| Meditation has its many benefits and you would | | | | other meditation literature. By sharing, you |
| just love to reap some of those benefits. Oh, but | | | | continue to learn from others and feel connected. |
| it's so hard to get into a meditation routine when | | | | 6. Energy exchange: You have the opportunity to |
| you're by yourself. Honestly, you're discouraged | | | | experience the positive energy flow amongst |
| because you've got questions, you feel you don't | | | | your group and feel energized. Scientific evidence |
| have enough information, or you just wish you | | | | has proven that we are all bundles of energy, and |
| had some support. Well, you're not alone! | | | | you know that two batteries of any size can |
| Ten Favorable Reasons to Join a Meditation Group: | | | | produce more energy than one. |
| 1. Reinforces your meditation practice: Maybe you | | | | 7. Positive impact: You have a chance to realize |
| didn't feel like doing your meditation practice | | | | the positive impact your group meditation has on |
| today because you're too busy, you remind | | | | your family, your work, your community. The |
| yourself of the benefits, and after you leave your | | | | positive impact goes beyond your physical |
| session you're glad you went. The time and | | | | meditation, the positive impact extends outwards. |
| energy that you invest into your meditation | | | | The positive impact group meditation has to offer |
| practice pays back doubly through reinforcement. | | | | is beyond words. |
| You're not alone. | | | | 8. Celebrate milestones together: When you find |
| 2. Able to ask questions: When you are in a group | | | | out that your meditation buddy was able to stay |
| with like-minded people, you are more likely to | | | | awake for his or her last two meditation sessions, |
| feel comfortable in asking questions. You don't feel | | | | you celebrate that milestone, or when you finally |
| that you might ask an absurd question or | | | | reach the 'quiet place within', you celebrate that |
| someone will laugh at you, chances are that | | | | event. Celebration of milestones is always much |
| someone else has the same question or | | | | more meaningful when celebrated as a group. |
| experience. | | | | 9. Lighten up: You learn not to take your |
| 3. Bonding: Relationships are naturally formed by | | | | meditation practice too serious. If the person next |
| spending time together, and because meditation is | | | | to you falls asleep and starts snoring, you can |
| such an intimate experience you will develop | | | | laugh about it later. There is a time and place for |
| special relationships. Some of these relationships | | | | sleeping and snoring, but when it comes to |
| are likely to become lifetime friendships, and that's | | | | meditation, you learn it's a challenge yet fun to do |
| one opportunity you don't want to miss out on. | | | | in a group. |
| 4. Support for maintaining your practice: There | | | | 10. Group coherence: On the subtle level, we are |
| may be times when you feel discouraged in your | | | | all connected and group meditation practice helps |
| meditation practice and feel you're not making | | | | strengthen that subtle connection. Not only does it |
| any progress. Joining a meditation group is like | | | | strengthen that connection, it also helps deepen |
| joining a support group. No matter what | | | | the experience because you are all doing the |
| challenges you may encounter in your meditation | | | | same thing at the same time. |
| practice, someone is able to relate personally or | | | | With these ten reasons as encouragement to join |
| know someone who can. | | | | a meditation group, you are encouraged to look |
| 5. Share with others: Here is your chance to share | | | | around and find a group you feel comfortable in |
| what you have tried, what has worked, and what | | | | and get out there. Besides, how often do you get |
| hasn't worked. You get ideas from others on | | | | a chance to go to a meeting, sit around, close |
| techniques and how each of you is implementing | | | | your eyes, and do nothing without getting in |
| them, and best of all you can share books and | | | | trouble? |