There’s tremendous opportunity for online meditation coaches (one site notes a 74% increase in online use for meditation coaching in general.) In a traditional coaching setting, a student would devote significant amounts of time in-person to working with a meditation master and teacher. However, today, there are some great online alternatives to help you become a certified meditation coach.
The path to becoming a certified meditation coach can be outlined in five steps. Following these steps helps ensure you choose the learning path that best matches your needs and experience and helps you meet your goal of becoming a successful meditation coach.
Keep reading to find out how to choose online learning opportunities for becoming a meditation coach. Online training has several advantages – it is less expensive and enables you to explore different meditation and coaching options. In addition to sharing online training options, we also cover resources that can help once you have completed the meditation coach training online.
Article Contents
What Does a Certified Meditation Coach do?
It’s tempting to say that a meditation coach teaches someone to meditate. However, you’ll go far beyond that in a coaching role. Although instruction in meditation is involved, a meditation coach performs other coaching roles – motivator, supporter, and role model.
In general, a meditation coach can expect to
- Work in a variety of ways from one-on-one to groups and retreats, both online and in-person
- Combine coaching with multiple meditation practices, therapies, and self-help techniques
- Be there for their client, coaching them through both good and challenging times
A meditation instructor can help someone learn how to meditate. A meditation coach helps guide and apply that meditation and meditation practice towards a specific goal. For example, an executive coach might become certified in meditation coaching in order to take their instruction to a deeper, more contemplative level specific to the client’s needs.
As a meditation coach you learn about and understand your client’s needs and goals and then design a meditation practice that fits their lifestyle and needs. Your goal as a coach is the same as for any coach – to help your client reach their goals. Providing techniques and support for guiding clients through change to self-realization.
5 Steps to Becoming a Certified Meditation Coach Online
Before you begin, consider why you want to become a meditation coach. Above all, your intent must be pure – you care deeply about people and you want to help them. And equally important, you’ve done the work yourself to create a personal meditation practice, and you’ve developed and hone your skills as a coach.
Here are five steps that can help you realize your goal of becoming a meditation coach:
- Learn before you coach
- Consider “who” you want to coach
- Find the best online training program
- Do the business prep work
- Market and connect
As you explore online options for meditation coach training, make a list of pros and cons for each offering. If possible, select a “hybrid option” that offers both pre-recorded and live components. (Using only pre-recorded videos instructs you in techniques, but you will miss out on being connected to a teacher and community.)
Consider also the amount of time and money you want to invest in your training. Online programs range from weeks to two or more years with cost varying from under $500 to $2,000 or more dollars.
The following sections cover each of these in more detail. Notice that these sections increase in detail, because in the end, the business and marketing parts are what will determine your success.
Learn Before You Coach
If you’re interested in coaching people in their meditation practice, you’ll most likely already be dedicated to your own meditation path.
Explore other types of meditation (mindfulness, visualization, transcendental, Osho/dynamic… ), as you may want to incorporate different types of meditation for different clients. You must be well-versed in your meditation practice and techniques in order to coach others.
Consider “Who” You Want to Coach
Who are you most interested in coaching? Young people? Elders? Executives? Do you already have experience in working with people in your target audience? Also consider if you want to coach beginners – clients new to meditation, or intermediate or advanced practitioners? Or some combination of these levels of practice and awareness?
Determining your target audience is critical for your business and marketing planning. Remember, you can start small – focus on the group of people you feel most comfortable in helping with their meditation practice.
Find the Best Online Training Program
As you’re aspiring to be a meditation coach, be sure that the program you select goes beyond training you to become a meditation teacher. As a coach, you’ll be interested in using techniques like guided imagery to help clients achieve their goals and desired outcomes.
Given meditation teaching and coaching is an unregulated field, be especially vigilant in your vetting of online courses to be sure you choose the right one for your needs and goals.
Keep your target clientele in mind – you want to choose meditation coach training that can easily be applied to your professional area of expertise. For example, if you’re an executive coach, choose meditation coach training that can be practically applied in that area.
There are many excellent online meditation teacher training classes – but finding classes specific to becoming a meditation coach can be challenging. The best path is to select an online meditation class that stresses guided imagery and includes training for coaching. (More on suggested courses in the next section.)
Do the Business Prep Work
Becoming a meditation coach is similar to any other coaching endeavor. You’re there to instruct, lead, inspire, and help your clients reach their goals. This step will help you get the business and support structure you’ll need in place.
There are also some behind-the-scenes business considerations to put in place, these include:
- Decide on pricing and coach offerings (free initial session, introductory packages, etc.)
- Legal ins and outs of business – Consult with an advisor over expenses, taxes, and similar.
- Insurance – Yes, it’s recommended, even for online coaching. Check out “com” to understand why (keywords are Public Liability and Professional Indemnity.)
Whether online or in-person, your clients will expect a setting that will help them feel relaxed, safe, and therapeutic. This can be a backdrop for online sessions (Zoom, etc.) or a physical studio or office.
Even though it’s likely that you’ll conduct all or the majority of your meditation coaching online over the internet, you’ll still need to create a space where both you and your clients are comfortable.
For a great in-depth look at the details of the business side of coaching (especially the specialized coaching you’ll do as a meditation coach) review the Coach Foundation site.
Market Yourself as a Meditation Coach
Once you’ve reached this step you’ve decided on who you want to coach and the types of meditation you’ll be incorporating in your meditation coach practice. However, putting yourself and your meditation coach offerings “out there” can seem challenging, especially if you’re new to marketing.
Once again though, there are online resources that can help you develop a marketing plan which will include a web site, social media presence, and other marketing materials. (There are also marketing pros who can help you do this for a fee.)
Be brave and bring your creative self forward and work with available applications (like SquareSpace or WordPress) to create a website and take advantage of bulk printing deals from office supply stores to print business cards, flyers, and brochures (which can also be downloaded from your website.)
As The Daily Meditation website suggests, just be sure your marketing reflects the following:
- What kind of meditation practice you incorporate
- Your target clientele
- The value you bring (what someone gets for what they’re paying you to coach them.)
Once your marketing materials are in place and you’ve started your meditation coach work, advertise your business – place ads in local publications or be interviewed on a local or television show, and similar. And of course, because you’ll be a great coach, word-of-mouth recommendations by your clients will be one of the best ways to ensure new clients find you.
And, since we’re focusing on the online world, you can also start a blog, accessible from your
website, chronicling your journey and practice. (Or try YouTube, see Sura Flow.)
Options for Meditation Coach Training
You know that you should find the best of the best schools for your meditation coach training, but what are some examples?
Here are some excellent options for meditation coach training:
- Sura Flow Online Meditation Coach Course: This is a 12 week course that incorporates online training with live sessions and one-on-one time. Graduates are certified and have access to a network of students and graduates for support. Their tagline is “Meditation + Coaching = Transformation.” For a full Sura Flow review, check out that link!
- Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher Training: This course of study is recommended for those already trained as life coaches, counselors, or health professionals – but who need additional in-depth training in incorporating meditation into their practice. This program is completely online and self-directed, but with instructors and other resources available.
- Guided Meditation Framework: This is a hybrid approach of both online and in-person training. The focus is instruction in leading guided meditation in both individual client and group settings.
- Chopra Meditation Instructor Certification: This program will help you teach various skill levels and in different settings from individual to groups. On completion, you will have an internationally recognized certification as well as access to ongoing community, professional and business development resources. Check out the Chopra Center review to learn more.
Reviewing what these professionals offer may help provide you with insight and direction for your own practice.
Certification for Meditation Coaching
It’s worth ensuring you’ll be certified after your meditation coach training because it lets your clients know you’ve completed training and you’re serious about your profession. The majority of certification programs offer support such as opportunities for continuing education and a community of like-minded coaches or practitioners.
Some additional organizations to explore include the IMMA (International Mindfulness and Meditation Alliance), the IAMI (International Association of Meditation Instructors).
Conclusion
Overall, the recommendation is to pursue online training that provides a mix of educational resources that you can explore on your own time and instructor-based training.
We’ve also provided supporting information on the business and marketing side, including resources for understanding insurance and business set-up and development for coaching.
Remember that, with online meditation coach training, you’ll have access to the support, practice, and continuing education you’ll need to ensure your success as a meditation coach. The potential for both online training and providing your meditation coach services really is global in scope.
