my daily routines and rituals
How to fine-tune my meditation practice, and take it to a deeper level
How to be less judgmental of each meditation session. I realized that each one is unique, and the experience is always the correct one for me at that moment in time.
A reminder that thoughts are part of the meditation process. Our brains were meant to think thoughts. Meditation is NOT clearing your mind of all thoughts.
Finding the guru within - I’m less likely to look to others for the answers, and focus on trusting my instincts more often.
I learned that there are MANY more benefits to meditation than stress relief and a sense of peace, and the science is catching up with the spiritual.
A deeper knowledge of the 8 Limbs of Yoga, Layers of Life, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, and the different states of consciousness.
And most importantly… HOW to teach this practice in a respectful, humble, and authentic way. It is an honor to coach students through this profound path, and I will always guide from a place of reverence and wonder.
What have I shifted in my own meditation teaching:
Any meditation is better than no meditation. I used to be hard on myself about the length of time I meditated. Chopra recommends 30 minutes twice a day, which is not always doable for me. And quite frankly, sometimes after 15 minutes, I feel like I have truly gotten what I needed. I am gentle on the timing, and just do what I can do in that moment. Meditation shouldn’t be so dogmatic. This is something you are doing for yourself. You have nothing to prove. So, while I appreciate Deepak’s take on the length of the meditation, I tend to believe that consistency matters more. It's not about the length of each session but how frequently you meditate. The aim is to integrate meditation into your daily routine, making it an integral part of your life.
While I enjoy the way Chopra begins Primordial Sound meditation, I found that it created too much mental activity for me. Easing into the meditation more gently, with fewer words, settles me into that deeper, quieter space.
Chopra’s Primordial Sound Meditation begins by silently asking yourself the Four Soul Questions:
Who am I?
What do I want?
What’s my purpose?
What am I grateful for?
This is then followed by Neti, Neti (Sanskrit for “not this, not this”). It’s a brief process of letting go of who we think we are before beginning meditation. You say to yourself:
I am first name, last name.
I am first name.
I am.
Ahum (the Sanskrit vibration of “I am”).
While the soul questions and Neti, Neti are lovely to include, it has a tendency to stir up a lot of thoughts and reactions in my mind before I enter a meditative state. I find that its best to use these methods as a journaling prompt or possibly after meditating. But I personally like to use a simple, calming technique before meditation:
My meditation begins with a moment of mindfulness, where you notice your 5 senses:
What do you Hear? Feel? See? Taste? Smell?
I learned this technique from psychologist/neuroscientist/writer Ethan Kross, who brilliantly explained how becoming aware of your 5 senses is a powerful method to tap into your body and even shift your mood. (Check out his bestselling book in the book club. It’s called Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It).
Noticing your senses is a meaningful way to begin a meditation practice because it doesn’t create thoughts, only a gentle moment of mindfulness.
I love to end the meditation with Chopra’s Four Intentions:
Joyful, energetic body
Loving, compassionate heart
Reflective, alert mind
Lightness of being
When we silently repeat the Four Intentions, we align with our core values, which guide us toward living a more authentic and fulfilling life.
After the Four Intentions, I include a moment of gratitude, where I visualize what it is I’m grateful for. It only takes a moment, but I try not rush this part because gratitude shifts the focus back to the real world and is a soothing way to emerge from the meditation with ease.
Once students get into the habit of meditating and it becomes a part of their life, I love catching up with them to see what other lifestyle changes that they are incorporating. Even simple practices can make a big shift. I changed my alarm clock to a clock that wakes you up slowly with a simulated sunrise. It’s much gentler than an alarm, but also perfect for helping me prepare for my first meditation of the day. On top of that, I used to shy away from heat, but I’ve been using an infrared sauna a couple times per week, and I truly feel the amazing benefits. Different protocols work for different people, but it’s fun to try new things and see if it feels right to you.
On the topic of trying new things, I've started to see things differently recently. I used to worry that I wasn’t “enlightened” enough to teach meditation. Afterall, I’m just a human being with flaws and insecurities like everyone else. But now, I see myself as a student of life, tenaciously curious — always learning, growing, and creating imperfectly. And I’m totally okay with that! I’m not a monk, guru, or sage — I’m relatable, and to me, that’s more important because what I aspire to share is valuable for everyone living in this high-tech, fast-paced, modern world. It’s a simple practice that ANYONE can do. It’s attainable and it’s necessary. You just need to take the plunge!
