Meditation Classes in Melbourne

As beginners, we recommend starting with 5 – 10-minute meditations and then gradually building up to 20 minutes or even longer (not required). As a general guideline, 20 minutes is an ideal time to meditate. However, if you feel particularly stressed and wish to create calmness or increase concentration, we recommend you work for up to 30 minutes, including implementing and learning breathing techniques such as the one breath-based meditation called the SKY Breath Meditation technique and Modern Mantra Meditation.

We also recommend you read our article A beginners guide to meditation or 8 tips to get started with Meditation to help you find out some trick and tips to start you on the way. and watch our video 10 Minute Guided Meditation for Beginners to help you find out some trick and tips to start you on the way.

The duration of meditation classes lasts from 30 minutes – 1 hour, depending on the class. If you are looking into starting meditation classes, Art of Living Introductory Classes are 1 hour long and a great introduction to meditation. During this session, you get a taste of The Happiness Program and SKY Breath Meditation in a free 1-hr class. The Art of Living Happiness Program is 2 hours long that gives you expert training in a series of yogic breathing techniques which can reduce your stress and relieve anxiety and depression. It is a 3 Day Program that delivers you A Lifetime of Happiness. Art Of Living SKY Breath Meditation is a 2.5-hour daily live session, with certified expert instruction offering guided techniques with Q&A, real-time support and interactive wisdom sessions delivered to small group size.

How long you meditation depends on your preferences, life circumstances, and the time available. You can begin with 5-10 minutes and then gradually build up to 20 minutes or even longer (not required). As a general guideline, 20 minutes is an ideal length of time to meditate.

If you meditate every day and regularly practice meditation you will see the benefits. The benefits of meditating everyday are:

Improve our physiological response to stress
Lowers the oxidative stress
Reduces blood glucose levels
Reduces risk of cardiovascular diseases, where stress is a high-risk factor
Reduction in hormonal releases caused by stress: cortisol, corticotropin, blood lactate, ACTH, and plasma MDA
It relaxes and de-stresses the mind
Increases acceptance
Boosts productivity
Gives stability of mind
Establishes you in the calm and peaceful state
Helps you realize inner happiness
Improves metabolism
Improves mood
Improves focus
Enhances your sense of well-being
Increases connectedness and empathy
More creativity and better decision making
Better brain health
Better pain management
Improved and richer relationships
More capacity to embrace opposites
You get a deeper rest from a short 20-minute meditation than sleep and is equal to four hours of undisturbed sleep. Research says, those who meditate ever day can manage to stay productive by sleeping for just five hours.

Meditation everyday allows for a qualitative pause in your day and helps you relax and unwind in just a few minutes. It has been termed as a powerful fuel to increase your productivity and helps stability of mind.

Meditating everyday offers you the ability to de-clutter your mind, find your inner rhythm and break away from habits that can cause self-harm and sabotage.

The reasons you choose to meditate every day can be physical, mental, emotional as well as spiritual. Meditating every day can keep stress out of our lives and closes the door on a host of lifestyle disorders caused and worsened due to stress, like hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, chronic inflammation, skin diseases like Psoriasis, and depression.

You can meditate by lying on the bed and resting your head on the pillow. You may choose to close your eyes or keep them open. Relax into the bed by sinking your arms and legs onto the bed, allowing it to take your weight. Alternatively, you can choose to sit while meditating on the bed than the bed. Whatever works for you is fine. Some people listen to music whilst meditating in bed, although music can be a distraction and hindrance rather than a help. Once you are a pro and have established yourself in your meditation practice, you may not need any music. Here is what our experts share about the pros and cons of using music while meditating

When you meditate, the environment should not matter. To truly meditate, you separate from your environment and all around you. Some people choose to mediate in the dark and others in the light. Some find the calming and relaxing soft light from a lamp can help de-stress and create a space in which you feel comfortable meditating.

You should meditate in bed how you meditate sitting down or standing. Sit or lie straight and comfortably without feeling rigid. Since the mind and body are connected, moving the body tends to keep the mind moving and active. By sitting still, you're one step closer to a quieter, relaxed mind

Use cushions and pillows in bed to help find a relaxed, upright posture.

Keep your palms open and rest them on your knees or if lying down place them at your side to help the free flow of life force energy.

We recommend closing your eyes as this is the best way to meditated as the eyes are one of your five sense organs, we suggest keeping your eyes closed to heighten your other senses. Closing your eyes will help quieten the mind and prevent the outside problems hindering your journey inwards, allowing you to bring your attention within and fully rest.

During meditating in bed, allow your breath to get lighter and smoother. Breathing exercises like alternate nostril breathing and light and even breath can help quiet the mind as breathing is connected to your mind. One powerful tip for deep meditation is allowing your breath to get lighter and smoother. Since the breath is so connected to your mind, a light and even breath can help to bring the mind to an ever-quieter place. With breathing exercises like alternate nostril breathing, your breath naturally becomes smoother and lighter.  As the meditation continues, your breath will slow down and bring the mind to an ever-quieter place on its own.

For further information on meditating, check out our handy A beginners guide to meditation and watch our video 10 Minute Guided Meditation for Beginners.

However, we do not recommend meditating in bed or meditating lying down.  Meditation is a form of conscious relaxation where the mind is alert yet relaxed. When lying down, the mind tends to fall asleep and may cause you to lose your alertness.

You can calm yourself down when meditating by using breathing as a tool to bring the stressed, anxious or emotionally charged mind-body complex to a calm and centred state. Yogic breathing techniques like Pranayamas such as Bhastrika (bellow’s breath) or alternate nostril breathing and ujjai (victory breath) regulate the breathing and slow it down as we bring our attention to the breathing patterns. Just this act of observing our breath and the way it moves between nostrils can be meditative and instantly energising. Focused breathing cultures our minds to keep coming back to the present moment. You can calm yourself down when meditating and letting go during deep states of meditation. Your breathing can become very subtle. As your breath quiets down, you will begin to notice the quiet space between your breaths- sink into these spaces. If you can gently sink into these spaces and this practice, you'll find yourself between a calm breath and a quiet space.

To calm yourself down when meditating it is important to create a calming, relaxed atmosphere to relax, calm and meditated and it is down to personal preference. Some people choose to mediate in the dark and others in the light. Some find the calming and relaxing soft light from a lamp can help calm them during meditation and create a space that they feel comfortable meditating in.

To create a calm atmosphere and calm yourself down during meditation choose and reserve a time that suits your household and schedule. If you know there is a particular time when the kids have gone to school, you have some time to yourself or that you know that the house is quiet, then use that time to meditate. Meditation is your time to relax and be present with yourself, a time away from distractions, disruptions and the outside world. Free yourself from distractions and allow yourself the time you deserve.

To calm yourself down during meditation, don’t let your thoughts distract you. Instead, simply observe them come and go without getting drawn into them. Again and again, keep becoming aware of the thoughts. You’ll notice over time, the frequency of your thoughts reduce.

The time you choose to meditation varies from each person. Realistically, the modern world with all its task, schedules and appointments requires a balance that suits your lifestyle and life.

Most people choose to meditate in the morning, rested for the day. Others prefer at night ready for sleep and relaxation. A modern lifestyle requires a modern meditation schedule

You may find that you experiment and try different times, lighting and locations that suit your lifestyle, your schedule and your preference.

This is YOUR journey; therefore, you need to find what works for you. There is no correct answer, there is no perfect time, you do what is right for you.

With that in mind, there are certain times of day that you may find it easier or preferable to meditate:

Rise with Sunrise:

Many meditators find Sunrise an effective time to meditate. If you are an early riser, this time may suit you perfectly to start your day off and set the tone for the rest of your day. At Sunrise, the outside world is quiet, perfect for quietening the mind and an excellent time for reflection.

Sunrise, Sunset:

The natural transition from day to night and reversed is also an ideal time for meditation and reflection and is truly a perfect way to start or end the day.

A quiet time to relax and be present:

Choose and reserve a time that suits your household and schedule. For example, if you know there is a particular time when the kids have gone to school, you have some time to yourself, or you know that the house is quiet, then use that time to meditate. Meditation is your time to relax and be present with yourself, away from distractions, disruptions and the outside world. Free yourself from distractions and allow yourself the time you deserve.

Try to create a schedule and meditate the same time every day:

A daily routine helps consequence any hinderances, start finding preferences and eliminates any questions on if you have time or what time is best. At first, try out different times, note down what works for you and then STICK TO IT. Or try at least.

There is a great power in habits, it allows for you to schedule, to plan and to reserve a time for you to allow yourself to focus on you.

If you are new to meditation and using guided meditation, music is fine. But sometimes music can act as a distraction and hindrance than a help. Once you are a pro and have established yourself in your meditation practice, you may not need any music. Here is what our experts share about the pros and cons of using music while meditating

The time you choose to meditation varies from each person. Realistically, the modern world with all its task, schedules and appointments requires a balance that suits your lifestyle and life.

Most people choose to meditate in the morning, feeling rested for the day. Others prefer to meditate at night, ready for sleep and relaxation. A modern lifestyle requires a modern meditation schedule

You may find that you experiment and try different times, lighting and locations that suit your lifestyle, schedule and preference.

This is YOUR journey; therefore, you need to find what works for you. There is no correct answer and no perfect time. You do what is right for you.

With that in mind, there are certain times of day that you may find it easier or preferable to meditate:

Rise with Sunrise.

Many meditators find Sunrise an effective time to meditate. If you are an early-rise this time may suit you perfectly, to start your day off and set the tone for the rest of your day. At Sunrise, the outside world is quiet which is perfect to quiet the mind and a great time for reflection.  

Sunrise, Sunset.

The natural transition from day to night and reversed is also an ideal time for meditation and reflection and is truly a perfect way to start or end the day.

A quiet time to relax and be present

Choose and reserve a time that suits your household and schedule. If you know there is a particular time when the kids have gone to school, you have some time to yourself or that you know that the house is quiet, then use that time to meditate. Meditation is your time to relax and be present with yourself, a time away from distractions, disruptions and the outside world. Free yourself from distractions and allow yourself the time you deserve.

Try to create a schedule and meditate the same time every day.

A daily routine helps consequence any hindrances, start finding preferences and eliminate any questions on if you have time or what time is best. At first, try out different times, note down what works for you and then STICK TO IT. Or try, at least.

There is great power in habits. It allows you to schedule, plan and reserve time to focus on yourself.