| Having your own meditation group is a great way | | | | meditation sessions for a period of up to six |
| to meet new people but it is also a great way to | | | | months, simply so that you can learn as much as |
| learn new meditation techniques. As you begin | | | | possible from them and to get your basic |
| your meditation journey you will find new ways | | | | meditation techniques down pat. After this period |
| to meditate and everyone will have their own | | | | though, I would encourage you to invite other |
| ideas and a meditation group is a great way to | | | | meditation practitioners to teach you their |
| learn. | | | | meditation techniques. |
| If you are new to meditation then joining a | | | | Remember, there are many different meditation |
| meditation group is a great way to start. | | | | techniques that will help you to improve your life |
| Sometimes you will find that there may not be a | | | | and the more people you get to meet to share |
| meditation group nearby so you can certainly | | | | there meditation techniques the more rounded |
| start your own. When you do start your own | | | | and effective your meditation will become. |
| meditation group there are a few things you need | | | | When you are setting up your meditation group it |
| to consider. | | | | is also worthwhile trying to get all your meditation |
| First of all, you need to work out how many | | | | partners to be of a similar skill level especially if |
| people you want to have in your meditation | | | | you are running a guided meditation session. Also |
| group. If you are new to meditation then it is | | | | make sure you have your room appropriately |
| recommended that you only have 3 or 4 people | | | | setup. For example if your meditation room has |
| in your meditation group including yourself. If you | | | | candles, incense and meditation music then makes |
| have been meditating for some time then you | | | | sure you use those during your meditation |
| may consider having anywhere up to 10 people | | | | session. |
| however, when you have that many people in a | | | | One issue you do need to consider is whether or |
| room make sure that your meditation room is an | | | | not any person attending your meditation group is |
| appropriate size. | | | | allergic to incense or essential oils. I am a strong |
| I recommend that when you are meditating with | | | | believe in using a lavender based incense or |
| 10 people that you do it outside because it is | | | | essential oil for introductory meditation sessions. |
| much nicer and if you have 10 people outside | | | | The lavender fragrance is the perfect fragrance |
| rather than inside in a warm climate because you | | | | for relaxing and has been used for many years |
| may find it gets very uncomfortable over a 20 to | | | | by religious meditators because of its soothing |
| 30 minute mediation session. I certainly | | | | nature. Other fragrance you may want to |
| recommend that you have air-conditioning for this | | | | consider is sweet violets or oriental jasmine. |
| number of people in a small room. | | | | Make sure if you are running your meditation |
| When you are setting up your meditation group, | | | | group in your meditation room that you have |
| you will need to develop a way to indicate to | | | | enough meditation pillows for everyone. There is |
| people how you will bring them out of their | | | | nothing worse than to go to a meditation session |
| meditated state. In many cases the music you | | | | only to find that you are sitting on the hard cold |
| are using if it is designed for meditation will do this | | | | floor. It does make getting to that state of mind |
| for you but there is nothing worse than to be | | | | very difficult. Alternatively, encourage your |
| brought out of a nice peaceful tranquil state by | | | | meditation members to bring there own |
| the blast of a whistle. One retreat I visited did this | | | | meditation pillows. Some meditators are very |
| and they wondered why people got so agitated. | | | | protective of their meditation pillows so do set |
| If you are going to host the meditation group at | | | | some careful rules on meditators acceptable |
| your home make sure that you find a suitable | | | | behaviour at your meditation group. |
| room with no distractions and very low noise. If | | | | Finally, how to find your meditation partners ... |
| you live in a suburb which is extremely noisy or | | | | The best way to find your meditation partners is |
| next to a train station then your guest meditators | | | | to check out meditation websites in your local |
| may find it very difficult to get to the first stage | | | | areas or the yellow pages. You will find there |
| in the meditation process so in this case you may | | | | maybe a holistic or healing centre nearby. See if |
| consider hosting your meditation group at a local | | | | they are holding a group meditation session and |
| hall or community centre. | | | | go along. While you are there invite some of the |
| The next aspect you need to consider when | | | | attendees to have a private meditation session at |
| setting up your meditation group is whether the | | | | your home. One thing I will note is that when you |
| group will be run as a guided meditation group or | | | | are inviting people into your home who you may |
| simply a group of people meditating together. I | | | | not be familiar with always make sure that you |
| recommend that if you are starting out that you | | | | secure your valuables and I always recommend |
| do run a guided meditation group and invite | | | | having a friend you know really well with you so |
| someone from one of your local meditation | | | | that if anything happens they can support you. |
| centres to guide each session. Ask them if they | | | | Setting up your own meditation group is a great |
| will run the session for free in return for them | | | | way to get to know people and can lead to very |
| being able to offer their meditation tools at your | | | | long friendships. Remember when meditating in a |
| meditation group. Some meditation practitioners | | | | group you are all taking the meditation voyage |
| will charge a fee regardless of you offer, simply | | | | together as well as on your own. It is fantastic to |
| because that is how they make a living which is | | | | share your meditation experiences and techniques |
| fair enough. | | | | that you have learned with each other so you |
| If you are starting out I would encourage you to | | | | can all try them out and help your meditation skills |
| have the same meditation practitioner run guided | | | | mature. |