Meditation Instructor

Mini BOP
MBP450 · September 2022

Introduction
Meditation instructors provide group and individual classes in community centres, leisure centres
and gyms and similar leisure and holistic premises. Some instructors also host live online classes.

Meditation is used to promote relaxation and improve mental health and wellbeing, and help
with conditions such as anxiety, depression and chronic pain. Mindfulness meditation originates
in Buddhism and is the most frequently practised type of meditation. Other types of meditation
include mantra, spiritual and movement meditation.

Trading issues
• The British School of Meditation's Level 3 Meditation Teacher Training course is accredited by
Ascentis. The course costs £1,250 and can be studied online or in London, Essex, Bristol and
Manchester. Go to www.teaching-meditation.co.uk/Train-to-Teach-Meditation/Meditation-
teacher-training-courses for more information.

• The Certied Mediation Instructor Program (C.MI) is a distance-learning course run by the
University of Holistic Theology. The course focuses on mindfulness mediation, but also
covers other meditation practices and traditions and typically takes between six and nine
months to complete. The fee is $495. Go to https://universityofholistictheology.com/cmi/
Certied-Meditation-Instructor.htm for details.

• Connected Kids has developed an international training programme for teaching meditation
to children and young people, including those who have experienced trauma or have special
educational needs (SEN) such as autism or ADHD. The Connected Kids certied professional
training is accredited by the International Mindfulness and Meditation Alliance (IMMA)
and can be completed either online or in person. There is a 12-month assessment period.
The course fee is around £1,110. Go to https://teachchildrenmeditation.com/meditation-
benets-connected-kids-training/ for more information.

• Meditation instructors can demonstrate that they have appropriate qualications and
meet standards of competence by joining a professional body. Relevant bodies include the
International Association of Meditation Instructors (IAMI, www.meditationinstructors.com)
and the IMMA (https://internationalmindfulness.org).

• The Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT, www.fht.org.uk) represents complementary

therapists in the UK and Ireland, including meditation instructors. Members benet from a
listing in the FHT's register of accredited therapists (subject to qualication requirements),
discounts on seminars and workshops, access to local support and guidance, and regular
newsletters.

• Meditation classes can be promoted as an employee benet. For example, the Kadampa
Meditation Centre in London offers corporate membership that provides the member's

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 workforce with access to regular in-person and online meditation classes (https://
meditation.london/pricing/).

• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidelines setting
out key considerations and recommendations for employers supporting employees' mental
wellbeing in the workplace (www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1752364/new-nice-
guidelines-say-mindfulness-work).

• Meditation is a core practice of Western Buddhism and many Buddhist centres in the UK
run regular classes, including free 'taster' sessions. Go to www.londonbuddhistcentre.com/
meditation, https://manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk/meditation and https://bristol-
buddhist-centre.org/whats-on/ for examples.

• Meditation has traditionally been practised as part of yoga and there may be
opportunities for meditation instructors to deliver classes at yoga studios. Go to https://
bristolyogacentre.co.uk/workshops, https://bathyogastudio.com/category/workshops-and-
courses/ and https://triyoga.co.uk/services/meditation-mindfulness/.

• Meditation instructors often use background music to create a relaxing setting for classes.
Royalty-free music is available from suppliers such as HigherMind (www.highermind-
royaltyfreemusic.com/product-category/meditation/) and Silencio Music (https://
silenciomusic.co.uk/royalty-free-backing-tracks-hypnosis-meditation). Instructors who use
copyrighted music must hold TheMusicLicence issued by PRS PPL Ltd.

• In September 2022, online tutor community Superprof listed 130 meditation instructors in
the UK (www.superprof.co.uk/s/meditation,United-Kingdom,,,1.html).

• Research published by the University of Bristol in March 2022 revealed a substantial increase
in the number of 18- to 34-year-olds taking anti-anxiety medication between 2003 and 2018
(www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2022/march/anxiety-prescribing.html).

• In November 2021, NICE published draft guidance recommending alternatives to

medication for less severe depression, including group meditation or mindfulness. Go
to www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-cgwave0725/documents to view the
guidance in full.

Useful contacts
International Association of Meditation Instructors (IAMI)
www.meditationinstructors.com

International Mindfulness and Meditation Alliance (IMMA)

https://internationalmindfulness.org

Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)

www.fht.org.uk

DISCLAIMER While all reasonable efforts have been made, the publisher makes no warranties that this
information is accurate and up-to-date and will not be responsible for any errors or omissions in the information
nor any consequences of any errors or omissions. Professional advice should be sought where appropriate.

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