Why Meditate?
Meditation has been taught around the world for thousands of years, and has many variations. In daily life, energy flows out from the brain to the body, from the mind to the senses. Meditation offers the chance to regain control of restless energy and direct it back to the brain; to withdraw from the outside world and interiorize ourselves in the inner self. This redirection of energy helps the meditator to cultivate the higher faculties of the human mind: calmness, willpower, concentration, and even love.
Meditation improves all aspects of life – relationships, career, physical and mental health are all improved by developing inner calmness. Scientists and doctors attest to its benefits, and now many sports teams, corporate executives, and celebrities practice some form of meditation.
The highest purpose of meditation, however, is to “know thyself.”
Meditation Courses
Events
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Meditation for Starters – at Northshore Senior Center
This series is offered in person at the Northshore Senior Center in Bothell.
The Art & Science of Raja Yoga
Supercharge your spiritual life with our most popular course in yoga and meditation. Whether you’re new to yoga or an experienced practitioner, this course offers a unique blend of practical techniques and profound spiritual insights.
Meditation for Starters | Move Beyond the App! |
Join Tom for a 4-week journey to inner transformation. This is an ONLINE only series.
Course in Meditation
In-person or online. Whether a beginner or an experienced meditator, take this in-depth Meditation class to develop and deepen your daily meditation practice and connect with your higher Self.
Meditation for Starters | Move Beyond the App! |
In-person only! Make meditation a joyful, lasting part of your daily life. This 4-week series combines hands-on guidance, practical tools, and ongoing support to help you build a consistent practice that truly lasts.
Meditation for Starters – at Northshore Senior Center
Please note! This series is offered in-person at the Northshore Senior Center, Bothell.
Meditation for Starters | Move Beyond the App! |
ONLINE only. Discover a meditation practice that fits naturally into your life. Over four weeks, you’ll receive the guidance, encouragement, and support to move beyond starting and stopping—and create a practice you can sustain with ease and enjoyment.
Meditation for Starters – at Northshore Senior Center
This class series is offered in-person at the Northshore Senior Center in Bothell.
Meditation for Starters | Move Beyond the App! |
In-person or online. Meditation can enrich every area of life by cultivating greater inner calm. Yet its highest purpose goes beyond feeling better or performing better: meditation offers a path to “know thyself” and discover the deeper peace within.
Ananda Meditation Teacher Training
Apply now for the 2027 Ananda Meditation Teacher Training! Strengthen your own practice and help others to find joy within through the art and science of meditation.
Why Learn Meditation at Ananda?
Ananda follows the teachings of the great Indian guru Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Yogananda’s book, now world famous, discussed many details of his life and his instructive encounters with various saints and swamis. Yogananda’s mission was to spread the teachings of ancient India in the west, and to show the similarities between eastern and western religious philosophies.
Following Yogananda’s example, Ananda teaches meditation as a way of life, not simply as a set of techniques. More than just breath-work or mindfulness, the goal of meditation is to put the meditator in touch with their own divinity. Ananda offers the support and resources for aspiring yogis to deepen their practice in the form of intentional communities where aspiring yogis can live, and classes on meditation technique and the ideal lifestyle of a yogi.
While Ananda has deep roots in spirituality, all are welcome from any or no faith. Meditation is for everyone, and there is a way to make it work in everyone’s life. Wherever you are, whatever you do, you can incorporate meditation into your daily life and have results that are life transforming.
Related Courses
The Art & Science of Raja Yoga
Ananda most comprehensive and popular course. An in-depth 12-week course in yoga, meditation and the Eight-Fold path.
The Path of Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga is an ancient meditation technique brought to the west by Paramhansa Yogananda, by which we can have a direct intuitive experience of God as our own true Self.
"The soul loves to meditate, for in contact with the Spirit lies its greatest joy." Paramhansa Yogananda