My Meditation Teaching Journey
I appreciated the response I received to my Beauty In The Struggle post, where I shared about my revenue tanking.
It's made me reminisce about how I got to this point, so I thought I'd tell the story.
I hope this gives inspiration for your teaching or creative journey.
In 2015, I had a meditation experience that altered the course of my life.
It compelled me to stop drinking and leave my corporate job so I could pursue something more meaningful—work that inspired my heart and soul.
(I share the full story in my book Find Your Truth.)
Since meditation was the catalyst for my transformation, I felt called to share its benefits.
I started by guiding friends—no training or certification, just sitting in a park, leading them through a simple practice.
Then, in 2016, my friend asked me to record a meditation, so I bought some equipment and made him a series.
I also started recording practices and putting them on YouTube.
Here’s my first YouTube meditation: Meditation For First Timers
(If you listen with headphones, you’ll only hear out of one side—that’s because I didn’t know what I was doing!)
Then I noticed the Insight Timer app I used had an option to set up a profile and upload a meditation.
I thought, well, why not try?
Here’s my first Insight Timer meditation: Love Yourself Today.
That was the beginning of an incredible journey that allowed me to reach millions around the world.
Creating Community 2016-2018
In November 2016, I started a meditation group called "Meditation in New Jersey." (Clever, Lou!)
First, it was donation-based, and then I finally mustered the courage to charge $10!
Below is a picture of one of our sessions. I miss that hair!
Creating this community allowed me to have the space to practice sharing lessons and guided meditation.
I led this group from 2016–2018.
During this time, I also taught Vinyasa Yoga at local studios. While I loved how it got me out of my comfort zone, I knew it wasn’t my path.
Feeling like a legit teacher 2018-2021
Eventually, I got a gig teaching at a meditation studio in New Jersey called Qwell.
I taught here from 2018 to 2021, until COVID finally brought it to an end.
Although I was only making $40 a class, I have such admiration for this opportunity, and I miss the connections made in this space.
During my time at the studio, I recorded my meditations and uploaded them to Insight Timer.
The consistency during this time was a core growth period on the app.
The Breakthrough Year
In 2018, I still wasn’t making a full-time living teaching meditation.
In April of that year, I had a breakthrough. I created an offer for schools using my yoga & mindfulness background.
I made $2,200 from a four-hour training.
I knew that this could create a sustainable ROI in a way $40/class couldn’t.
I went all in.
I launched my business One Mindful Education
This led to teaching classes to kids, running after-school programs, conducting assemblies, and also training teachers.
I’ve taught kids from Pre-K to college!
Sharing the power of mindfulness at the 2019 National Secondary School Principals conference in Boston!
Courses, Coaching, and COVID
In 2019, I launched my first paid course on Insight Timer, Learn To Stop Caring What Others Think
Together with my school work, I earned $39,000—enough to pay my bills.
Making a living doing what I loved was my goal so...I made it!
At the end of 2019, I launched my first 1-on-1 coaching offer, which got immediate traction.
Then, I finally hired someone to design my website instead of trying to hack it together on my own.
All this came at a ripe time. COVID hit, and everything in-person took a nose dive.
The coaching offer and new website made a big difference.
I made $58,000 in 2020, and over $100K in 2021.
I’ve written more about this journey in How Much Money I Make as a Meditation Teacher.
Where I Am Now
Nowadays, I don’t do as much in-person teaching.
I still create meditations, but am more focused on coaching up-and-coming meditation teachers, giving back my experience, and guidance along the way.
That might be why you’re here.
To quote Rumi — You want to let the beauty of what you love be what you do.
You want to share meditation, coach others, and make a living.
I’ve seen it all, done it all. I’ve succeeded and I’ve failed. I’ve put things out there and have felt the pain of no one showing up.
(Here is a talk I did for my book. There were only 2 other people there besides my parents and my wife.)
Ten Years Later
It’s been 10+ years since the meditation experience that catalyzed my path.
I’m not making millions, but I’m making a living.
I’m not a business guru, but I find the game of making it work fun.
Above all, I want to inspire you to continue pursuing your dreams, trying new things, and discovering your unique way of sharing your gifts.
Know that I am rooting for you, always.
I hope my free content provides you with everything you need to teach and share.
Whether that's Meditation Script Mastery, The Art & Business of Meditation Podcast, or my YouTube Channel
If you’re called to deeper support.
Meditation Course Creator Academy will guide you through the entire process of creating, recording, editing, pricing, launching, and marketing your meditation course, whether for Insight Timer or beyond.
As a thank you for being on my newsletter, you can use the code LOUSLETTER for a 20% discount.
1-1 Coaching: Get coaching to help you get your teaching out in the world. We'll go deep to uncover the blocks getting in the way, and offer a path to make a living doing what you love.
I also offer Insight Timer-specific coaching, called Insight Timer Growth Accelerator, where I help you grow your audience and reach on the app. Reply to this email if you want to be first to know when spots open up.
Tell me where you’re at
I’d love to hear where you’re at on your meditation teaching journey.
Beginner? Struggling? Thriving?
Shoot me an email and let me know. :)
I love hearing from you!