Meditation Teacher Training is an Ananda Teacher Training RY300 accredited course.
Whether you train to teach meditation, or simply to deepen your understanding and experience of meditation, this power-packed course is for you! This in-depth study of the stages of meditation, the techniques and attitudes for focusing the mind, relaxing the body and calming the emotions, will give you valuable tools to assist others with their meditation.
There are two core texts: “How to Meditate” by John Novak; and, “Awaken to Superconsciousness” by Swami Kriyananda. Students will also need the “Art and Science of Raja Yoga” but that comes with the prerequisite foundation course, The Art and Science of Raja Yoga discussed below.
Next Session Begins February 2025: 8 Saturdays : Feb 1, Feb 15, Mar 1, Mar 15, Mar 29, Apr 12, Apr 26 & May 10
"Meditate more and more deeply, until calmness and joy become second nature to you."Paramhansa Yogananda
Meet the Instructors
Murali Venkatrao PhD
Director of Ananda Yoga Teacher Training and Lightbearer of Ananda.
E-RYT 500 | YACEP
Robyn Mattis
Ananda Meditation and Yoga Teacher RYT-200
Nayaswami Hriman McGilloway
Co-Spiritual Director of Ananda Washington and Kriyacharya of Ananda.
Nayaswami Padma McGilloway
Co-Spiritual Director of Ananda Washington and Kriyacharya of Ananda.
This in-depth exploration of meditation includes practice and study of:
- 3-phases of meditation: relaxation, concentration, and expansion of awareness
- Core pranayams (breathing exercises), why and how to use them?
- The power of creative visualizations
- The effect and importance of chanting and mantra
- Art and science of observing the breath
- How to shift from “doing” to “being” in meditation
- What is the most important aspect of meditation?
- Eightfold path of meditation
- Quieting the mind
- Are beliefs necessary?
- Meditation for all reasons: from health to heaven!
- How to deal with the G-word?
- Review and practice of floor sitting and chair sitting positions
- Overcoming resistance, sleepiness, & other common challenges
- Art of interpreting meditative experiences
- How to awaken devotion?
- Counseling students
- Use of audio and visual aids in teaching
- How to lead a guided meditation
- Step by step meditation routines
- Places to teach
- Speaking techniques
- How to speak from inspiration
- How to teach meditation on Zoom
- Dealing with problem students
Students who have graduated with a 200-hour
Yoga Teacher certificate may take this course for 55 hours toward your 500-hour
certificate with the Ananda Institute of Living Yoga. Or, you may take this
course for 55 hours of CE’s with Yoga Alliance. You may not do both at the
same time, however.
To be eligible to take Meditation Teacher Training you must be practicing meditation on a regular basis for at least one year.
In addition, The Art and Science of Raja Yoga is the prerequisite for this
course. It has homework, participation, and final exam requirements of its own.
You will need to have or will have to take this course “for credit.” This entails a
one-time documentation fee of $45.
STUDENTS WILL NEED TO HAVE THE EQUIPMENT AND SKILLS TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME SESSIONS ON ZOOM; TO WATCH PRE-RECORDED VIDEOS AS PART OF CLASS INSTRUCTION; AND PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE INSTRUCTION USING THE INSTITUTE’S LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE IN-PERSON OPTION ONLY APPLIES TO A PORTION OF THE COURSE.
Dates:
Times: Saturdays begin at 10:30am and end at 5:30pm.
For those taking the course for Yoga Alliance (YA) credit, class begins at 9am
(with the 9am yoga class) and ends at 5:30pm.
There will be a lunch break and for those attending in-person and we will
coordinate a simple, vegetarian lunch
Tuition: $695 plus texts. For those taking the course for YA credit, the tuition is
$750. You have the option to pay your tuition in three equal installments on the
dates of September. There is a 4% fee for credit card charges of $500 or more.
Institute fee: One-time enrollment is $50. Most of you will have paid this when
you took the Raja course.
Circle of Giving: If you are in one of the three Circles of Giving, there is a special
price available on tuition. Please inquire
If you would like to get a taste of Ananda Meditation before enrolling, we offer daily meditations at the temple, and offer shorter classes on meditation.