The Meditation Teacher Academy was founded in 2011. Since then, hundreds of teachers have been trained to professionally teach meditation and mindfulness around the world. Some say it was “the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.” Others compare the training to a post-graduate program, while some insist that it is a potent personal development course which has the power to completely transform their life.

The training program is delivered in two components which you can complete in less than a year: Awaken: a Meditation & Mindfulness Foundation Course, and Become, a Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher Training Certification track. As you complete the Awaken course, you’ll intensify your training as you embark on the Become track, during which you’ll learn to teach everything you learned and experienced in Awaken. Become ends after a week-long virtual intensive and teaching practicum, during which you’ll earn your certification. See the details below.

Awaken is a nine-month personal journey designed to help you give birth to your best self. Become enlightened to all areas of your life: relationships, work, your daily routine, your spiritual life, your inner dialogue and your intuition. With live guidance from Sarah McLean and the dedicated faculty of the McLean Meditation Institute, you will amplify your personal meditation practice, awaken to who you really are, and bloom in ways you’d never imagine.  

• Explore and practice over 30 forms of meditation: how, when, and why to use them.
• Explore the jewels of wisdom from ancient contemplative and mystic traditions and their modern applications.
• Deepen your personal meditation and mindfulness practice as you overcome obstacles and refine your practice.
• Adopt a mindful mindset and bring your attention to what really, really matters to you.
• Create harmony in your life and in your relationships with mindful listening and communication practices.
• Get to know yourself and your interior landscape and stop outsourcing your sense of self or your happiness.
• Discover and tap into your inner refuge to find an ever present sense of peace.
• Open your mind and heart to listen, trust, and discover what is possible.
• Develop more self-compassion and overcome limiting self-talk and beliefs that don’t serve you.
• Develop “lovingkindness” so you are able to and see the beauty of those around you.
• Discover practices to cultivate creativity and innovation.
• Increase appreciation for your life and increase your sense of interconnection with the world.
• Explore indicators of transcendence and the resulting expanded awareness.
• Create a sustainable personal practice and nourishing daily routine from the wisdom of Ayurveda.
• Experience the scientifically-proven physiological and psychological benefits of regular meditation and mindfulness practices.
• Benefit from the way practices change your brain and train your attention.
• Learn to shift the stress response from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest” and enliven your overall well-being.
• Learn the keys of a potent personal meditation and mindfulness retreat.
• Navigate life changes with wisdom and grace as you go through the fire of transformation.

Features:

• A 200+ page training guide to support you in deepening your personal practice and self-awareness.
• 9 monthly live training calls with Sarah McLean and the seasoned MTA faculty.
• 8 monthly live coaching and study sessions with live Q & A.
• 3 monthly meditation sessions with specific guidance for your personal practice.
• Access to a private online portal with links to additional reference materials.
• Recordings of the online live sessions in case you miss them.
• Training in gentle yoga practices, qigong, and pranayama.
• Guidance in understanding the fundamentals of the ancient healing art of Ayurveda.
• A reading list with books offering insights from modern scientific research and ancient traditions.
• An option to engage a meditation mentor, a master meditation teacher who can personally coach you as you navigate the course.

Become an effective meditation and mindfulness teacher in the 3-month Become track. Six months into the Awaken course, you’ll embark on the 3-month virtual meditation and mindfulness teacher training. It runs concurrently with the last three months of the Awaken track, and culminates with a 7-day virtual teacher training practicum.

• Learn time-tested ways to teach anyone how to meditate and to adopt a mindful lifestyle.
• Get the keys to bring mindfulness into your teaching: before during, and after a class.
• Learn the brain science: how meditation changes the states and the traits of the brain, including neuroplasticity.
• Receive coaching on creating and guiding potent meditations for groups or individuals.
• Learn how to introduce children of all ages to mindfulness and emotional self-awareness.
• Explore how to introduce and teach a wide variety of meditation practices, including Mindful Body/Breath Awareness, Heart-Centered Breath, Visualization, Self-Inquiry Practices, Silent Mantra Meditation, Sutra Practices, Peacefinder Practices, Loving-Kindness Meditation, Compassion Practices, Gratitude Meditation, Mindful Eating Meditation, Mindful Walking Meditation, and much more!
• Discover ways to modify your programs and effectively bring them into a workplace, a classroom, and work with special populations – including those who are trauma-sensitive, in chronic pain, or members of 12-step groups.
• Learn the keys to create safety for your students, including holding space, ethics, and creating comfort.
• Format and set up a class and engage anyone – even for the first time.
• Learn to deal with the imposter syndrome.
• Receive coaching as a mindful entrepreneur and learn how to market yourself and your services.

Features:

• Monthly group coaching calls with Sarah.
• A live teacher training practicum and immersion delivered virtually over two weekends to ensure your ability to confidently teach meditation and mindfulness.
• A 100-page Meditation Teacher Manual filled with tools for teaching and for developing your meditation teaching business you’ll refer to over and over again.
• Access to an inspiring, private online community of teachers-in-training to share your journey and insights with.
• Life-changing, individualized coaching in public speaking by professionals.
• Guidelines for identifying pertinent online research, writing briefs, and presenting findings.
• Coaching by experienced meditation and mindfulness teachers (to learn more about the MTA Faculty, click here).
• Formats and outlines for teaching – including those for meditation and mindfulness classes (in person as well as virtually), guiding group meditations, offering introductory lectures, facilitating discussions, hosting book study groups, leading meditation retreats, and more!
• A how-to guide for setting up public speaking events and finding venues to suit your needs.
• Top 10 Tips for teaching special populations.
• Marketing guidance with a marketing professional.
• Marketing materials including press releases, social media copy, and collateral.
• Templates and forms you’ll need to register, confirm, and follow-up with students/clients who attend your classes.
• A professional, customizable 60-slide PowerPoint presentation to use when teaching in person or virtually.
• A qualifying exam.

Once You Graduate

You’ll be certified to teach and will have access to everything you need to teach anyone who wants to learn how to practice mindfulness and meditation. Students will come to you looking for more inner peace, creativity, inspiration, harmony in relationships, fulfillment, better health, self-awareness, or to enhance their spiritual practice. And you’ll be prepared to say “yes!” when you are asked to teach—whether you’re invited to present during a lunch-and-learn at a corporate headquarters or in a classroom full of kids who want an experience of mindfulness.

You’ll also be joining an international community of teachers who are teaching in corporations and in schools, who have started their own meditation coaching business, become keynote speakers, written books, or have opened up a meditation center. They’ll help you by sharing their experience in the field of teaching meditation and mindfulness.

You’ll also be qualified to attend advanced certifications to become an MMI Mindful Trainer and bring mindfulness to work, as well as to train as a Mindful & Happy mentor.

You’ll also receive:

• A certificate of completion that acknowledges your commitment, skill, and ability to teach effective mindfulness and meditation methods.
• An opportunity to be listed on MMI’s Find a Meditation Teacher page.
• Access to an online library of sample proposals, outlines for lesson plans, and PowerPoint presentations for use in corporate or academic settings.
• Invitations to attend the biennial Meditation Teacher Symposium.
• Invitations to join the discussion group and community of professional meditation and mindfulness teachers.
• Opportunity to earn referral fees.
• 100+ hour library of continuing education programs on a wide variety of subjects related to meditation, mindfulness, and teaching.

Questions? Contact an admissions counselor. Schedule a time to connect, here. 

• Class 32 is in progress
• Applications are now being accepted for Class 33
• The program begins in April 26, 2025