The Ultimate Guide to Mindfulness Teacher Training
Introduction to the Ultimate Guide to Mindfulness Teacher Training page by Shamash Alidina, author of Mindfulness for Dummies and 10 other books on mindfulness
Written by Shamash Alidina MEng MA, Bestselling Author of Mindfulness for Dummies and The Mindful Way through Stress.
Contents
Introduction
Learning to teach mindfulness is a great way to discover how to integrate mindfulness into your work and spread mindfulness around the world.
There are many different mindfulness teaching programs available, so it can be difficult to choose the right one for you.
There is no one that is the best mindful training for everyone. Each person is different and has different needs.
This guide will help you make the best decision for your needs as a future mindfulness meditation teacher.
What is Mindfulness Teacher Training and why should you consider it?
Teaching meditation and mindfulness is an intricate blend of science and art. It's a process steeped in the rigors of scientific evidence while also delicately hinged on the finesse of human understanding and connection.
Entering into mindfulness teacher training is the pathway to learn and embody both the art and science of mindfulness. It is your gateway to effectively impart the skills of mindfulness meditation and mindful living to others, thereby contributing to their journey towards enhanced well-being and consciousness.
A robust training program should be designed comprehensively, encompassing all the foundational elements of mindfulness. It starts with the exploration of the benefits of mindfulness, not just the obvious ones like stress reduction and improved focus, but also the more subtle and profound changes like increased empathy, resilience, and emotional regulation.
Next, the program should dive into the practical application of mindfulness in daily life. This includes straightforward techniques to cultivate mindful awareness during routine activities like eating, walking, or even brushing your teeth, and it also extends to nurturing mindfulness in thought processes, decision-making, and interactions with others.
A pivotal part of your training will be dedicated to how to lead mindfulness meditation classes and workshops. Here, you'll learn how to guide others in various mindfulness practices, from simple breathing exercises to more complex mindfulness meditations. You'll also gain insights on how to handle common challenges that arise during meditation, foster group dynamics, and provide gentle and constructive feedback.
In our program, for example, we group participants into triads and encourage people to have a call each week and practise guiding meditations to each other.
Finally, a well-rounded program may offer insights on integrating mindfulness into different environments, such as schools, workplaces, and healthcare settings. This is where the real magic happens. By bringing mindfulness into these everyday settings, you are effectively extending the reach of mindfulness beyond individual practice and into the fabric of our collective experiences. This is where the transformative power of mindfulness can touch lives in profound ways.
Mindfulness Training: Online Vs In-person Training
There are pros and cons to both online and face-to-face mindfulness teacher training programs. Live virtual events and programs can be more flexible, which can be helpful if you have a busy schedule. Also, all the sessions are recorded so you can come back whenever you wish to learn more. They can also be more affordable, which is a plus if you're on a budget.
Face-to-face mindfulness teacher training programs can feel different. However, these in-person programs can be expensive and may not be as flexible as online programs.
So, which is the right choice for you? Your choice depends on your individual needs and budget. If you're looking for a more affordable, flexible option with recordings, an online mindfulness teacher training program may be the best choice for you.
If you're looking for a more immersive experience and have the time and money for travel and accommodation, an in-person mindfulness teacher training program may be the better option.
And if you're not sure, why not start online and then do face-to-face in the future if you wish to?
With mindfulness teaching online, remember you can reach both local and global communities. So by learning online, you’ll be better placed to offer online programs in the future too, if you ever wish to do that.
Benefits of online mindfulness teacher training
Trainings are often recorded so you can go through the training multiple times. This way, you continue to learn and grow well beyond the training sessions.
No need for travel and accommodation expenses. This is good for your pocket as well as the environment. A lower carbon footprint.
Learn in a time and place that works for you. Learn at home, learn at work. And some program are accessible on mobile, so you can learn whilst on the train, bus, car. Or who knows, your next trip to the moon! :)
Drawbacks of online mindfulness teacher training
Can feel less enjoyable compared to online if you love meeting in-person
There’s nothing quite like meeting people in-person if it’s possible
Could be a nice opportunity to get away from your usual environment
Personally, I enjoy learning online and meeting friends and other contacts in-person to get my real world fix! But everyone’s different so you can decide what’s right for you.
In my case, I live in London, UK, and I am happy to meet in person with anyone who does our online mindfulness training - I like to be real and accessible rather than just hiding behind a screen. I sometimes even meet with our students when I’m travelling in other countries too, like I have in the US, Australia, Canada or Europe.
Enough about me. No need for you to overthink it - learning to teach mindfulness is a lifelong journey and your first training is just that - your first one. Hopefully you’ll consider doing more mindfulness teacher trainings in the future. I’d recommend that if you can.
The benefits of training to Teach Mindfulness Online
As you can see in the image, I’ve created an infographic showing you the benefits of training to teach mindfulness and meditation.
There are many benefits of mindfulness teacher training online. Perhaps the most important benefit is that it provides flexibility. You can learn at your own pace and in your own time. This is perfect if you have a busy schedule or if you want to take your time to fully absorb the material.
Online mindfulness training provides an opportunity to integrate mindful-based approaches for your clients. Whether you are a therapist, educator, coach or someone else who wants to bring mindfulness into their work, online training can help you do just that.
Additionally, by learning these skills, you are deepening mindfulness practice for yourself.
Mindfulness can lead to personal and social transformation. As a meditation teacher, you are bringing mindfulness meditation to transform people’s lives. And you learn to do this through an extraordinary learning experience if you apply what you learn.
A benefit of our particular program is that you get to learn from an international bestselling mindfulness author. Shamash Alidina is an experienced mindfulness teacher with a wealth of knowledge to share. He has been teaching mindfulness for over 20 years and has trained mindfulness teachers all over the world. So you can be sure that you are learning from the best.
The training is also fully online, so you can learn from anywhere in the world and join a global community. And there is no need to travel, which makes it very convenient. Plus, there are live group calls and mentoring groups you can join, so you never feel alone or unsupported in your journey.
How mindful teacher training can help you achieve your goals
Learning to teach mindfulness can help you achieve your goals in a number of ways.
Firstly, it provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to become a certified mindfulness teacher. This means that you can confidently offer mindfulness meditation classes and workshops to others.
Secondly, it can help you to deepen your own mindfulness practice. The more you know about mindfulness, the more you can benefit from it in your own life. For the people that I’ve trained to teach mindfulness, this is what people find most beneficial. You can learn new mindfulness practices, deepen your own practice, meet other guest teachers and go on a transformational journey as you do your own internal work. The small mentoring group experiences help with this too. We call this process mindful co-coaching in our training program.
Thirdly, these mindfulness trainings can help you to make connections with other mindfulness teachers and practitioners either locally or from around the world. This can be a valuable source of support and inspiration as you continue on your mindfulness journey. As a meditation teacher, these experiences are invaluable.
So if you are looking for a way to deepen your mindfulness practice, connect with other mindfulness teachers, and learn how to effectively teach mindfulness meditation to others, then mindfulness teacher training is the perfect choice for you.
The different types of programs for teaching mindfulness
Some mindfulness instructor programs offer a creative and flexible approach to sharing mindfulness meditation, while others also include training in fixed programs with stringent requirements for mindfulness-based therapies such as MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) and MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy).
Other things to consider include the length of the program and whether it is online or face-to-face. You can choose a teacher certification program that's very short, lasting only a few days or weeks, while another mindfulness teacher certification program can be up to a year-long or more. And some programs are only available online, while others offer both online and face-to-face options.
For example, our basic Teach Mindfulness program is 3 months long, is fully online and offers an evidence-based but flexible and creative approach to sharing mindfulness with others. We offer you a curriculum you could use to teach mindfulness but you are welcome and encouraged to adapt it to make it your own.
Our training can also be extended to one year and more, if you join our Teach Mindfulness Academy, which offers online trainings to help you find students to teach meditation to.
Some organisations offer mindfulness teacher trainings that last a week and are in-person. Some offer blended learning with both online and in-person elements, often taking over a year to complete.
Remember, a longer program doesn’t mean it’s necessarily better or worse. It’s the content of the course, the quality of the teacher and the opportunities you’re offered to practice actually teaching mindfulness that makes the difference.
What to expect from a mindfulness teacher training program
You can expect to learn a variety of skills that will enable you to become a certified and qualified mindfulness teacher. This includes learning how to teach mindfulness meditation effectively, deepen your own mindfulness practice, and connect with other mindfulness teachers and practitioners from around the world.
You can also expect to receive support throughout your training. This includes live group calls and co-coaching sessions, so you never feel alone or unsupported in your journey. Plus, access to an online community of mindfulness teachers and practitioners who can offer guidance and support when needed.
Qualified meditation teachers are a valuable resource in our society. You'll be joining that community when learning to teach. Mindful teachers tend to a kind and friendly bunch of people in my experience. :)
How much do mindfulness teachers earn?
The average salary of a mindfulness teacher in the UK is around £34,424 ($45,000 USD) according to the site Glassdoor.
The average salary of a mindfulness teacher in the US is about $94,000 (£80,000) according to another site.
But are these accurate? In my experience, the amount of money you can earn varies widely. The leading mindfulness teachers in the world, who are offering mindfulness via apps are earning millions of dollars. And other mindfulness teachers who may be just as good if not better, may be teaching voluntarily at a local center or online and not earning anything financially.
Let me share my own example as it may help. When I first trained to be a mindfulness teacher, I began by teaching mindfulness part time. I worked one day per week either running classes or trying to find new students to teach. At this stage I made no money.
Then I decided to take the radical act of quitting my full time career as a senior school teacher to pursue teaching mindfulness full time. I loved mindfulness so much, I was willing to live on a very low income, just so that I could give all my time to my great passion - sharing mindfulness.
In my first year I made less than £10,000 ($12,000). I had to use my saving to survive financially and was prepared to do that. Each year after that, my earnings increased by about £10,000 as I started to run trainings in corporate organisations, offered more classes locally and began running online classes too.
I’ve now been teaching mindfulness full time for 14 years. For me, it’s the best job in the world. I am very fortunate to make a comfortable income. But even if I didn’t, I’d still do it because I love learning and teaching about mindfulness.
If you wish to earn a living and make a positive difference from teaching mindfulness, there are more and more opportunities in this is a rapidly growing field.
A List of Leading Mindfulness Teacher Training Courses available
Here's are some of the leading mindfulness programs for you to choose from, some based in UK and others based in the US. Some our online and others are in person. See which ones may suit you.
Fully Online Trainings
Teach Mindfulness with Shamash Alidina
Review: Best balance between value for money and quality of training. Excellent if you’re looking for a flexible, online training with opportunity to work with an experienced teacher and mindfulness author.
If you're looking for a teacher training course that is fully online and fits your busy schedule, then check our Teach Mindfulness. This is our program led by (me!) mindfulness teacher and author, Shamash Alidina, and offers certification and accreditation with the Complementary Medical Association
The qualified mindfulness teachers from this program are invited to join the Teach Mindfulness Academy for close-knit community and help. The academy offers training in confidence building, authentic marketing and answering all your questions as you transition into your mindfulness teaching work.
We are one of the only organisations helping mindfulness teachers to find work after qualifying. We have ongoing programs and one to one or group training to help you set up your mindful work, if you wish to find work following your qualification.
Pricing for Mindfulness Teacher Training starts at around £1997 ($2499 USD) for 3 months of training. We often have some special offers too. Visit the website here.
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach
Review: Best if you’re keen to learn from Jack and Tara specifically. For some, a very long training and huge financial commitment. Not ideal for beginning or as an initial training.
If you're looking for an online training course that is taught by two respected teachers in the field, then check out the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, part of what was called the Awareness training institute. Nowadays I think it’s offered as Sounds True Mindfulness Teacher Training.
Jack is based out of a retreat center called Spirit Rock Meditation Center in the US, and I believe both Tara and himself have been part of the Insight Meditation Society and Insight Meditation Community.
This former Awareness Training Institute program offers in-depth, 2-year training - not for the faint-hearted! The course is designed to help you learn how to teach mindfulness meditation to others, with a focus on integrating mindfulness into your life.
Tuition for the program is $8700
In-Person Trainings
Brown University's MBSR Program
Review: Ideal if you’re sure you just want to offer the exact MBSR training and no changes from that. Great if you’re US-based and work in the medical profession and want to offer 45 minutes guided meditations under the MBSR banner. A long training and large financial investment.
Brown University’s Mindfulness Teacher Training is a great option for therapists who already have some experience in the field of MBSR (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction). The program is divided into 3 consecutive stages: MBSR Training Level 1, MBSR Training Level 2 & a final MBSR Teacher Training Completion process.
On top of the course curriculum, each level requires you to attend at least 1 retreat hosted by The Mindfulness Center. This thorough training will allow you to be a great leader in the MBSR training field.
This training is great if you know you only ever want to teach one particular 8-week curriculum - MBSR. Not so great if you want a more flexible approach or seeking to integrate mindfulness into your wider work.
The total cost of the training is $14,225.
UCSD MBSR Teacher Qualification
Review: Ideal if you’re sure you just want to offer the exact MBSR training and no changes from that. Great if you’re US-based and work in the medical profession and want to offer 45 minutes guided meditations under the MBSR banner. A long training and large financial investment.
MBSR stands for Mindfulness based stress reduction. This is an 8 week course that offers a way of bringing mindfulness meditation to hospitals and other clinical settings, as well as for the public.
This teacher certification program is highly in-depth, requiring mindfulness practitioners to attend silent meditation retreats, attend many trainings, possibly over several years, and invest a significant time and money.
If you're sure you want to mostly only offer mindfulness-based stress reduction, this could be an ideal option for you. If you wish to be more creative in the way you share mindfulness, this may not be so great.
Pricing for the full training at the time of writing is $11,190 USD
Programs Offering In-Person and Online Options
The Mindfulness Association
Review: Ideal if you’re based in Scotland or online in a similar timezone, and like the programs they offer. Pros are their experience and variety of offerings. Cons are it can be a bit confusing what program to do, and you may not be sure who your teacher will be as they have several. The programs are likely to be fixed curriculums like MBSR rather than flexible ones.
The Mindfulness Association is a recognised provider of teacher training courses in Scotland and the UK. They offer in-person and online training for aspiring mindfulness teachers.
If you like the idea of combining in-person training in Scotland and online training, this could be an option for you. Rather than having one teacher, they have a number of different teachers they work with. This can be a nice experience if you like variety. However, not so great if you like to have one dedicated teacher for your full training needs. Have a look to find out if their approach works for you.
Looking at the website, it can be rather confusing as to what training to do. Perhaps you may begin with the mindfulness teachers training package training and go from there.
Pricing varies depending on which training you choose.
Oxford Mindfulness Teacher Training
Review: Ideal for those based in UK and like the idea of a traditional approach of learning through an institution like Oxford. You’d likely to be trained in a fixed rather than flexible curriculum, like MBCT for example. Ideal for clinicians looked for a fixed approach. Not so great if you’re looking for a more relaxed learning environment and flexible approach to sharing mindfulness. Pricing is high too.
If you're looking for a training course based out of Oxford, check this one out. The Teacher Training course is suitable for those who have completed the prerequisites and are willing to work within certain guidelines. It's not directly offered by the University there, but they say they have links.
Applications are especially welcome from those who have access to a population and setting where they are actively involved and will be able to introduce MBCT - Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy.
With multiple teachers and a university organisation, this would work for those of you looking to be part of a bigger organisation. It's unclear what ongoing support they offer.
The fee for a year is about £4500 (Around $6000 USD).
General FAQs About Mindfulness Teacher Training
Do I need to have a meditation practice?
Yes! All of these programs require you to be practicing mindfulness meditation. You need to learn mindfulness before you can dive into thinking about teaching mindfulness.
How much meditation practice do I need to have?
It varies. At Teach Mindfulness, you need to have 3 months of personal practice. Some require a year of personal practice. We’ve found when people join in our program, it helps them to grow and develop their personal mindfulness meditation practice.
Which is the best mindfulness teacher training?
If you’re looking for a flexible way of learning and teaching mindfulness, we’d genuinely recommend our Teach Mindfulness program. If you’re looking for a more fixed curriculum, the best choice for you would depend on your timezone location and budget. Read our reviews above to help you decide.
How long does it take to become a mindfulness teacher?
There is no one length, but we recommend at least a 3-month program to give you time to really understand the nuances of teaching meditation, deepening mindfulness practice and to practice mindfulness teaching to others.
What sort of work do qualified mindfulness meditation teachers do?
You can do anything from bringing mindfulness into your existing work, to dedicating yourself to teaching mindfulness full-time. We specialise in helping people to integrate mindfulness into their work and can offer one to one coaching to help with that.
Can mindfulness help contribute to racial awareness training?
That’s an interesting question. There is much more interest in racial awareness training these days, and rightly so. By being more mindful, you can help reduce your unconscious bias and discrimination and help others to do the same.
Can I teach mindfulness online?
Yes, definitely. You can reach both local and global communities when your mindfulness teaching is online. As a meditation teacher, sharing mindfulness online can be very meaningful. It can lead to personal and social transformation from one meditation teacher, you, to the world!
FAQs Specifically about our Teach Mindfulness Program
Q: What is included in the Teach Mindfulness program?
A: The program includes training in how to teach mindfulness meditation effectively, deepen your own mindfulness practice, and connect with other mindfulness teachers and practitioners from around the world. You can also expect to receive support throughout your training, including live group calls and co-coaching sessions. Plus, you will have access to an online community of mindfulness teachers and practitioners who can offer guidance and support when needed. You finish by getting an accredited certificate so you can call yourself a certified mindfulness teacher or mindfulness practitioner. We are accredited by the Complementary Medical Association.
Q: What's not included in this mindfulness teacher certification program?
The only other thing you need to buy is a few books. There are about 4 key books you really need to get, costing about £50 in total. You can also get them as ebooks or kindle books. Some are based on mindfulness-based stress reduction or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Others are more general mindfulness books that we recommend, once you sign for this mindfulness-based training.
Q: Who is the program for?
A: The Teach Mindfulness program is for anyone who wants to learn how to teach mindfulness meditation effectively, deepen their own mindfulness practice, and connect with other mindfulness teachers and practitioners from around the world. The program is available fully online.
Q: What are the requirements to enroll in the program?
A: You need to have practiced some form of mindfulness and meditation practice for at least 3 months before joining our program. If you want to be a meditation teacher, you need to practice yourself first. You do need to have done mindfulness practices like the body scan meditation, sitting meditation, and some kind of movement meditation like mindful walking, mindful qigong or mindful yoga.
Q: What ongoing support do you offer after the training?
A: Once you finish the training, you will have access to an online community of mindfulness practitioners who can offer guidance and support when needed. You will also be invited to join our Teach Mindfulness Academy, which offers you the skills and support to do authentic marketing and build your confidence in teaching mindfulness.
Q: How much meditation practice is required?
We recommend about 20-30 minutes of daily mindfulness meditation practice and will offer you recordings of meditations for you to use during the program. Ultimately, on any given week, it's up to you how much you want to practice. The more you practice, the more benefits you will experience.
Q: Where else has Shamash trained?
Shamash has trained with most of the leading mindfulness teachers from around the world. These include learning in person from Jon Kabat-Zinn, Buddhist Monk Ajahn Brahm, Thich Nhat Hahn and many others. He's attended sessions by the insight meditation community, the insight meditation society, spirit rock meditation center, and Plum Village. He's also done some online studies with Jack Kornfield from the Awareness Training Institute.
Q: How many people have completed as qualified mindfulness meditation teachers?
Over the last 8 years, we have trained over 500 mindfulness meditation teachers, who now teach mindfulness all over the world. We have also published 2 community books on mindfulness together.
Q: Does this meditation training include continuing education credits?
This is a formal training and offers a 100-hour CPD course which will be stated on your certificate. It can be extended to 200 or 300 hours + if you decide to join our Teach Mindfulness Academy. These would be separate CPD certificates.
Q: Does the program include compassion-based practices?
In a word, yes! Shamash has trained in mindful self compassion and kindfulness. Compassion and self compassion are key components in Shamash's work.
Q: Do you recommend any meditation retreats to complement this training?
No, you don't have to attend any retreats. But if you want to, you could go to Gaia House in the UK, Spirit rock center in the US or Plum Village in France (or other locations). We also recommend retreats by Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahm.
Q: Is your training community-based?
Shamash is very community-focused. He even received an award for his community-building skills from Facebook, selected as one of the top 100 community leaders in the world. You can see his photo and trainings on the main Facebook community training website.
He likes to promote community building. Our program consists of not just a powerful online curriculum, but opportunities to build community. The small breakout sessions help with this as well as our ad-free private online platform.
Q: What about equal opportunities?
Our program is not explicitly a form of racial awareness training, but research shows mindfulness can help reduce unconscious bias. As a meditation teacher, you will have greater cultural sensitivity quite naturally, as well as a form of radical compassion. This new cultural sensitivity you develop through both the mindfulness practices and the one-to-one connections with the other students, all help. Some of our teachers have gone on to offer mindfulness to marginalized communities which we are very proud of.
Q: What about spirituality? Or is it all just science-based?
Mindfulness is both a science and an art. Of course, meditation can have spiritual depth. This course isn't just about successful completion and getting certified. Mindfulness can be considered a powerful transformative medicine or an engaged spirituality - it's up to you to decide what mindfulness means to you.
However, we know mindfulness is very much part of evidence-based research and clinical psychology and we don't want to force any beliefs upon anyone. We lean towards science first and respect the spiritual roots of the practice.
Q: Is this an accredited mindfulness teacher training program?
Yes. Our program is accredited by the Complementary Medical Association. They are of course a separate and independent organization from us.
Summary
When looking for a mindfulness teacher training program, it's important to consider what type of training and support you need. There are many different types of programs available, with varying lengths and levels of intensity. It's also important to make sure the program is accredited and provides ongoing support after completing the training.
When choosing a training program, ask yourself these questions:
Do you prefer this first training in-person or online?
Do you wish to train in one specific training of MBSR or something more flexible and adaptable?
Which teacher trainer do you feel you can connect with and learn from?
Do I wish to do a one-off training or join a training that offers ongoing training and support?
Do I want to join a program that offers support and training to find clients or is that not important?
How much do you wish to invest in this first or next training?
By considering and answering some of these questions, you’ll be able to make a choice that’s right for you.
Shamash Alidina's Teach Mindfulness Program offers a fully online training that is fully flexible and customisable, plus provides ongoing support from a community of mindfulness teachers and practitioners for many years ahead.
You will leave as part of a group of qualified mindfulness meditation teachers, with confidence and community support.
Join our worldwide movement to foster well-being, help a suffering world, potentially even heal trauma and work with fellow students to grow inner freedom and ultimately, if I can say it, evolving consciousness.
The next program begins soon. To find out more about our latest dates and pricing, apply on our website using the button below or contact us on info@shamashalidina.com
Written by Shamash Alidina
Hi, my name is Shamash Alidina. I was born and live in London, UK and teach people online, all over the world. I’ve been teaching mindfulness for 25 years and training mindfulness teachers full-time for 10 years. I’m best known for publishing the book ‘Mindfulness for Dummies’, which as sold over 100,000 copies all over the world. I’ve also published 10 other books. I’ve trained over 500 people in mindfulness. I’ve spoken at events all over the world, including alongside the Dalai Lama. And I’ve been featured on the BBC, Sky TV and The Independent. I’ve taught mindfulness at the NHS, Google, Facebook, HM Parliament, JP Morgan, and many more.
