Meditation: What is some advice for leading guided meditations?

If you have a short script or paragraph of words that you want to share during your guided meditation, consider separating the script into short digestible sentences. You can then pepper or sprinkle in these guided words and then allow for time and space between the sentences for the students to contemplate, reflect and absorb. 

Offering time, space and silence during guided meditation is so important as it can allow the students an opportunity to drop into their body and still the mind, without external distractions or stimuli. Allow for and embrace the moments of silence and continue to hold the space for your students in those moments.

Try not to heavily load the front end of the guided meditation with all the information you wish to share. Not only can this be overwhelming for your students, but they may miss the intention, as they are still finding their way into their meditation. Take time to share the teachings over the course of the meditation so the students feel supported and guided throughout the experience.

Be mindful of the tone of your voice. Be sure to maintain the same tone every time you speak during the practice, as this creates consistency and may help your students to feel at ease. Consider using a tone that is soft and grounded, while also being clear and concise. 

Don’t be afraid to use repetition of words/phrases throughout the meditation, this can be comforting to students during guided meditation and repetition can also help to reiterate the teachings and allow the students time to really hear the words. As we know, we don’t always receive the information the first time around. You may choose to open and close the meditation with repetition of a mantra or intention, as this can be a lovely way to book-end the practice, offering a distinct beginning and ending, as well as being a reminder to the students of the intention or teaching.

Listening to the guided meditations by other teachers and taking notes about the things that you liked, can help you curate your own guided meditations, and help you to choose an appropriate tone and pace that feels authentic to you.