Meditation Specialist Training - Curriculum

The competency training consists of a minimum of 300 hours progressing from introductory to advanced concepts in core content areas including:

Science and Healing Medical Updates
Anatomy & Physiology
Nutritional Science
Technique & Method
Practicum

The content of this unique, cutting-edge medical meditation training includes:

Principles of healing with evidence-based meditation
Criteria to bring meditation into health care and schools
Classes on the science of breath
Evidence-based practices supporting the role of relaxation in meditation
Practical approaches to starting a meditation practice
Anatomy and physiology classes
Foundation principles for healing through systematic relaxation
And much more. . .

Emphasis during the practicum sections will be on practicing the meditation sequence, the five steps of evidence –based meditation, theraputic yoga postures to support the meditation seat and demonstration of the foundational principles for health and healing. The training provides foundation skills in Evidence-Based Meditation to build your own practice and is highly recommended for those who want to begin meditation and/or refine their current practice and possibly want to teach.

Overview of Components of Competency Training:

The Healing Power of Meditation: Where Heart and Science Connect retreats focuse on practices that encompass building a foundation for meditation based on core competencies for developing a personal meditation practice combining evidence-based techniques in both mindfulness and focused awareness.

Core Objectives include:

Recognize the principles of healing.
Discuss bringing meditation into healthcare
Explain the science of breath.
Describe the role of relaxation in meditation.
Discuss a practical approach to starting a meditation practice.
Describe anatomy and physiology of the brain and nervous system, the respiratory system and nasal function, and relaxation.
Describe the basis of seated postures.
Discuss a practical approach to providing meditation training to health care facilities as well as personal practice.
Demonstrate foundation principles for healing through systematic meditation.
Use posture and movement to support meditation.
Review the steps to build a foundation for meditation.

Learners are provided with practices including: breathing, yoga postures to support the meditation seat, systematic relaxation and a guided meditation practice to establish and support their own personal practice. If participants are interested in moving toward teaching additional requirements include: supplemental online reading, a one year personal practice and a 5-Day intensive teacher training retreat. Once completed, an additional 150 hours of teaching is required before applying for board certification.

Online Curriculum/Webinars This format is provides the science and theory supporting meditation and its practices. It was developed to accomodate and make available meditation training to those that are unable to travel to additional trainings and to provide support to personal knowledge and development. Participation is at your own pace and time frame.

Teacher Training - Expand Your Practice Teacher Training 5-Day retreat focuses on expanding your knowledge and skills to teach others. Learners are provided with additional skills to teach the core competencies (breathing, yoga postures, and systematic relaxation) to specific client populations.

Pre-requisites: 5 Day Intensive Meditation Retreat or equivalent, One-Year of Personal Meditation Practice and Online Supplemental Coursework

Objectives for Teacher Training:

Explain principles of teaching meditation.
Review the role of meditation in establishing behavior change.
Discuss a practical approach to bringing meditation to different patient populations.
Review the core competencies for teaching evidence-based meditation.
Relate current medical information on meditation and specific disease states.
Explain the effects of meditation on stress-related illness.
Explain the effects of meditation and relaxation on psychiatric and mood disorders.
Demonstrate the foundation principles for healing through systematic meditation.
Practice teaching the 5 step meditation sequence.
Demonstrate teaching the meditation sequence.
Use posture and movement to support meditation.
Describe the steps to build a foundation for meditation.

At the end of Teacher Training, learners will be given an open book review test as well as a review of core competencies (breathing, postures, and systematic relaxation) for the group. Upon completion of Teacher training, learners will have an option to apply for the online and oral practical exam. Requests for testing must be received by the Certification Board 30 days prior to taking the test. Learners must pass both the written online test and the oral demonstration, scoring 75% or greater on both measurements, to become board certified as a meditation specialist through the National Meditation Specialist Certification Board. Completing both retreats and online curriculum does not guarantee certification from the Center for Meditation Science, Inc or the National Meditation Specialist Certification Board. Please visit http://nmscb.org/about to learn more about board certification.

Enrolling in the Meditation Specialist Certification Program was one of the best decisions I have made for my personal growth. Through developing a regular meditation practice I am discovering I am less reactive in situations, more calm and collected mentally and emotionally. I am now watch my diet, and lowered my cholesterol level and miraculously I have dropped 15 unwanted pounds so far. Thanks for teaching this transformational class.

I work in an inpatient psychiatric hospital with acute and chronic adult consumers. I am thrilled to be able to teach breathing and relaxation techniques as ways to manage stress and as options to med-seeking behaviors and PRNs. Those that attend the meditation training receive yet another powerful tool for creating a sense of balance and centeredness. Dr. Taylor’s training has been an invaluable investment for me both personally and professionally.

Since receiving my Mediation Specialist credentials, I have used the both the theory and practice provided during my training in my personal life, my teaching profession, and in my private practice. I have used the focused awareness and meditation practice with every class I have taught. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of a wonderful program.

Thank you so much for the Meditation Specialist Certification Program. It has proven to be even more beneficial in my nursing practice than I imagined! Recently I had an 11 year old patient with severe pain compounded by extreme anxiety. What a difference this training has made for me and in turn this young man. My sincere appreciation for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.

"You can only teach what you have practiced" is Dr. Susan Taylor's message. Meditation specialist Certification, unlike any other nursing certification is a skill that needs to be practiced regularly. As a certified meditation specialist and nurse for 16 years, I am able to go deeper in my patient care. The training has greatly improved my skills as a health care provider.

The Meditation Specialist Certification program that I attended was and continues to be a life-changing experience for me. Since my return to work, it seems as though my workload is lighter. More aptly put, I am now able to handle my workload with more ease than before I attended. I know that it is just my ability to focus more sharply with my newly acquired meditation skills which allow me to flex my brain in such a way that I can focus my attention in the midst of chaos. I currently work on a very busy medical oncology floor where my days can be spent by being on my feet for a majority of the twelve and a half hours that I am there. Thanks to my new skills. I am very grateful for the experience.

I want to thank you for everything. My life has truly been transformed and I am just beginning to really live my life. My children especially see the difference in me over the past year and they comment on it regularly. Even my ex said he is seeing me in a new light. I guess the real me is out and alive...and I like it! Namaste, Mary

"Loved the "Summit the Soul" seminar...It was wonderful spending time with you and returning to the nurturing Himalayan Institute. I definitely could have stayed longer but appreciated the time I had. It's amazing to me, Susan, that you intuitively know just what I need to learn to move forward in my personal and teaching practice! Thank you so much for the knowledge and for your genuine warmth. It's great to be around you...and I look forward eagerly to our next retreat!"

“Susan’s guidance and teachings have transformed my life or shall I say she had shown me how to transform my life! I am forever changed and continue to grow.”

“I keep coming back to get a Susan-Infusion”- “Susan gives phenomenal life changing information.”

“Susan has the perfect blend of the spiritual knowledge of Eastern practice and Western Science. She is on the cutting edge of the place where East meets West. She has so much knowledge to share and she enriches my heart, body, and mind every time I attend one of her seminars!”