Meditation Teacher Training
A 5-week program designed to combine YOUR magic with the teachings of meditation.
Begins January 29, 2025
Built upon the Awakened Heart Sutra; a weaving that highlights the threads of truth that underlay all meditation practices.
Several years ago, I stated a goal out loud:
to teach as many people to meditate as possible.
This teacher training is one of the ways I am accomplishing this goal.
I have taught meditation for more than 14 years to big companies, to yoga teachers, and to students too numerous to count. I have taught meditation for PTSD, for addiction recovery, and for accessing the simple joy of everyday life.
In 2006, I started sporadically meditating as a way to calm my anxiety and to find myself at a time when I felt quite lost. The practice quickly became one of the consistent threads of my life.
Today, I delight in combining the magical and the mundane - using nature, art, literature, and dream interpretation alongside the endless laundry, dishes and bills of real life to inspire and inform my offerings.
My meditations are a mash-up of creative inspirations, ancient teachings, and my own experiences with the natural world. And, my teaching addresses the discoveries I have made in more than a decade of creating, guiding, and teaching meditation:
What helps someone quiet their mind and find comfort in stillness?
What are the most frequently asked questions and the most common stumbling blocks?
How do I make an ancient teaching feel accessible to the mom of three, the college student and the CEO?
What helps a meditation practice move from blah to aha?
Over the years, I have studied with teachers from many meditation lineages, and I’ve gradually teased apart the ‘threads of truth’ - the teachings that remain consistent across types of meditation and styles of teaching.
These threads have been woven into the foundational tapestry of this meditation teacher training: the Awakened Heart Sutra.
Once you understand the foundations of meditation, you are able to add your experiences, your words, your magic to the practice. You are able to offer something entirely unique and full of creative expression. There are no scripts here; no words to memorize. This training is designed to unlock the meditation teacher in you.
Clear mind, Awakened Heart
In this training, we will combine traditional meditation practices, modern understanding of the body’s physiological and psychological responses, & trauma-safe principles as tools to deepen our practice of meditation, as well as to learn how to share meditation with others in a vibrant and accessible way.
Comprised of five live, virtual sessions, this training is ideal for:
those already holding space for others (yoga teachers, school teachers, counselors, therapists, group facilitators)
those who have a dedicated meditation practice for 6 months or more
those interested in community wellness and mental health
those interested in creative expression and growth
those ready to share meditation with others
This training is designed to be an intimate, in-depth experience. To better support connection and mentoring needs, this training is limited to a maximum of 26 students.
Together, we will:
Learn how to skillfully create and guide authentic meditative experiences.
Examine the role of the teacher (class planning, organization, prosperity, and self-care)
Discover what makes a class ‘trauma-informed’ and how to offer safety.
Differentiate online, in-person, corporate and private meditation classes.
Explore the ethical teachings of meditation.
Discuss how to design, plan, and prepare class offerings.
Practice leading meditations in small groups.
Receive written and in-person feedback on your meditation teaching.
And, We Won’t Stop There...
It isn’t enough to simply understand the mechanics of meditation. You are here to offer your particular magic to the community. You are here to take the traditional, tried-and-true practices that have been handed down through teaching lineages over thousands of years and to make them alive in your unique way. This is why meditation is known as a living tradition. It lives and breathes and grows with everyone who shares their truth within the practice.
This training addresses the fundamentals of teaching meditation, the development of the teacher, and the business of offering meditation classes in group, private, therapeutic and corporate settings. By the conclusion of our time together, you will have had an opportunity to…
Tease apart the foundational threads of a meditation practice according to various perspectives contextualized within the Awakened Heart Sutra.
Explore, create, and share authentic and creative meditation practices.
Design an individualized class plan for future pursuits as a meditation teacher.
Presence: Our Shared Foundation
The bedrock of a meditation practice is the cultivation and gentle stewardship of presence. Without this common ground to stand upon, our practice and our leadership cannot thrive. You are expected to protect, embrace, and cultivate your presence while tending to our training explorations.
This means authentically and thoughtfully preparing for, participating in, and reflecting on our training.
Attendance is required for each of our 6 in-person class sessions, from start to finish. Turning on your camera is highly encouraged.
Continued absence and/or lack of participation may result in a suggestion to resume training at a later date.
In return, I commit to being present during and outside of each class session. If any needs or questions arise, please reach out. I am happy to correspond via email and/or meet with you virtually.
2025 Class Dates:
Wednesdays, 7:00 - 9:00 pm ET
January 29
February 5
February 12
Febuary 19
February 26
Office Hours:
7:00 - 7:30 pm ET
Monday, Feb 10
Monday, Feb 24
Graduates will submit a final practice teach and a class plan for a future offering as their final project. All graduates receive an individual, 15-minute final Zoom call for feedback and questions at the completion of their training.
Investment
$800 - $1600
Sliding Scale Options Available
FAQs
Who is this training for?
This training is for:
Those who are already space holders (teachers (yoga or otherwise), counselors, therapists, group facilitators…)
Those who already have a dedicated meditation practice for 6 months or more
Those who are interested in community wellness and mental health
Those who are interested in creative expression and growth
Those who are intend to share meditation practices with others
Where does this training take place?
This is a virtual training and will take place 100% online. Although all classes will be recorded, live attendance and group participation is required.
What are the prerequisites for this training?
This program requires a minimum 6 months regular meditation practice {both silent and/or guided meditation experience is welcome. Regular meditation practice assumes 3 - 5 days/week of practice}.
You must be willing to commit to a daily meditation & journaling practice to be part of this program.
How do virtual trainings work?
To get the most out of a vitual training experience, you will be asked to participate in all live sessions. Recordings are made available after the fact.
You will be asked to have your video ON during all live sessions for maximum participation and engagement.
Practice teach opportunities are offered in a combination of live and recorded formats with feedback offered by classmates and facilitators.
Do I need to purchase addtional materials?
No. A digital manual is provided along with copies of any required reading.
Required books are provided upon registration (fees and shipping are included in your tuition).
Will I be certified after this training?
Currently, there is no standard certifying body for meditation teachers. This training will provide you with 40-hours of training time, a certificate of completion, and the knowledge needed to offer meditations in any environment.
What is the admission process?
This training requires a minimum 6 months regular meditation practice of at least 3 - 5 days/week. This requirement is upheld via the honor system, and it includes all forms of practice:
Self-taught or with a teacher
Silent or guided
With an app
With a video
With a book
If you meet this requirement, you are eligible to enroll.
Once you register for this training, you will receive a form via email to complete and return prior to the start of training. This form will inquire about your current meditation practice, any previous teacher trainings and what you hope to gain from this training.
If you have any questions or concerns about your experience, please feel free to reach out via email.
This training is open to all people, everywhere without discrimination.
Cancellation Policy:
With 45 days or more of the training start date, receive a 90% refund.
With 44 - 16 days before the training start date, receive a 75% refund.
With 15 days or less of the training start date, receive a 50% refund.
Once training begins, no refund is available.
Is Financial Aid Available?
This course is meant to be accessible and inclusive to all, regardless of financial status. In light of that, I offer a sliding scale to meet your financial needs.
If you need a payment plan beyond the sliding scale, please email me with your suggested payment plan. I do my best to support anyone who is ready to be fully present and engaged with meditation teacher training.
Sign up for Awakened Heart Training
January 2025