Benefits of Group Meditation
In our yoga practices, we strive for the unionization or yoking of our minds and bodies – and whether our yoga practice is an asana practice (which is most common), a pranayama practice, a practice of ahimsa, svadhyaya or bhakti, the main common goal is the same – the union of body and mind. I believe many of us are actually practicing yoga by ourselves with the guidance from books or online guides to aid us in search for steadiness. However, have you considered practicing meditation as a group, with guides, support and a community? In fact, group meditation has its benefits for each of us. Read on to find out the benefits of meditating in a group.
“However, in a group, we can tap into our group’s empathy and know that everyone understands exactly where you’re at. We can float on the waves of their peace and steadiness while we find our own meditation pace. “
In our yoga practices, we strive for the unionization or yoking of our minds and bodies – and whether our yoga practice is an asana practice (which is most common), a pranayama practice, a practice of ahimsa, svadhyaya or bhakti, the main common goal is the same – the union of body and mind.
I believe many of us are actually practicing yoga by ourselves with the guidance from books or online guides to aid us in search for steadiness.
However, have you considered practicing meditation as a group, with guides, support and a community? In fact, group meditation has its benefits for each of us.
Here are FIVE benefits of being in a group meditation session.
1. You will feel a sense of harmony
When we practice meditation together, we are each entering into a peaceful state – while we may be doing it separately in our minds, however, the energy that is formed in the room is palpable. By meditating together, we can feel a sense of calmness and steadiness that we are emitting through our meditation.
2. Your feelings of empathy will increase
When we, humans, participate in something together, we are more likely to feel a sense of empathy with one another. When we are meditating with each other, we can feel and understand what others in the group are experiencing. We will understand our similar experiences, frustrations, and goals. When we can put ourselves in the mindset of others, we are then capable of feeling more compassion for their experiences and our connection with humanity deepens.
3. The group will support your practice
When we meditate alone, it may be easier for us to quit especially if we had a rough day in our practice. However, in a group, we can tap into our group’s empathy and know that everyone understands exactly where you’re at. We can float on the waves of their peace and steadiness while we find our own meditation pace. Once the session is over, we can discuss with others about our frustrations or triumphs and seek their guidance. Whatever it may be, remember, you’re not alone.
4. You will be less likely to quit
We all know that meditation and yoga have tons of benefits, but we do also know that they aren’t always easy. By having a group to hold us accountable for our practice will make us much less likely to give up. The support we receive and give each other in a group will help us to persevere and to achieve our goals as a group.
5. You will make friends in high places
You are who you are friends with, as the saying goes. That said, the people that we spend time with will hugely influence how we will spend our time. So, if you have friends who like to meditate, the higher chances you’re going to be pursuing a mindful lifestyle. We will bond together with our friends over the meditation sessions. And who knows one day that you and your friends will even go for a meditation retreat together!
Having that said, regardless how and why you meditate, you’ll find these benefits more from meditating in a group. It is common for each of us to struggle to fit our practices into our busy lifestyle and having a group to support us not only makes us accountable to them but also to ourselves. In a meditation group, yes, there are people for us, but we are also there for them as well too.
Source: www.wanderlust.com
Michael Teh, 11th April 2021.
Michael Teh is a meditation coach devoted to a personal mission of awakening more people to higher consciousness. He teaches self-realization through meditation, qigong, yoga and philosophy. Michael Teh Signature Workshop: The Essence of Life Series explores meditation as a powerful tool to realize our true potential. Michael has designed multiple workshops in this series to support his participants’ self-realization journey. Workshop Series 1 is currently running every few months on-ground in Kuala Lumpur, titled “Knowledge of The Self and Fundamentals of Meditation. Be sure to follow Michael’s social media channels and website for more updates: FB: https://www.facebook.com/
