The 5 Best Meditation Teacher Trainings for Aspiring Coaches
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Interested in becoming a meditation teacher? Even if you’re already familiar with the benefits of meditation, taking a certification course can give you the practical skills you need to successfully guide others in their meditation practices and even operate your own meditation teaching business.
Benefits of meditation teacher training include helping meditation practitioners become qualified to teach others, whether through small classes or through classes and retreats for corporations or schools, according to trained mindfulness group leader Lan Anh Pham, CPT, Pn1, CYT.
“There are a number of things you can do with a meditation teacher certification,” Pham says.
For this article, we tapped trained meditation and mindfulness experts including Pham and Stacy Fritz, founder of workplace wellness company Fit2Order about their experiences in teaching meditation as a career pathway. We’ve also rounded up five highly recommended meditation teaching certification courses to help you get started as an aspiring meditation teacher.
Our Picks for the Best Meditation Teacher Training:
- Best for Those Interested in Yoga: ISSA Yoga Fundamentals
- Best for Breath Work: Sacred Breath Academy’s Breathwork Facilitator Training
- Best for Sound Meditation: IIN Chopra Meditation Instruction Certification
- Best for Growing Personal Business: Unplug Meditation Teacher Training
- Most In-Depth: The Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program With Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach
Best Meditation Training for Those Interested in Yoga: ISSA Yoga Fundamentals
SI Showcase + ISSA
Key features and specs:
- Cost: $799
- Materials: Online course textbook (included)
- Duration: Self-paced
- Pre-Requisites: N/A
- Exam: National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT) Yoga Instructor—Vinyasa Flow (CYI) exam, purchased separately
- Format: Online, self-paced
The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) Yoga Fundamentals course is an introductory yoga teacher training that’s ideal for fitness professionals who want to start incorporating yoga into their services. It’s completely online and you can study at your own pace, making it a great fit for people who are busy and who have limited time each day to study.
Although this training focuses mostly on vinyasa (flow) yoga, it also includes some instruction on pranayama yoga—which weaves together meditation techniques and breath work. It also provides practical advice on designing classes, teaching successfully in group settings and modifying poses for all skill levels.
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Reviewers say this class offers a good introductory overview of yoga, along with a great deal of practical information for teaching. It’s important to note this certification isn’t accredited by the Yoga Alliance. However, ISSA does offer a more advanced Yoga 200 course, which is certified by the Yoga Alliance.
What we like:
- Good introductory yoga instructor course
- Includes pranayama and breath work instruction
- Self-paced and fully online
What to consider:
- Exam purchased separately
- Not recognized by Yoga Alliance
Best Meditation Training for Breath Work: Sacred Breath Academy’s Breathwork Facilitator Training
SI Showcase + Sacred Breath
Key features and specs:
- Cost: $4,444
- Materials: N/A
- Duration: 400 hours (350 self-paced, 50 in-person)
- Pre-Requisites: Experience with Conscious Connected Breathwork (CCB)
- Exam: Included in tuition
- Format: Self-paced online, intensive in-person
The Breathwork Facilitator Training from Sacred Breath Academy focuses on a specific type of CCB called the Sacred Breath Method, developed by instructor Kaya Leigh. It focuses on a therapeutic and trauma-informed approach to breathing and meditation, instructing facilitators and students to focus on breathing fully through the nose rather than the mouth.
This 400-hour course consists of 350 hours of self-paced virtual training, along with a 50-hour in-person intensive training with Kaya and other participants in the program. If you absolutely can’t attend the in-person intensive, a virtual option is available.
Graduates of the program say it really helped to develop their personal practice, as well as their confidence, leadership and coaching skills.
What we like:
- In-depth training on breath work
- Contains self-paced and live components
- Graduates seem very satisfied with the course
What to consider:
- Course completion requires outside reading that is not included in course fee
- Travel to the in-person intensive course will require additional financial commitment
Best Meditation Training for Sound Meditation: IIN Chopra Meditation Instruction Certification
SI Showcase + IIN
Key features and specs:
- Cost: $3,995
- Materials: N/A (fully online)
- Duration: 16 weeks
- Pre-Requisites: Chopra Meditation Foundations (included in enrollment)
- Exam: Included
- Format: Live, online
This meditation course for aspiring instructors, from Deepak Chopra’s Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), teaches the Vedic practice of Primordial Sound Meditation. In this practice, you receive a personal mantra that is unique to the time and place of your birth. You will also study the underlying principles of meditation such yoga and the seven chakras.
The course teaches you how to become a practitioner of Primordial Sound Meditation using a blend of live and online classes. It’s a 16-week course, and the certification exam is included in the price. Upon completion of the course, you will be a Chopra Certified Meditation Teacher.
Since this certification is for a specific type of meditation, you may want to consider some other courses so you can offer more generalized meditation guidance as well.
What we like:
- In-depth, 16-week training course
- Hybrid live webinar and weekly self-paced format
- Detailed instruction on Primordial Sound Meditation
- Prerequisite course and exam included in fee
What to consider:
- Highly specialized
Best Meditation Training for Growing Personal Business: Unplug Meditation Teacher Training
SI Showcase + Unplug
Key features and specs:
- Cost: $3,500
- Materials: N/A
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Pre-Requisites: N/A
- Exam: N/A, certification earned upon completion of course
- Format: Online, live
Want to grow your business as you learn more about becoming a meditation teacher? This course from Unplug (a meditation app) may be right for you. The course teaches meditation methods and successful teaching tactics in addition to business ethics and marketing. It emphasizes developing your “signature style” as a meditation instructor, which will also make it easier to market yourself.
The course is set up as a six-week program, with five weeks of self-paced study and one week of day-long live intensives. It’s fully online so it can be completed from anywhere. Once completed, students can become meditation teachers on the Unplug app, or opt to work elsewhere or start their own practice.
Graduates of the program say it was extremely helpful for their personal meditation practice as well as their careers.
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What we like:
- Online and live hybrid format that’s fully virtual
- Six weeks to certification
- Focuses on meditation practice as well as business and marketing
What to consider:
- Requires one week of eight-hour days to complete the training
Most In-Depth Meditation Training: The Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program With Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach
SI Showcase + The Mindfulness Meditation
Key features and specs:
- Cost: $7,000+
- Materials: N/A
- Duration: 2 years
- Pre-Requisites: The Power of Awareness online course, one in-person or online vipassana or Insight meditation retreat
- Exam: Included
- Format: Online, self-paced with periodic live group calls and events
The Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program is a comprehensive two-year course designed to train avid meditation enthusiasts to become capable practitioners. The next course starts in 2025, and in order to qualify you will need to complete The Power of Awareness online training course and attend a qualifying in-person or virtual silent meditation retreat rooted in the Buddhist practice of vipassana.
The program includes self-paced modules and journaling, along with coaching calls. Additionally, in the second year you will complete a self-designed practicum in which you will teach family or friends how to meditate using the skills you learned from the course. It also has a built-in mentorship component.
The price for the upcoming session has not yet been determined, but prior sessions have cost upwards of $7,000 for the full two-year course. If you’re interested in taking this course, it’s important to get on the waitlist and complete your prerequisites as soon as possible.
Pham says that while she’s never taken this course herself, she has heard great things about it from former students.
What we like:
- Immersive, two-year experience
- Highly reputable and respected course and course instructors
- Online, self-paced format with some live calls and events
What to consider:
- Significantly more expensive than other programs
- Requires a two-year time commitment
What is Meditation Teacher Training?
Meditation teacher training programs are courses designed to help students become meditation teachers. You’ll learn the skills and techniques needed to guide others in meditation.
“These programs teach various meditation styles, the science behind meditation and how to teach meditation effectively,” Fritz says.
What Can You Do With A Meditation Teacher Certification?
Earning a meditation teacher training certification can unlock several different career pathways.
“A certification allows you to lead meditation classes in various environments like yoga studios, wellness centers or even online,” Fritz says. She adds that some people can use a certification to enhance their existing practice, such as yoga instruction, therapy or personal training.
Job opportunities for meditation coaches
There are numerous potential job opportunities for certified meditation coaches. Some potential avenues include:
- Self-employment
- Wellness centers, yoga studios and gyms
- Corporate wellness programs
- School and university wellness programs
- Mental health/therapy/counseling clinics
How to Choose the Best Meditation Teacher Training Course for You
Here are a few things to consider when choosing the best meditation teacher certification course for your personal and professional goals.
Course focus
There are several different types of meditation, like mindfulness, breath work and Primordial Sound Meditation. If you have a specific area of interest, then it’s a good idea to seek out a certification that addresses this area specifically.
“Try taking a course from a teacher who was trained in the pathway that you want to take,” recommends Pham.
You should always confirm that an online meditation teacher training is led by experienced and qualified instructors, says Fritz. One way to ensure this is to check if the course has any affiliations with reputable organizations in the field, such as Yoga Alliance or the Greater Good Science Center.
Career or personal goals
It’s also important to consider your goals. Why do you want to teach meditation? Who do you want to help?
If you know the answer to these questions, it can help you narrow down the certification courses that would most align with your goals.
Course duration
Course duration is a significant consideration. Some courses can be completed in as little as six weeks, while others require a two-year commitment.
If you’re itching to jump right in, it may be prudent to choose one of the shorter-duration courses and then follow it up at a later date with a more advanced course to deepen your skills.
Course format and schedule
Most meditation instructor certification courses offer at least an online option now, but you may prefer the more immersive experience offered by an in-person course.
Don’t forget to consider the schedule. Even fully virtual courses may have live webinars or calls. “Make sure the class schedule fits your schedule,” Fritz says.
Cost
Finally, cost is a key consideration. These certification courses can be a significant financial investment. Although many courses offer payment plans or even scholarships, it’s important to be sure you can make the financial commitment before enrolling.
Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Meditation Teacher Training Courses
When choosing the best meditation teaching courses, we considered several criteria. First, we ensured that each certification was linked to a reputable accrediting agency or organization, or that it had a positive reputation within the larger online meditation community. We also considered ongoing support offered after graduation, particularly with regard to career development or finding a job. We also pored over reviews from previous students and chose only those that had a great deal of positive praise.
In addition, we included courses at a variety of price points and courses that were available in differing formats, for various durations and that focus on different modalities such as yoga, breath work or sound meditation.
Meditation Teacher Training FAQs
How do I qualify as a meditation teacher?
Meditation teaching is not a legally regulated field, meaning there is no requirement that meditation teachers are registered with any council or legal office, but it’s important to have some education or certifications before you start teaching others. Some positions, such as personal trainers, strength coaches or yoga instructors, require teachers to be certified before they can teach. You can qualify as a meditation teacher in many different ways. All of the courses mentioned above offer a coach certification for meditation teaching that will lend more credibility to your practice.
How much do meditation teachers make?
Income will vary depending on many factors, including location, type of clients, how many classes are offered, instructor experience and where you work.
“Some teachers earn more by offering private meditation sessions or specialty workshops,” Fritz says.
You can also make more money by building your own business.
“If you teach for your own business, you can charge a higher, premium price, but you’d have to sell the course, get clients and arrange logistics yourself,” Pham says.
Is there a demand for meditation teachers?
Fitness instructors—which meditation instructors would likely fall under the umbrella of—are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 14 percent growth for this field over the next 10 years, which is considered “much faster than average.”
Can you become a meditation teacher without a certification?
It’s not recommended. A certification helps to ensure that you have the skills you need to successfully teach others and lead guided meditations. It also lends credibility to your name and company. Pursuing new certifications is also a form of continuing education and professional development to help you advance and expand your knowledge and offerings.
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Takeaway: Is Meditation Teacher Training Worth It?
If you want to become a meditation teacher, taking a training course is an essential first step. It can give you the knowledge and skills you need to teach others about meditation and provide some valuable know-how for building or scaling up your practice. Even if you’re experienced with meditation, taking a training course and becoming a certified meditation teacher is a crucial step before you start instructing others in meditation and well-being.
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