3 Reasons You Can’t Afford To Miss Out On Group Meditation

3 Reasons You Can’t Afford To Miss Out On Group Meditation

Meditation can be a uniquely fulfilling experience. But—it can also be a lonely one.

Many people, when first learning to meditate, do so on their own, often from the comfort of their own homes. They research breathing techniques to follow, or discover guided meditations online. Some purchase books on the subject, while others still do nothing of the sort and simply resolve themselves to sitting quietly in a room to contemplate the breath.

But much of the time, meditation is a solitary endeavor. And yes, while it’s certainly rewarding in its own right, it can also become easy to feel discouraged.

Meditating with a group can be the perfect enriching supplement to your regular, individual meditation practice.

But in case you want some more convincing, here are 3 pivotal reasons you should try meditating with a group—at least once!

1. Meditating In A Group Encourages Accountability

Ever worked out with a partner before? It can be a lot of fun! You have someone to keep pace with, to learn from, to encourage and be encouraged by, and it can be quite energizing.

But there’s another aspect to working out with a partner many don’t consider when agreeing to become a workout buddy. When someone else is expecting you to show up at the gym, or at the trailhead, or at the tennis court, you’ve got someone to answer to. And that’s called accountability.

It’s not as easy to bail on your workout when there’s someone waiting for you to show up. You wouldn’t just be letting yourself down, you’d be letting down your workout partner too. This increased accountability can be the push many people need to get over their weekday workout aversion, and make the trek out to the gym.

Now, think of meditation as a workout for your mind. When you agree to regularly meditate with a group, you’ll have other people expecting you to show up. It doesn’t seem like a big deal to shrug off your meditation practice when it’s just your yoga mat you’re letting down, does it? But when you’re letting down 10 other people who are looking forward to seeing you? Whole different ballgame.

2. Meditating In A Group Amplifies the Experience

Each of us possesses our own inner wellspring of prana. Prana, or life energy, is what connects us as living beings.

Theorists suggest that by meditating, we can more readily access this field of energy. When we still the mind and listen to the breath, we can focus on the power within. So, what happens when people meditate and focus on this life energy as a group?

The effects of meditation can be readily amplified when practicing with others. When the environment is conducive to introspection and contemplation, what often occurs is the collective expansion of awareness.

With each person individually focused on the same task, it can feel as if you’re simultaneously connecting to the same universal signal. A signal you emanate together, with a quiet, steady power that contains the potential to shift consciousness to entirely new and elevated realms.

It’s a truly remarkable experience not to be missed.

3. Meditating In A Group Offers Opportunity for Support

We’ve said it once, but we’ll say it again—meditating is hard!

When you practice privately, it’s easy to feel bogged down in the day to day. It’s easy to feel discouraged and disheartened. It’s easy to simply walk away when you’re too tired or frustrated to continue.

But when you meditate with a group, there are people there to support and augment your practice with their feedback and experience. If you participate in a guided meditation, it’s easier to stay on track, and keep motivated.

If you feel your meditation practice hasn’t been productive, a fellow practitioner can offer some insight, or relate your experience to one of their own. If you experience difficult and challenging emotions arise during a practice, there are fellow meditators there to empathize with you.

Meditating with a group offers the private practitioner so much in the way of counsel, feedback, and encouragement, that you shouldn’t be surprised if the people you meet in your group meditations soon become lifelong friends.

An Intimidating Worthwhile Challenge

Meditating with others when you’re accustomed to meditating alone can seem like a frightening feat. But the benefits of group meditation are multifaceted and significant, and can swiftly advance your meditation practice.

Be sure to give it a try—at least once! The results can be extraordinary.

Have you ever meditated in a group before? Would you be interested in trying it out sometime? Let us know your thoughts! We’d love to hear from you.

Resources

Chopra, Deepak. “The Power of Group Meditation.” The Chopra Center. http://www.chopra.com/articles/the-power-of-group-meditation#sm.0000t6qo...

Remati, Kathryn. “6 Reasons Why Group Meditation Is Awesome!” Yoga International. https://yogainternational.com/article/view/6-reasons-why-group-meditatio...