Meditation Instructor Certification Program

ABOUT

Mindfulness meditation is now a cultural phenomenon! Research has shown that it can help regulate blood pressure and reduce symptoms in stress-related illnesses. It can help prevent relapse into depression when included as part of a treatment protocol. It lowers the stress hormone cortisol. Those who practice it regularly report greater self-confidence, improved communication skills, and an increased ability to navigate conflict and uncertainty.

If you are a yoga teacher, life coach, business coach, nutritionist, therapist, health care professional, or anyone who works with others directly, acquiring the skill to be a meditation instructor can bring great value to the relationship.

It may appear that teaching meditation is a simple thing—what is so complicated about sitting down and breathing?! However, 2600 years of mindfulness-awareness practice has shown us that though the technique is simple, the results it produces are not. A responsible meditation teacher has some knowledge of how to guide others as their practice takes root.

The Open Heart Project is proud to announce its first-ever Meditation Instructor Certification Program. This online program is specifically constructed to serve those who work one-to-one or in small groups with clients or patients. Our program has been recognized by the International Coaching Federation. Federation members may claim 28 CEUS (14 core and 14 resource development) toward maintaining their coaching certification.

The program was created by Susan Piver and Jenna Hollenstein. Susan is the New York Times best selling author of 9 books, a long-time meditation teacher, and founder of the Open Heart Project, an online mindfulness community with close to 20,000 members. Jenna is a meditation guide in the Open Heart Project and a registered dietitian and nutrition therapist. She is founder of  Eat to Love and uses a non-diet approach to work one-to-one with clients struggling with chronic dieting, disordered eating, and eating disorders.

Participants will gain the necessary skills to teach the meditation technique clearly, answer the most frequently asked questions with confidence, and gain insight into the teacher-student relationship. This program is not about becoming a spiritual guide, but about learning to impart this ancient technique responsibly, kindly, and skillfully.

CURRICULUM

• 28 hours of class time over 9 weeks and a commitment to practice meditation daily
• Classes will be held on nine consecutive Tuesdays from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET. Each class is recorded so if you have to miss one, you may catch up by watching the recording. However, we ask that you miss not more than one class.
• There will be nine mid-week check-ins on Fridays from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm ET. This is a chance to discuss your practice, share reflections about the homework, and ask questions.

Week 1: Introduction 

Why is meditation important to someone working as a coach, therapist, or wellness teacher?

The foundation, process, expected outcome of this course

An overview of the three-tiered learning objectives:

• To help clients become more mindful;
• To develop a personal mindfulness practice, and
• To become more present within the coaching flow

Introduction to meditation as a spiritual practice (that has nothing to do with religion)

Guided meditation practice by Susan

Discussion and homework

Week 2: Entering the Path

Guided meditation practice by Susan

Introduction to the philosophy and principles of mindfulness

Review of the most common obstacles to practice and their antidotes

Discussion and homework

Week 3: Keeping it Genuine

Guided meditation practice by Susan

How to create a a strong personal practice

The importance of simplicity

The secret to personal discipline

Three steps to keep your practice sacred (rather than self-help)

Discussion and homework

Week 4: Opening Your Heart

Guided meditation practice by Susan

How meditation opens the heart, how to support yourself and others who may feel increasingly vulnerable, and how to view vulnerability as a source of power

Introduction to the Four Immeasurables: Lovingkindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity

Making the connection between meditation practice and heart-opening and how that can influence the coaching relationship

Reflections on what may be holding you back from fully expressing your gifts as a coach and how the Four Immeasurables can help

Discussion and homework

Week 5: Turning Your Practice Outward

Guided meditation practice by Susan

Bringing mindfulness off the cushion and into real life

Creating a lifestyle of mindfulness

How your practice can benefit others, especially your clients or patients

5 steps to creating a mindful environment

Discussion and homework

Week 6: Sharing the Practice with Authenticity

Guided meditation practice by Susan

How to offer this practice to others with confidence and authority

Practicum intensive: Students break into dyads to provide meditation instruction to one another

Discussion and homework

Week 7: Teaching Skillfully

Guided meditation practice by Susan

Practicum intensive: Students again break into dyads to provide meditation instruction to one another

Discussion and homework

Week 8: Creating a Strong Bond while Maintaining Boundaries

Guided meditation practice by Susan

How to establish an appropriate relationship with meditation students

How to protect the sacred nature of the practice

How to establish confidence in the mind of your student so he or she can trust you and listen to you

How to prepare to give meditation instruction

Letting go of expectations of yourself as a teacher, of your student, of the instruction

Discussion and homework

Week 9: Testing Your Knowledge: The Warrior’s Circle

The “Warriors Circle” is a different way of testing knowledge. It is both more gentle than traditional testing methods and more intense. Each student must be prepared to verbally answer every one of the test questions, but only one will actually be posed to him or her.

Going forward: How to bring your new certification into your business to create more value for yourself and your clients or patients.

REQUIREMENTS

• Completed application form.
• The ability and commitment to attend classes and check-ins. Attendance is required for all classes and check-ins. If you need to, you may miss one class or one check-in, to be made-up by watching the recording before the next session. Attendance in classes #1, #6, #7, and #9 is mandatory.
• A commitment to your own personal practice. The most important quality of a meditation teacher is his or her own strong practice. You will receive all the instruction and support you need to establish your personal practice—and the commitment to practice regularly is required.

COST

$1295 Early Bird (June 7 – Aug 7) and $1495 thereafter.

Payment in full is required before attending the program. No refunds.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED FOR THIS PROGRAM AS WE HAVE REACHED OUR PARTICIPANT CAPACITY.  PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT REGISTRATION FOR OUR JANUARY COURSE.

Questions? Please email Michele.

Susan Piver is a Buddhist teacher and the New York Times bestselling author of nine books. A student of Buddhism since 1995, she graduated from a Buddhist seminary in 2004 and was authorized to teach meditation in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage in 2005.

She teaches workshops and speaks all over the world on meditation, spirituality, communication styles, relationships and creativity.

In 2011, Piver launched The Open Heart Project, an online meditation community with nearly 20,000 members who practice together and explore ways to bring spiritual values such as kindness, genuineness and fearlessness to everyday life.

Jenna Hollenstein, MS, RD, CDN, is a writer, nutrition therapist, mindfulness teacher and Open Heart Project Meditation Guide.

She is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and the author of Understanding Dietary Supplements, a handy guide to the evaluation and use of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and botanicals for both consumers and clinicians, and more recently the memoir Drinking to Distraction.

She will be co-teaching the NEW “How to Become a Meditation Instructor” certified E-Course program with Susan Piver.

INTERESTED IN RECEIVING UPDATES ABOUT THE PROGRAM BEING HELD JANUARY 24 – MARCH 21, 2017? Please submit your email via the form below and we’ll be sure to let you know when registration is available.

Having trouble submitting via the form? Please email Michele and she’ll add you to the list.