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This section is a signpost, not a school. I am a student, not a teacher, and I do not run or represent any organisation. Nothing here is for sale, and I earn nothing from anything I point to.

Why I point you to a person

Books and videos can inspire you. A teacher can see what they cannot: how you sit, the thought you keep returning to, the question you are too shy to ask. In the first weeks that matters a great deal.

Meditation and yoga are skills, and skills are easier to learn from someone beside you, in a room, with other people doing the same. In my experience, learning in person works better than learning online in the beginning. Online can come later, once you know what you are doing and why.

A simple way to begin

1. Read a page or two under Paths and notice which one you feel drawn to. Curiosity is enough.
2. Visit one place, once. Sit through a class or session and simply watch how it feels. You owe nobody anything for turning up.
3. Go back a few times before you decide. First impressions can mislead in both directions.
4. Keep a short note of what you notice, even two lines a day.
5. Ask questions, including the awkward ones. A good teacher is glad to be asked.

What to expect

Many people find the mind restless at first. That is normal, and it does not mean you are doing it wrong. A short time every day usually does more than a long time now and then.

Please remember

Meditation and yoga are not a substitute for medical care. If you are struggling with your mental health, speak to a doctor or a counsellor, and tell your teacher too.

Teachers are human. Use your own judgement, and see Find a Teacher for questions worth asking.

Where next

• Paths: what each way of practising is, and what a first visit is like.
• Find a Teacher: how to find a centre near you.
• Reading: texts and books, with the free ones marked.
• Practice: small things to try.

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