By Jade Doherty I Posted on : March 16, 2021
Learn to meditate from the comfort of your own home, with these simple online meditation courses.
I'm sure you've noticed that a LOT of life has been going online lately. Of course the pandemic has intensified the shift online, with so many people now working from home. From shopping to dating, to working, and socializing.
Thanks to the power of the internet, the spiritual journey is also online.
Spirituality has never been more available than it is now. In fact, you could say awakening is at your fingertips!
The great thing about this shift online is that you can learn and practice wherever you are, and whenever you want. Time and space are no longer a boundary or limitation! It's never been easier to find a meditation class for you.
Given the challenging times many people are going through it’s natural that they’re realizing that they would benefit from some support for their inner well-being. The importance of compassion for both themselves and those around them, and are turning to mindfulness, guided meditation, yoga, mantra meditation, and other holistic traditions to support them.
With all this in mind, today I want to share with you some of the amazing benefits of taking an online meditation course. I'll also introduce you to three courses currently offered with The Art of Living Foundation.
Why I love online meditation courses
I’m a big fan of online meditation courses, for so many reasons. Online meditation courses have a lot going for them.
Firstly, it's easy! You don't have to contend with traffic, or travel, or booking accommodation when it comes to an online course. Instead, you just sign up and log on at the given time.
I know for me I've often seen courses and workshops I'd LOVE to take, but they're super far away, sometimes in different countries (!), and the logistics can be difficult too. Factoring in travel, accommodation, sometimes flights, and so on, can make a meditation course feel quite stressful!
Now, thanks to the internet, all of those logistical problems, and costs are no longer an issue!
Secondly, taking a course at home, in your normal surroundings, actually makes it easier to integrate the teachings and meditation techniques you learn.
I can't be the only one who is basically enlightened on a retreat, but suddenly "loses" it when they get home?
Of course, there's something wonderful about going to a remote location and taking time out from the daily grind. But given that our ‘normal’ life and daily routine where we spend most of our time, a course that is delivered into your home, rather than outside of it, can actually make it easier to develop a sustainable and regular meditation practice, as you've already got a template for it, and have practiced at home.
Thirdly, not everyone can travel or attend in-person meditation courses and retreats. That might be due to the pandemic, or maybe it's family commitments, the costs associated with travel, or physical restrictions that make travel difficult.
Though taking these kinds of retreats or courses in-person have their own pros and fun, and whatever your reason(s) for not traveling, online meditation courses make these valuable and life-changing techniques more accessible than ever and allow more people to benefit from meditation, mindfulness, and spiritual tools.
But is it the same quality course online?
I can see why this would be a concern. Will you get the same attention, and have a valuable experience online?
The answer - at least for The Art of Living Foundation courses - is a resounding yes!
You will still get expert attention from the instructor, personalized help, and answers. The depth of the experience, the insights, and the connection are all still there.
Granted you can't hug everyone in your group, but the quality is still the same, you can still meet people and make friends, and most importantly, the quality of your meditative experience is the same.
To a certain extent, meditation is a one-player game. It's just you and your breath, so you are still able to dive deep and have a transformative experience.
What courses can I take with you?
There are a variety of courses you can take with us, which cover a variety of needs and interests.
First up, we have Sri Sri Yoga.
Sri Sri Yoga is great for both beginners and experienced alike.
If you're a beginner who wants to start yoga, but is unsure how to, or maybe is intimidated by the yoga "scene", Sri Sri Yoga is an awesome introduction that you can try at home.
And for the more experienced yogi, Sri Sri Yoga is a great chance to slow down a little and explore the subtler aspects of yoga.
A lot of classes in the West focus on the physical aspect of yoga and spend less time on breathwork, meditation, or the philosophy of yoga. So if you feel burned out by your current practice, or you want to try a style that is firmly rooted in ancient practices, you'll love Sri Sri Yoga!
You can check out the Foundational Program here.
Next up, we have the Sahaj Samadhi Meditation course.
In Sanskrit "sahaj" means effortless and "samadhi" means meditation. So Sahaj Samadhi means "effortless meditation".
Wouldn't that be nice? Effortless meditation? For many people, meditation is tough and very much effort-full. If you're struggling to meditate regularly, check out this course.
During the meditation training you will learn how to access deep and peaceful inner states, and to do so effortlessly, through mantra-based techniques. A mantra is a sacred utterance, and when given to you by a qualified instructor is a vehicle for effortless, deeper states of meditation.
This style of meditation is a little different from other styles you might have tried, like mindfulness meditation, as it doesn't require you to observe thoughts or control the mind. Rather it's an effortless practice, that takes you right to the heart of meditation.
Benefits include increased mental clarity, more energy, improved physical health, and greater peace of mind.
You can find a training time that works for you here.
Last, but by no means least, we have SKY Breath Meditation.
SKY is an incredible course that combines the power of your breath, with meditation to create wonderful results. A SKY Meditation practice has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, as well as increasing well-being and improving mental health, and increasing social connectedness.
SKY is also shown to be more effective when compared to other practices such as mindfulness meditation.
Learning SKY is a way to start or deepen your meditation practice. By working with the breath, you are able to achieve a number of wonderful results.
For many people who struggle to meditate, working with the breath is the missing piece to developing an enjoyable and sustainable practice. On the SKY course, your meditation teacher will show you exactly what you need to do, and help you to make the most of your time on the course, and develop a beneficial meditation practice going forwards.
Which one is right for me?
Any course you pick will do you good, and you can obviously do more than one!
Sri Sri Yoga is great if you want to explore yoga and go beyond the asana, learning a variety of techniques to develop your yoga practice.
If you're wanting to develop your meditation practice, and experience deep states of meditation, then Sahaj Samadhi is a great choice and will help you to experience deep states during your meditation session.
If you want a simple way to not only develop a meditation practice but also transform your life, then SKY Breath Meditation is for you.
With SKY, you will not only learn breath-based techniques to develop a meditation practice, but you will also find that those breath-based techniques have a huge impact on your life. From reducing PTSD to working with your nervous system, improving sleep, and improving health, SKY transforms your life through meditation.
How to get started?
We are thrilled to invite you to join us for a free intro to SKY Breath Meditation.
The class is called Beyond Breath and will give you an introduction to SKY. Your meditation teacher will also guide you through a meditation session, and be available to answer any questions you may have, as well as telling you what to expect on the full course.
You'll see how just one class can totally change how you feel, increase internal stability, and overall well-being.
Click the image below to sign up for your free intro, and start your meditation journey.
Jade Doherty is a freelance copywriter, meditator, and traveler, who is currently exploring and learning to surf in Goa, India.
