Enrolling in the Meditation Specialist Certification Program was one of the best decisions I have made for my personal growth. Through developing a regular meditation practice I am discovering I am less reactive in situations, more calm and collected mentally and emotionally. I am now watch my diet, and lowered my cholesterol level and miraculously I have dropped 15 unwanted pounds so far. Thanks for teaching this transformational class.
The Certification training is composed of two six day retreats.
Certificates of completion, provided by Gannett Education, will be given at the conclusion of each retreat after submission of the evaluation form. Completing both retreats does not guarantee certification from the Center for Meditation Science, Inc. Below is the process for certification.
Retreat 1 focuses on building a foundation for meditation and teaches core competancies for developing a personal meditation practice combining both mindfulness and focused awareness.
At the end of Retreat One, learners are provided with review questions in an open book test format that will be used as preparation for the final exam. They are also given a research homework assignment to support them in creating habits that will reinforce the core competencies (breathing, postures, and systematic relaxation) until they have personally mastered each competency. Learners who have attended Retreat One may attend Retreat Two.
Retreat 2 focuses on expanding your practice to teach others. Learners are provided with additional skills to teach the core competencies (breathing, postures, and systematic relaxation) to their client populations.
At the end of Retreat Two, learners will again be given an open book review test as well as simulate a review of core competencies (breathing, postures, and systematic relaxation) for the group. Upon completion of Retreat Two, learners will have an option to stay after the conclusion of the retreat for the oral exam. Learners may also choose to take the test at another time. Learners must pass both the written online test and the oral demonstration, scoring 75% or greater on both measurements, to become certified as a meditation specialistTM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Meditation SpecialistTM Competency Training
Retreat One - Build Your Foundation Skills:
Retreat Two - Expand Your Practice
For complete information
call 978-255-1379 or email meditationspecialist@drsusantaylor.com.
I'm not a nurse. Can I attend the seminar?
This seminar is open to anyone with a healthcare or physical fitness background (e.g. social workers, yoga instructors, physical therapists, physicians, personal trainers, nutritionists, dieticians).
Where do you offer the seminar?
We currently offer the seminar in two sites: Himalayan Institute Headquarters in Honesdale, Pennsylvania and the Institute for Noetic Science (IONS) Retreat Center in Petaluma, California.
Do I have to attend the retreats in order?
Yes. Retreat One is prerequisite to Retreat Two. The entire program takes approximately one year to complete.
How long is each retreat?
Each retreat is six days long. The retreat begins at 7:00 PM on the first day and ends at 10:00 AM on the sixth day. Complete schedules are available at the bottom of the Become A Meditation Specialist page.
Does the $999 registration fee include the hotel (retreat center)?
No. The retreat center fee is additional. Gannett Healthcare Group collects the seminar registration fee of $999. Retreat center information is below.
Pennsylvania site (Honesdale, PA):
For the Himalayan Institute, customers call the retreat center directly for room reservations at (800) 822-4547 or go to www.himalayaninstitute.org. The fee (single, double, or dorm) is for the entire stay and includes meals.
California site (Petaluma, CA):
IMPORTANT! Gannett Healthcare Group handles the retreat center reservations for California - so Gannett Healthcare Group does collect the fee and the customer must register through the call center or mail in their reservation to the Newark, NJ address. The reservation forms are available online under hotel reservation for each retreat held in CA. The fee (single, double, offsite) is for the entire stay and includes meals.
May I bring friends or family to the retreat center?
Yes, friends and family are welcome at the retreat center to enjoy the natural beauty of both locations and will be required to pay the retreat center fees. If they also want to attend the continuing education program, they must pay the registration fee. Bringing children is not recommended because of the intensity of the educational program.
Do I need to learn meditation to teach it?
You can only teach what you know. And you gain knowledge from personal experience. This program is designed to benefit those involved by engaging learners to develop their own personal routine.
Is this program affiliated with any religion?
No. Meditation in this program is taught as a stress reduction program through focused awareness. It is based on science and stress reduction.
Who provides the certification?
The National Meditation Specialist ™ Certification Board establishes the certification requirements and provides the certification. Gannett Healthcare Group, Gannett Education provides the CE contact hours at the end of each retreat. 36.0 contact hours are awarded per retreat; total number of contact hours for attendance at both retreats is 72.0 contact hours.
How do I become certified as a meditation specialistTM?
Certificates of completion, provided by Gannett Education, will be given at the conclusion of each retreat after submission of the evaluation form. Completing both retreats does not guarantee certification from the National Meditation Specialist™ Board. Below is the process for certification.
At the end of Retreat One, learners are provided with review questions in an open book test format that will be used as preparation for the final exam. They are also given a research homework assignment to support them in creating habits that will reinforce the core competencies (breathing, postures, and systematic relaxation) until they have personally mastered each competency. Learners who have attended Retreat One may attend Retreat Two.
During Retreat Two, learners are provided with additional skills to teach the core competencies (breathing, postures, and systematic relaxation) to their patient populations.
At the end of Retreat Two, learners will again be given a review session as well as simulate a review of core competencies (breathing, postures, and systematic relaxation) for the group. Upon completion of Retreat Two, learners who have met the certification exam criteria will be eligible to sit for the National Meditation Specialist™Certification Board.
Is the program an ANCC certification course?
No. This seminar was recently awarded a special accreditation by the American Nurses' Credentialing Centers Commission on Accreditation; The Meditation Specialist Certification Program is an ANCC-accredited Nursing Skills Competency Program. What this means is that the program was peer-reviewed nationally by nurses and was found to meet the criteria for accreditation as a skills program. This accreditation was awarded to Gannett Education.
Do I need to attend the entire retreat to be awarded the contact hours?
Yes. Attendance at the entire retreat is required to be awarded the contact hours. If you arrive late or leave early, you may still attend the program but will not be awarded the CE contact hours. The certification requirements are established by the Center for Meditation Science, Inc.
I lost my certificate. How do I obtain a new one?
Lost CE contact hour certificates are available from Gannett Education, 800-866-0919. Lost certification certificates are available from the National Meditation Specialist™ Certification Board; www.drsusantaylor.com; 978-255-1379, meditationspecialist@drsusantaylor.com.
Meditation Teacher Certification Dates and Tuition
July 8 - 13 2010
IONS Retreat Center, Petaluma California
October 10 - 15, 2010
Himalayan Institute, Honesdale, PA
The retreat center fee is additional. Gannett Healthcare Group collects the seminar registration fee of $999. Retreat center information is below.
Pennsylvania site (Honesdale, PA):
For the Himalayan Institute, customers call the retreat center directly for room reservations at (800) 822-4547 or go to www.himalayaninstitute.org. The fee (single, double, or dorm) is for the entire stay and includes meals.
California site (Petaluma, CA):
IMPORTANT! Gannett Healthcare Group handles the retreat center reservations for California - so Gannett Healthcare Group does collect the fee and the customer must register through the call center or mail in their reservation to the Newark, NJ address. The reservation forms are available online under hotel reservation for each retreat held in CA. The fee (single, double, offsite) is for the entire stay and includes meals.
The Meditation Specialist™ training utilizes traditional yoga meditation developed over thousands of years. Through a simple, five-step technique, this practice provides the inner strength, and the focus necessary to access and build your own balance as well as to help those that you teach.
The Meditation Specialist™ program:
About the Training
The course is challenging and life-affirming. It requires that participants make a commitment to improving their health. Participants receive:
Who Can Benefit?
Those who want to:
Build Your Foundation and Expand Your Practice
The training provides foundation skills in Stress Reduction through Focused Awareness to build your own practice and teach those skills that are learned.
Course content includes:
The training is recommended for those who want to begin meditation and/or refine their current practice and possibly want to teach.
Benefits of Training
