Where To Learn Meditation

When somebody is new to meditation, one of the first questions they ask is where to learn meditation. Can I learn it at home, or do I have to find some course or group to practice with? And if yes, what is the best way and place to learn it?

I have been meditating for several  years now, and let me tell you that when I first started out, I learned at home from meditation books and CDs. I didn't have any meditation groups or meditation centers in my town, and at the time I didn't even have internet to get some courses online.

So while learning to meditate at home is probably the slowest way to learn to do it, it can be done. In fact you might be surprised to find out that 90% of the people who practice meditation have learned it on their own, from the comfort of their home without paying for any courses or going to any meditation retreats.

Of course, later on if you do get a chance for any extra curriculum, go for it if you have the money. It is worth it, but it is not required.

I have devoted an entire article on learning how to do meditation at home, so I will not repeat all the previous points here, however I do have to emphasise this method because this is what most people have access to in the first place.

To meditate at home you need to find a quiet place and time when you will not be disturbed. There are several ways to meditate at home. You can either sit in silence to quiet the mind, or listen to various meditation CDs, binaural beats or guided meditations that help you change your state to an alpha state of mind.

Personally I prefer guided meditations, such as this guided mindfulness meditation, because for me it's the easiest and fastest way to relax. But you can use any of the methods, including sitting in quiet contemplation, that help you remove the chit-chatter from your head so you have access to your subconscious mind.

If you get a chance to go on a meditation retreat, you will greatly enjoy it. The retreats are located in very quiet and relaxing places, usually in the nature, by a lake, river or a mountain.

It is a very serene place where like minded people meet to relax, meditate and recuperate their energy and learn meditation.

How long does such a retreat last? A meditation retreat can last from 24 hours, to a weekend, a full week or even a couple of months, however the most common retreats are lasting either for a weekend or 2 weeks.

While most people enjoy these times away from home, others might be put off by the slightly strict regime that is practiced there. For example you might be required to wake up very early, sometimes right at dawn or even earlier. After the breakfast you start your meditation practice either with a group or in quiet contemplation. You will also participate in lectures related to meditation and spirituality.

In a way I find such a retreat akin to the life of a monk in a monastery, except the duration of this time away from the real life is very short.

These days there are many online meditation courses, but  you need to carefully choose which course you go for. Because these courses are not free, they are generally better as the money coming from the purchases help the courses get better. Not only that, but there would be many refunds if people paid for a meditation course and got little or nothing in return. However you do have to make your research to avoid getting scammed out of your money.

One of the serious online meditation courses that is rather expensive - but really good - it TM Meditation. TM has pioneered the Transcendental meditation technique and there are many people quite happy with the results from this course.

Another course that I can heartily recommend is the Silva Life System. It is actually one of the oldest courses dating from 1960s when Jose Silva discovered a way to get the brain to the alpha level that is needed for meditation, extremely fast.

I have the Silva Life System course as well, and I am going back to it over and over again. If you want to give it a shot, they have a free version that you can download (via the banner below) to learn from.

You might be lucky and living in an area where you have access to a meditation group. This is a lovely way to learn meditation. The group is not strict like in the case of a meditation retreat, it is very informal and you can also make some great friends there.

A meditation group is basically a group of people gathered for the purpose of meditating together. It has been found that the combined energy of several people is very strong, and it is much easier to meditate with others than on your own. You get to an alpha state of relaxation much faster.

The only reason I am not too keen on group meditations is because I get easily jolted out from my meditation by external noises. I need to be in almost perfect quiet environment, so I mostly practice alone.

However there is even scientific evidence that shows group meditation to help cure various illnesses and even lower crime rate in the cities.

I told you about my favorite way of meditating at home using guided meditations. However don't discredit any of the other ways because they have all proved to work. Also some people respond better to group sessions, or by being away from the regular, familiar settings at home.

Even if you like a particular meditation way better than others, let's say group meditation, if you can't find a group right now near you, don't let this deter you from learning meditation. You can always pick up a few good books on meditation, some CDs (they are all quite cheap) and start to learn the practice.

Eventually you will find a group, or a course that will be suitable for you. You know what they say, when the student is ready, the teacher will come.