Top 3 Career Paths for Meditation Teachers

Let’s face it: making a full-time living as a meditation teacher is not easy.

While some high-profile meditation teachers (like the some of the folks on the covers of Meditation Magazine make millions of dollars, the vast majority struggle to earn enough money to quit their day jobs.

As the director of Meditation University’s award-winning Meditation Teacher Training program, I’ve come to see that there are three types of career paths that can work well for meditation teachers:

Building a business in the field of meditation
Integrating meditation into an existing system
Working as a meditation “contractor”

1. The Business Owner Path: Products and Passive Income

As a Business Owner in the meditation industry, your focus is on creating and selling products like books, courses, and other media to share your teachings. This approach allows you to make a living from sales while still having a broad impact.

Opportunities:

E-books
Audiobooks
Video courses
Guided meditation tracks
YouTube channel
Webinars
Workshops
Podcasts
Mobile apps
VR apps

Pros

Passive Income: Once set up, these avenues offer continuous revenue.
Creative Freedom: You have complete control over your content.
Global Audience: With online platforms, your reach is limitless.

Cons

Time-Intensive: Initial setup requires substantial effort.
Market Competition: Differentiation is crucial.
Upfront Costs: There are initial investments like hosting and marketing.

The Alchemy

One especially potent method that has worked well for me is creating blog posts (like this one) that promote my online meditation courses (some of which are more hands-on, while others provide me with passive income) and my personal meditation coaching services as well.

2. Working Within A System: Integrative Alchemy

If you’re already working in a field like education, healthcare, or counseling, it can be efficient and effective to integrate meditation practices into your existing profession. Incorporating meditation techniques into an already existing career, such as a nurse, teacher, professor, or therapist, can help you improve the lives of your clients and/or students.

Opportunities

Teachers/Educators
Nurses/Healthcare Providers
Therapists/Counselors
Social Workers
Human Resources Personnel
Life Coaches
Yoga Instructors
Personal Trainers

Pros

Immediate Impact: Introduce new tools to an existing audience.
Stable Income: You’re backed by your current job.
Built-in Credibility: Your primary profession validates your expertise.

Cons

Institutional Limitations: Bureaucracy can be a hurdle.
Limited Flexibility: You may not have full control over how to introduce meditation.
Work-Life Balance: Managing this along with your primary job can be challenging.

The Alchemy

If you’re a teacher, nurse, or therapist, integrating meditation into your professional life is like turning your workplace into a sacred space where learning, healing, and mindfulness coexist.

3. The Service-Based Path: The Foot Soldier of Stillness

Some meditation teachers, coaches & guides prefer to work directly, in person or via zoom, with individuals and/or groups.

As a contractor, you can set up daily, weekly, or monthly classes at institutions & businesses like hospitals, schools, wellness centers, gyms, spas, yoga studios, corporations, and retreat centers.

You are the wandering monk, without the monastery.

Opportunities

Hospitals
Recreation centers
Schools
Gyms
Spas
Wellness centers
Yoga studios
Corporate offices
Prisons
Senior centers
Rehabilitation centers
Hotels/Resorts
Retreat centers

Pros

Human Interaction: Direct, meaningful impact.
Location Flexibility: Work from anywhere.
Diverse Income Streams: Offer workshops, classes, and retreats.

Cons

Unpredictable Income: Usually gig-based.
Logistics: Travel and setup can be taxing.
Self-Promotion: You’re your own best marketer.

The Alchemy

Combine this path with the Business Owner route. You can use your teaching experience to write better books and create better online courses… and you can use your books, courses, videos, etc, to funnel clients into your direct coaching services. A seamless tapestry of interconnected offerings.

Elevate Your Career with Our MTT Program

At Meditation University, our MTT program ranks among the top in the world for good reason. We do more than teach you meditation techniques from around the world. We offer extensive practice sessions, peer-to-peer and instructor feedback, and most importantly, an entire month focused on helping you build your career. We guide you step-by-step, helping you lay a solid foundation for a sustainable career in meditation teaching.

Take the Next Step: Apply For Meditation University’s MTT Program

Turning your passion for meditation into a fulfilling career is more attainable than you think. Through our MTT program, you’ll not only master the art of teaching meditation but also learn the business skills to make your dream a sustainable reality.

Ready to change lives, including your own? Join our Meditation Teacher Training program today.