Meditation helps us heighten awareness and focus attention. Through meditation, you will get a new sense of perspective, viewing things from a healthy angle. Daily, all our minds do is race, having thousands of thoughts at a time. By practicing meditation, we help our minds get the rest it so deserves. Meditation doesn’t turn off our feelings or emotions but instead helps us figure out the purpose of those feelings and what triggers them.
Online meditation courses are more convenient compared to physical ones. An online class allows you to practice at the comfort of your home while also setting deadlines and schedules that merge with your activities. A rise in online meditation classes can be observed since Yoga Alliance permitted the certification of online courses.
These are the Top 5 Online Mediation Classes we recommend:
- Mind Body Green – The Essential Guide to Meditation
- Sura Flow – Meditation for Deep Healing
- Yoga International – Meditation Unlocked
- School of Positive Transformation – Mindfulness Well-being Program
- Master Class – Mindfulness and Meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn
Practicing meditation at home can be very satisfying and comfortable. Online meditation courses allow you to adjust the videos and repeat them as often as you deem fit. You can always come back and practice classes you like or need to learn more about.
It can be troublesome figuring out which one among hundreds of online meditation courses is perfect for you. That’s why we have put together these five courses that we are sure are perfect for you.
Article Contents
What To Expect From An Online Meditation Course
If you haven’t been to one meditation class and are thinking of taking an online course, you might be wary of what’s expected of you. Meditation doesn’t have protocols; hence you shouldn’t be worried one bit.
- During the meditation class, your teacher will welcome you, introduce him/herself, and tell you to calm down and relax.
- You will then settle down in a comfortable position, whether cross-legged or not, whatever will make you less uncomfortable.
- Then your teacher will ask you to take deep breaths to help make you feel present and get ready for your session.
- Your teacher will also ask you to be present and not think about all the pending activities you need to complete. As the class advances, the more comfortable and at home you will feel.
- Whatever type of meditation the teacher has planned that day, you will do it, and in the end, you will feel so accomplished.
When attending your meditation class, there are a few things to bear in mind. These are;
- There no rules in meditation. There are few to zero classes you can take that don’t require you to follow a particular set of rules. To practice meditation, you don’t need a specific attire, tools, or mindset. All you need is to be present and ready to learn.
- You don’t need to be perfect. In meditation, there nothing such as an ideal meditator. The mind tends to wander, and that’s part of meditation. The teacher will teach you how to put aside the thoughts running through your head and concentrate on your breath.
- Do not be worried about the teacher. Most meditation instructors are kind, patient, and understanding. You shouldn’t be concerned about being heard or passing your thoughts and questions to them. I’m sure you wouldn’t like it if someone else were afraid to ask you questions.
- Go with an open mind. Do not attend a meditation class with any expectations. Be open to learning new things.
Remember that no matter what happens during your meditation class, do not beat yourself up for it. Every day will be different, and that’s why we show up for this practice every day. Some days won’t be as easy, and that’s okay.
How To Prepare for an Online Meditation Class
When attending your online meditation courses, you could do a couple of things to have a better experience and learn more.
Find a suitable environment
For a meditation class to occur, you need a quiet environment where you will have no distractions. You can talk to people in your house and ask them to leave you alone during your classes.
If you can’t practice it at home, other places like nature, office or school can be an excellent place to practice with the right timing. All that’s required is a safe space with quiet and no interference. Make arrangements so that your pets, children, or phone won’t cause any distractions as you meditate. Put aside this time to nourish your body and mind.
That room or corner in your house that you choose to meditate in should set the mood for you to feel like meditating. You can create a cool corner with a plant, put up an aesthetic you want, and make it as comfortable as you desire.
Finish up any tasks that are pending
Like; wait to get your food off the oven or gas or wait for your delivery before attending a class. Such activities waiting for you to complete meditation could cause you to be anxious and not practice your class with all the attention required.
Set up items you might need during your sessions
These items could be something like a meditation cushion, a throw blanket, or crystals. Putting these items in your meditation spot for easy access will help ease your mind daily before class.
If you use Tibetan bowls, beads, and other items, set them up in your little corner or room to create a meditative environment. These little things count when you need to get into a meditative mood on those difficult days.
Prepare your body
Before starting your meditation, make sure your body won’t be a distraction. You can take a shower or soak up in a bath to feel clean. You can also brush your teeth and do anything that makes you feel clean and ready to practice without distractions.
Make sure you aren’t too hungry or too full. Either situation will prevent you from getting the best from your sessions. Make sure you’ve taken care of any bodily issues so you can sit comfortably during your practice.
Set your intentions
A meditation class is a time for self-love and not just learning. You should set your intentions to be even something as simple as ‘being present. Setting intentions will help you ace your class.
An intention is a goal you wish to meet by doing your practice. Ensure you know the intention you have for the day as you look forward to starting your practice. Setting intentions for your practice helps you focus. Remind yourself of your intention right before you start your practice.
You can create a soothing environment
If you love candles, light your best scents up for your class or incest, you can also play background music that soothes you. Creating an environment that serves you will help you get more from a class than you expect.
Also, on those days that it takes more energy and convincing to do your practice, these little rituals, such as lighting your candle or incest, will help you get in the mood by preparing your mind and body for what’s to come.
Put on comfortable clothes
Meditation requires you to have breathable, non-restrictive clothing. Wearing scratchy and tight clothes will prevent you from sitting still in a class. No one wants to be in a class and keep thinking, ‘my pants are pinching my stomach,’ we all want to forget all the stress around us and learn something new.
Refine your posture
Make sure you adjust your posture before meditation and a few minutes into it. Make sure you’re seated in a comfortable position to prevent any discomfort throughout your practice.
5 Best Online Meditation Classes
There are many online meditation courses to choose from, and we are here to help guide you in the right direction. Here are some of our recommended meditation courses that could help you advance in your knowledge, practice, and even be a meditation teacher if that’s your aspiration.
1. Mind Body Green- The Essential Guide to Meditation
This course by mindbodygreen introduces you to the practice of meditation. It doesn’t teach you one type of meditation but introduces you to all meditation types to have an idea of the type of meditation you love and choose to practice more.
The course gives you basic and practical steps to help you be the change you need to see in the world.
Upon completing these classes, you get to keep all the videos and course material for yourself on all of your devices. It will be helpful to come back to these videos when you need guidance or need practice again in the future.
About the course
- The course will offer you six modules. These modules contain forty-four videos with all the information you need to complete the course.
- You will also earn lifetime access to the course and be guided through all types of meditations so you can have a clear idea of each of them.
- You also get to access the course and practice anywhere, anytime, no matter where you are in the world.
2. Sura Flow- Meditation for Relaxation
This amazing course by Sura Flow teaches you how to cultivate a sense of calmness in your daily life. If you’re someone who struggles with mild anxiety and stress, you can use the course to help you find a way to calm down and relax more.
Meditation for Relaxation is a 21-day course that will help you turn meditation into a habit. We all know that habits take twenty-one days to form, and that’s precisely what this course is for. After the course, you will have a craving to practice meditation same time every day.
You don’t need to be familiar with meditation to partake in this course. It’s perfect for beginners and those trying to turn meditation into daily practice. Beginners shouldn’t worry as this course has as low as five-minute meditation sessions. I know it can be hard to meditate for longer when you’re just starting the practice.
About the course
- During the course, you will get three daily journal prompts. Journaling is an excellent way to develop your relationship and learn more about yourself.
- There are instructions in place to help guide beginners into the practice. As a beginner, you might wonder what happens in the classes throughout the course, and this guide will help clear out any of those worries or expectations that you’ll have and help ease you into practice. (Starting mediation for beginners can be scary, but don’t worry, we’ve got everything you need to know in that article!)
- The course offers twenty-one daily guided meditations.
- You’ll also get fifteen relaxation techniques throughout the course.
- After completing the twenty-one days, you will keep all the meditation videos and tools taught in the course for future reference.
3. Yoga International- Meditation Unlocked
Meditation Unlocked is a course that can help you master your mind and deepen self-understanding. Accessing the higher states of awareness brought to the surface by this course will enable you to access more profound wisdom, compassion, and understanding.
The tools taught in these meditation classes will help you gain stillness and contentment in the present moment and strive to achieve your highest potential.
When taking the course, you can choose to pursue it online or have the course materials shipped to you on a USB. When taking the course online, you can download all course materials and workshops for use offline.
About the course
- If you’re a registered teacher with Yoga Alliance, this course offers you ten hours of continuing education.
- You will have unlimited tools and course material access even after competition.
- The course only takes ten hours to complete, but you can take it for as long as you desire.
- The course also offers you a certificate of completion.
4. School of Positive Transformation - Mindfulness Well-Being Program
This Mindfulness Well-Being Program offers you all mindfulness tools and activities to help you practice and know all you need to see the benefits of mindfulness. This mindfulness course will teach you how to move around through your daily activities, paying attention, and showing yourself and others love.
The tools taught in this course will help you increase happiness in your life and be kind to others. The relationships you form will be empathetic and compassionate to others and yourself. If you’re someone who has struggled with feelings of self-doubt and low self-esteem, this course is for you. You will teach yourself a new way of seeing life.
If you’ve struggled with your relationship with food, this course will teach you mindfulness eating and how to love your body while still nourishing it.
About the course
- This course offers thirty daily mindfulness activities. Each video explains a certain practice and guides you on how to do it. It can only take up to 15 minutes at most to practice. Hence it can fit seamlessly into your schedule. These videos are downloadable; hence you can pre-download them to practice when you find the time.
- The course will introduce you to various mindfulness activities like mindful walking, loving-kindness meditation, among others. The tools you will learn will help you learn how to incorporate mindfulness into every action.
- The course is self-paced; hence, you can choose to take one activity each day for thirty days or practice each activity for several days until you feel contented. You will access the course and its materials for up to a year, giving you plenty of time to complete.
5. MasterClass- Jon Kabat-Zinn Teaches Mindfulness and Meditation
Jon Kabat-Zinn is the master pioneer of mindfulness practice in the western world. In this Masterclass course, he teaches you how to cultivate mindfulness and find calm in meditation.
He covers lessons about what to when thoughts pop into your head when meditating and different types of meditation techniques to achieve goals like pain release, stress, among others. He also conducts Hatha Yoga sessions and body scans.
This MasterClass course will teach you different types of mediation styles and practice mindfulness and Hatha Yoga. Learning from a man who has spent over forty years advocating for mindfulness and meditation while also teaching people how to use it to create a better, fuller life would be such a pleasure.
About the course
- The course has nineteen video lessons that, when combined, are over six hours of teachings and guided practice from the Master- Jon Kabat-Zinn himself.
- The course offers different types of meditation practices, and at the end, you get to choose which one resonates with you.
- Besides meditation, you also learn mindfulness activities that you can incorporate into your daily life to help you improve it and find more joy.
Final Words
The internet is streaming with many Online meditation courses, and this can be overwhelming when you’re looking for a nice course. We have researched and provided you with a list of good courses from reputable institutions to help you find a suitable course to get you started in your practice.
(And if you are looking for more of an in-person feel to the class, check out these live meditation classes online!)
Meditation and mindfulness practice is a growing practice that most people are using to control their stressful and ever-busy days. We all need a bit of quiet and reflection before a long day or after one. Meditation is that self-care moment we all deserve after so much hard work. Find a course that suits your needs and get started today.
