The Benefits of Group Meditation and How to Start Meditating in 2025
What is the power of collective meditation?
One fist, or five fingers together, is more powerful than one finger alone and the same goes for meditation, especially if you’re a beginner.
The beginning of my meditation journey started as a solo one, which was messy, full of confusion and I often felt like I wasn’t meditating right.
Then, everything changed when I joined a meditation program in Bali—the teacher was wonderful and the collective energy of the group, along with a few other factors, significantly improved my practice!
Whether you’ve noticed a difference between meditating alone or in a group (and want to understand why it’s like that) or maybe you're simply trying to figure out which approach is best to start with—I’ve got you covered!
Hey there! I’m Rebecca, I’m a meditation teacher with 10 years experience!
I teach professionals how to meditate effectively to improve their overall well-being through private meditation classes and I also lead group meditation programs online!
It took me years to understand why meditating with the right group was so much more impactful than meditating alone. When I practiced solo, my attention often felt scattered—but in a supportive group setting, I noticed sharper focus and deeper concentration. Early on, I tried meditation without much success, and even attended a few group sessions with mixed results. But one program stood out—it was life-changing. Eventually, I came full circle and returned to meditating on my own, and now, I genuinely love it.
As a meditation coach, I’ve led over 1,000 sessions—including one-on-ones and group classes! Through this, I’ve come to recognize and appreciate the unique benefits of each and now that I truly understand meditation, I’m here to break it down in a simple, approachable way to help you figure out your next step on this journey.
Today we’re diving into the following about meditation:
why meditating with a group is more powerful than meditating by yourself, especially for beginners
one benefit I noticed from meditating by myself after reflecting on my long meditation journey
how your meditation needs and practice evolve overtime
how to start your meditation journey in 2025
Benefits of Group Meditation
This was a meditation workshop I led for beginners in 2022.
What happens when people meditate together?
There’s lot of magic involved when meditating with a group, for a few special reasons. I’ve experienced the benefits of group meditation firsthand and many of my students also report the same experiences, like more intense and meaningful meditations. So, let’s talk about the wonderful benefits of group meditation!
It’s a Shared Experience that Encourages Growth: There’s something special about joining a group to work toward a common goal. You learn together, you meditate together, you struggle together and grow together—it really is a beautiful experience. During the meditation program (in both ones I’ve attended and have hosted) the most valuable moments came when people asked questions or shared their experience; why they’re meditating, what’s their experience been thus far and what they hope to achieve. We all have something to learn from one another, and it's incredible how sharing our personal experiences can positively impact everyone’s growth.
Although the group meditation program I attended was in 2017, I still vividly remember the sense of connection—bonding over feelings of both overwhelm and excitement. For the first time, I didn’t feel alone. Moving through the same journey alongside others felt incredibly supportive and motivating, which naturally encouraged my growth. That group experience not only deepened my meditations ten fold, but I learned more about myself in one month than I had learned in an entire year on my own.
You’ll Have Stronger Meditations with an Experienced Teacher: Meditating under the guidance of an experienced teacher can significantly deepen your practice. I’ve noticed it and my students have also reported stronger focus, sharper concentration and the ability to drop into deeper meditative states. This isn’t just about technique—it’s about energetic presence.
A teacher who truly embodies what they teach and lives with a high level of present-moment awareness naturally influences those around them. Their calm, grounded energy creates a supportive space for growth and their presence alone can elevate the entire group’s experience. Just as we attune to the energy of people around us, we also attune to a teacher’s awareness and focus in meditation.
That kind of transmission—often subtle and unspoken—can shift your practice in powerful ways. This is why it’s so important to find a teacher with extensive experience, consistent practice and authentic embodiment of the teachings they share.
Group Meditation Concentrates, Directs and Amplifies Energy Toward One Point or Focus: When all meditators are training and directing attention toward one point of focus in meditation (for example, world peace) and are being guided by an expert meditator, the meditation creates a strong current of energy. As the meditation continues, the energy gets amplified through the group’s continued focus toward the object in meditation (like world peace). That’s why meditating in a group feels different compared to meditating alone; you’re more likely to experience heightened awareness, better focus and a strong energetic presence that feels empowering.
Here we are practicing Mindfulness Meditation—we sat for 20 minutes and students loved!
Now I must admit, I’ve joined group meditations that haven’t been great. For example, I once went to a small event where we sat in an auditorium and starred at a candle next to a picture of an Indian saint and “meditated”. While it was an experience that added value to my “meditation experience bank”, it wasn’t the kind of practice that resonated with me.
The most impactful moments have come from meditating with an experienced teacher who knew how to effectively guide us. Also, I benefited the most when I meditated regularly with the same group for an extended period of time—this is when I noticed a real shift.
My attention was stronger, I could sit in meditation longer and I had some of the most profound insights and realizations that permanently changed how I lived my life and perceived myself. I left that program finally understanding the basics of meditation and a new version of myself emerged—it was life-changing.
Is it better to meditate alone or in a group?
As a beginner, it’s best to start your meditation journey in a group setting: Group meditation changed everything for me. I struggled on my own for a year until I joined the program in Bali. In the program, I had other meditators to gain insight from, my teacher shared her 20 years of wisdom with us and it felt meaningful to discuss my complex meditation experiences. Therefore in the beginning, I suggest joining a long-term program with a trusted teacher.
Now, that we’ve talked a little bit about the pros of group meditation, let’s get into one controversial benefit of solo meditation (yup, maybe you’ll disagree with me).
The Benefit of Solo Meditation
There is one thing I‘ve noticed about solo meditation and why it’s worth it, even if you’re a beginner.
In my first year of exploring meditation, I tried a lot of different styles. Through my research of various practices, I noticed some made me feel more “attuned” to myself and present, while others just felt disconnecting, awkward or not for me. This exploration proved to be a valuable learning experience and helped me understand what worked for me as an individual and what didn’t. When it came time to choose a group program, I knew what I wanted because I had tested lots of styles. While researching and testing various meditation practices is time consuming and may cause frustration, know that there is value in this process.
As you move through your meditation exploration journey, I encourage you to pay attention to what feels “right” and follow that! If I had to start my meditation journey all over again, I’d do it exactly the same way!
How Your Meditation Practice Evolves Overtime
Day one of my meditation journey, compared to present day meditation journey are two very different places. Maybe you’re asking, ‘does meditation change who you are?’ Let me explain how you and your practice change overtime and what to look for that shows it’s working.
Beginner Meditator: In the beginning, I was lost and five minutes of meditation felt like an eternity. I was also trying a bunch of things that mostly didn’t feel “right” and that led me to join a group meditation program. The program’s message really resonated with my soul and through it, I had learned tools and techniques to calm my mind, concentrate my energy and improve my focus. Plus, I had grown exponentially in just four weeks and left finally understanding how to meditate on my own. These outcomes were so impressive that I decided to return to the same program two more times!!!
Intermediate Meditator: After the first program, I had continued meditating on my own and it became quite enjoyable. The second time I returned to the program, I felt comfortable sitting for one hour in meditation. Whereas the previous year, I anticipated meditation with fear and anxiety. We meditated in the morning for an hour and about 45-60 minutes in the evening—it was great and I looked forward to each session. At the end of the program, my mind felt even more spacious, I was catching intuitive hits more clearly and again, I felt like a “new” and improved version of myself emerged. Meditation felt like a piece of cake and I couldn’t get enough.
Advanced Meditator: In my third year of returning to Bali to meditate, something interesting happened. I used to rely heavily on my teacher’s ques to keep me focused in meditation. But this year, I began to feel distracted by her prompts—they started to pull me out of deeper states of meditation rather than guiding me into them. Instead of feeling comforted by her voice, I found it increasingly disruptive. Additionally, one hour meditation sessions that once felt long, now passed in what felt like minutes. These were clear signs that I no longer needed external guidance, which I once relied on so heavily. In that moment, I realized I was ready to step away from the group program and become my own guide—not just in meditation, but in life as a whole. It was a deeply empowering realization and a pivotal milestone on my meditation journey.
In this picture, I’m checking the breath of practitioners to hear the rhythm and depth of the breathing.
I’ve been meditating since 2016 and I attended the special program I mentioned above three times! We meditated for one month, almost two hours a day and did other various mindfulness practices together. Also, I’ve been teaching meditation since 2020. All of this experience has made sitting in meditation feel very similar to not sitting in meditation. Meaning, I feel present and attuned to my deeper self and the environment I find myself in for a majority of the time. I still meditate regularly because it’s the practice that keeps me balanced in a world full of ups and downs, it helps me stay present in a world full of unconsciousness and it keeps me connected to truth, love and real power.
If you’re still reading at this point, you may be asking yourself, ‘but how do I start?’ Let’s discover the best way to begin meditating in 2025—lucky for you, it’s never been easier!
How to Start Your Meditation Journey in 2025
There are so many different options out there and I know it can be overwhelming. But, it’s important to loosen up your expectations and be patient—eventually the right practice will find you! Here are my suggestions when starting out!
explore meditation apps, there are a ton of free resources and options to check out
attend live meditation events and workshops to get a feel for different styles and teachers
search online and try different practices you feel drawn toward and note the ones that feel meaningful
join a meditation program that fits what you’re looking for (sign up to my free Mindfulness Newsletter to hear about the next group classes online)
find a meditation teacher you love and sign up for private meditation classes
In this workshop we also learned about different mudras, which help improve focus and concentration.
Work with a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher
Luckily I host meditation workshops and programs a couple times a year and you can sign up to my Mindfulness Newsletter to get details on the next group event. Or if you’re looking for private instruction, check out my one on one meditation classes. After my classes, participants often tell me:
their meditations were more intense and meaningful compared to their individual practice
the simple tips they learned improved their focus, concentration and overall meditation experience
they were surprised how easily they dropped into a state of deep relaxation using the methods I taught
how insightful it was learning about their mind, how it works and how to use it to their advantage
they want me to offer regular classes!
I’m wishing you the best on your meditation journey and to sum up this post, remember the following.
As a beginner it’s best to try different meditations and see what feels “right” for you—follow that. Sign up for group events and programs if you’re not seeing results on your own. Your meditation experience will evolve overtime, so adjust your practice as needed and in 2025, there are endless options to start your journey!
I know it can be overwhelming so take your time and reach out if you have any questions—I’m happy to help!
Rebecca Michelle | Meditation Coach
Helping professionals improve their meditation practice and overall well-being through private meditation programs and group meditation classes.
