A Personal Story...

Sharing a bit about myself & my teaching today 💛

I'm reaching out today to invite you to join me on a life-changing journey - Meditation Teacher Training - and because it is a really big decision to choose a meditation teacher, I thought I’d share a bit about myself and my teaching today. 💛

My name is Meryl Arnett, and as the creator and host of Our Mindful Nature podcast, I’ve had the privilege of teaching meditation to a wide range of people—from dedicated yogis, to high-powered corporate teams, to those navigating deep personal challenges in therapeutic settings. Along the way, I've learned that meditation has the power to meet people exactly where they are, regardless of their background or life circumstances.

Today, I want to share a bit about my experiences, as I believe they can offer insight into how you, too, can help guide others through the practice of meditation—whether you’re working with seasoned practitioners, high-stress professionals, or individuals seeking healing in tough life circumstances.

Teaching Meditation to Yogis

The very first meditation training I participated in was perhaps the biggest challenge - I was a yoga teacher, but I had NO meditation experience. I had NO idea how to meditate or what was supposed to happen while meditating… It was quite the eye-opening experience!

Yet that training gave me great insight into how little time or energy is spent on meditation in most of the yoga teacher trainings available {at least here in the west}. The more I trained and practiced, the more I felt my yoga offerings shift from something surface-level to the deeper, awakening experiences I always craved on the mat.

In the yoga setting, I could draw on the teachings of the Yoga Sutra (truly a meditation text) and explore deeper-consciousness meditations.

Bringing Calm to the Corporate World

Fast forward to when I began working with corporate clients, and I was amazed by the stark contrast. In a bustling office environment, where emails pile up and stress runs high, quoting the Yoga Sutra wasn’t an easy entry point for people. Yet, I found that even in this fast-paced, sometimes chaotic setting, the principles of mindfulness resonated deeply.

Using the exact same teachings as I would in a yoga studio, but shifting the entry point and the language allowed for C-level executives and the harried clinical staff of a medical clinic to all access meditation practice exactly where they were. The ability to show them how just a few minutes of focused attention could reset their nervous system and sharpen their decision-making was a powerful experience. Even when practicing via Zoom on their lunch break with me!

This experience reinforced my passion for teaching meditation and sparked a desire to bring this gift to other groups who might not traditionally find their way to a meditation cushion.

Healing Through Meditation: Supporting Recovery & Mental Health

The most humbling, and truthfully the most rewarding, aspect of my teaching has been in therapeutic settings—substance use recovery groups, group therapy circles, and psychiatric clinics. It’s one thing to teach people who are seeking to deepen their spiritual practice, but it’s an entirely different thing to introduce meditation as a tool for healing.

In groups where trauma and mental health challenges often run deep, the impact of meditation can be both profound and challenging. I’ve witnessed individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, and PTSD find meaningful relief through mindful breathing and grounding techniques. I’ve also been challenged the most to dig into the underlying truths of meditation practice and adapt it to make it safe and accessible for the students in front of me.

These diverse experiences have shaped my approach to teaching, and I’ve come to realize that meditation has a unique ability to meet people exactly where they are. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned yogi or someone who has never meditated before; there is always an entry point to the practice, and it can provide profound benefits for individuals in all walks of life.

Why You Should Join the Awakened Heart Meditation Teacher Training

The beauty of meditation is that it’s universal—it can heal, support, and guide people from all backgrounds, and as a teacher, you have the ability to offer that healing to others. If you're passionate about helping people live more connected, peaceful lives, the Awakened Heart Meditation Teacher Training is an opportunity to step into a powerful role as a teacher and guide.

In this training, I’ll share the tools, teachings, and frameworks that have shaped my own practice and my work with others. We’ll explore how to adapt meditation for a wide range of settings, including yoga studios, corporate environments, and therapeutic contexts. You’ll gain the confidence to offer meditation to people from all walks of life, helping them reconnect with themselves and experience more peace, clarity, and compassion.

The world needs more compassionate, well-trained meditation teachers. If you feel the calling, I would be honored to support you on this journey.

Register Today!

The next Awakened Heart Meditation Teacher Training cohort begins on January 29, 2025, and I would love for you to join us. You can register today and take the first step toward becoming a certified meditation teacher who can make a profound difference in the lives of others.

With love and mindfulness,
Meryl Arnett
Creator and Host, Our Mindful Nature Podcast
Founder, Awakened Heart Meditation Teacher Training

PS. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, don’t hesitate to reach out.

“Of course we can always imagine more perfect conditions, how it should be ideally, how everyone should behave. But it is not our task to create an ideal. It’s our task to see how it is, and to learn from the world as it is.

For the awakening of the heart, conditions are always good enough.”

— Ajahn Sumedho