ALL GAIN, NO PAIN
Western Medicine has proven in study after study that beginning a daily meditation practice promotes your health and wellness in ways that pharmaceuticals and medication simply cannot. Vedic Meditation is known to be one of the easiest and most natural forms of stress reduction available.
FOUR DAYS IS ALL IT TAKES
The Beginner’s Meditation Course will transform you into a confident, self-sufficient meditator within four days. You will only need to attend one 90-minute session on each of the four days in Santa Monica. During the course, you will learn how to experience the deepest states of awareness achievable by humans, while sitting comfortably in a chair. You’ll also learn how to trigger this state in almost any setting, allowing you to get deep rest and reduce stress while on the go. No prior experience or knowledge is necessary to become a proficient meditator by the end of the course.
YOU’RE INVITED TO A FREE MEDITATION INTRO SESSION
To begin learning, you’re invited to attend a free Intro Session, which is an in-person orientation to the technique and course of instruction. The course usually begins the day after the Intro. There is no cost or obligation for attending this session.
HOW THE VEDIC MEDITATION TECHNIQUE WORKS
To practice Vedic Meditation, you sit comfortably in a chair with your back supported and your eyes closed. You allow your mind to settle down to increasingly quiter levels of consciousness by utilizing the sound of a mantra. There is no focusing, concentrating or contemplating involved – and you don’t have to control the mind in any way. The technique feels natural, simple and effortless because you never have to ‘try’ to meditate. Practice time is only twenty minutes. To an outside observer you will appear to be simply resting.
HOW THE COURSE WORKS
The Vedic Meditation technique is taught in a gradual, step-wise format over four days (sometimes weekend intensive courses are offered as well). In addition to attending the daily sessions (we offer the same session twice each day to accommodate different schedules), participants are also assigned practice meditations at home. This insures that every participant will gain enough understanding and experience with both the technique and the underlying principles to become self-sufficient by the end of the course. Below is the course outline:
Intro Session: (60 minutes) An Introduction to the Technique
Interview: (5 minutes) Meet with the teacher
Session 1: (90 mins) Learn the basic technique
Session 2: (90 mins) Learn the mechanics of transcending thoughts
Session 3: (90 mins) Learn about the mind & body in meditation
Session 4: (90 mins) Integration & follow-up support
After the initial training, course participants are able to repeat the training an unlimited number of times for life, as well as attend weekly and monthly follow-up sessions to get their technique checked.
WHERE THE COURSE IS HELD
The Meditation Center is located in west Los Angeles, on the border of Venice and Santa Monica. The center is set up for comfort and convenience – a perfectly charming environment for personalized instruction. Sessions are by appointment only. No drop-ins please. If you would like to attend a Basic Meditation Course for beginners, please sign up for a free Intro Session or contact us for more information.
WHO IS THE TEACHER
Light Watkins completed his training to become a teacher of Vedic Meditation in 2007. Prior to becoming a meditation teacher, Light worked in advertising and taught hatha yoga. Light was born and raised in the Southern United States and spent much of his professional life in New York, Chicago, Europe and out West. He is currently based in Venice, CA and teaches meditation workshops throughout the United States.
Disclaimer: Light Watkins teaches independently and is not affiliated with the Transcendental Meditation organization.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How is this technique different from other techniques?
Whereas many other meditation practices may require some degree of concentration, focus, or contemplation, Vedic meditation requires no activity. The technique feels natural, simple and effortless. You sit comfortably in a chair or on a sofa and you never have to ‘try’ to meditate.
Is this the same as Transcendental Meditation?
While there are many similarities in the techniques and course of instruction, we are not affiliated with the Transcendental Meditation organization. However, both teachings come from the Shankaracharya lineage of India and both are considered automatic self-transcending meditation techniques.
Do I have to change my lifestyle in order to benefit from this technique?
The technique is sequential and scientific in nature. Like yoga, Vedic Meditation can be practiced and enjoyed by anyone, regardless of cultural or religious beliefs or lifestyle.
What if I have too many thoughts when I try to quiet my mind?
If you feel like your mind is always active, you are a perfect candidate for this technique because you don’t have to ‘try’ to stop thinking or ‘try’ to do anything for that matter. ‘Trying’ is actually what excites the mind and causes thinking. Vedic Meditation effortlessly settles the mind in the most natural and immediate way.
What kind of benefits will I get from meditating?
Meditators report experiencing deep rest, the release of stress, more energy, clearer thinking, better health, and improved personal relationships.
Other notable benefits include:
· Improved memory, energy, creativity, intelligence
· Relief from depression and anxiety
· Relief from migraines, headaches and asthma
· Relief from insomnia and other sleeping disorders
· Faster reaction times
· Reduced cholesterol levels
· Relief from fatigue
· Stronger immune system
· Reduced risk of heart disease
· Normalization of blood pressure
· Improved sports performance
· Reduction of biological aging
· Reduced addictive behaviors
· Normalization of weight
How much will it cost me to learn meditation?
In accordance with ancient Vedic tradition, each student will be asked at the beginning of their course to make a one-time financial contribution that is graduated based on their income level. Each participant determines his or her contribution on the honor system. By using this sliding-scale contribution system, we are able to give everyone access to the same high quality meditation instruction.
In exchange, you receive personalized instruction from an expert instructor, plus any additional instruction you may require if you have special needs. Once you complete the course you are able to repeat it an unlimited number of times for the rest of your life at no additional cost. There are other measures in place to provide free, unlimited, lifelong support and guidance to all graduates, for life.
Can I have a private course?
Yes, but you must first come to an Intro Session, unless you are being referred by someone who has already been given private training.
COMMUNITY LINKS
BeginMeditating.com
An informational site about Vedic Meditation courses throughout the country
VedicNetwork.com
A worldwide directory of Vedic Meditation teachers and events
ResearchMeditation.com
A comparison site of popular meditation techniques
Yogananda-srf.org
The official Self-Realization Fellowship website
Vipassana.com
A site on the Buddhist meditation technique Vipassana, also known as Insight Meditation
TM.org
The official Transcendental Meditation website