Want to learn to meditate from the comfort of your own home? Find out more about meditation and online courses
You've probably heard all about the benefits of meditation (more on that later!), but are wondering how to actually get started? Should you just sit by yourself and try to meditate, or watch a YouTube video and follow along? Or maybe you’re considering taking an online meditation course and learning at home.
Well, the best way to learn meditation practices is under the guidance of a qualified teacher. This takes the guesswork out of it. You leave knowing exactly what you need to do, and you have the time to ask any questions during the meditation course.
While in-person courses are popular, this is not always the best option for everyone. Maybe you don't have much time, or live somewhere remote, or don't feel comfortable mingling with people.
If that's you, then you will be pleased to know that you can take online meditation courses! Yay! All that knowledge from the comfort of your own home.
What are the benefits of a meditation practice?
There are so many benefits! A good meditation technique is like your secret weapon if you want to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. Meditation is also wonderful for boosting well-being, health, and general enjoyment of life! A great addition to your daily life!
Meditation has been shown to:
- Improve sleep
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce negative emotions
- Bring a new perspective toward challenges
- Help you focus on the present moment
- Increase self-awareness
- Aid in stress relief
- Boost overall health
- Reduce chronic pain
- and more!
Why are meditation courses useful?
Whenever you want to learn something, it makes sense to learn it from an expert. Trying to do everything yourself is really hard!
People often pick a technique that isn't very beneficial and struggle to be consistent. Then, rather than your practice helping to reduce stress, you actually get stressed about your meditation!
Traditionally, meditation was always taught from teacher to student. Learning meditation in this way just makes it easier for you. This way you have a plan, and you know what you need to do.
How do I find a course?
Before looking for a course it can be helpful to do some research into the different styles and types of meditation training that exist, as they can be quite different!
Mindfulness meditation, for example, is very much about watching the mind and becoming very aware of your thoughts. Some people like this, and it can be a great tool to start observing your mind. But it doesn't really get to the heart of meditation, which is to go beyond the mind.
Guided meditations are also popular, but again, are often very much about the mind. They often include visualizations or imagery, which can be a great experience, but doesn't take you beyond your thoughts.
If you’re looking for an Art of Living course, you can see the full schedule here.
What are the best meditation courses?
Well, here at the Art of Living, we think SKY Breath Meditation is an amazing course for both beginners and experienced meditators.
SKY utilizes breathing exercises to make your daily meditation practice deep, transformative, and (dare I say?) easy.
Controlling your mind can be really hard! This is what most people try to do when they meditate. They sit, close their eyes, and try to control their mind by not thinking. When thoughts inevitably come, they often feel like they've failed.
SKY doesn't rely on control, but rather uses your breath to take you beyond the mind.
How do breathing and meditation fit together?
This is a great question! We often think of meditation and breathing techniques (known as pranayama in Sanskrit) to be two separate things. But they actually work really well together!
Working with your breath is very powerful. It can help to regulate your nervous system, reduce blood pressure, calm your mind, and improve your well-being. The breath is a great tool for personal development. It can help you to deal with day-to-day life, as well as deepen your spiritual practice.
It's also a lot easier to control your breath than it is to control your mind. Through breath control, you can calm your mind. So, even if you've struggled to meditate in the past, that doesn't mean you won't enjoy breath-based styles.
How can I get started?
If you'd like to get started and learn SKY, you are in the right place. While you can take a course in person, we also offer online courses that anyone can take anytime.
You are supported by a teacher throughout the entire course, who will not only share the relevant techniques with you, but also be available to answer your questions. If you have an internet connection, you can learn SKY!
Join us for a free taster
To get a taste of the course and start meditating with us, join us for a free intro class. A teacher will take you through a guided meditation and breathing technique.
