How Meditation Improves Coaching: A Guide to Self-Awareness & Higher Consciousness

Author: Ram S. Ramanathan MCC

“Creating awareness in the client is the most important objective of a coach, and this requires the coach to be aware.” - Carl Rogers (Paraphrased)

Introduction

In the world of coaching, creating awareness in your clients is paramount. But what about the coach themself? This is where the practice of meditation comes in. Let’s explore the practice of meditation and its profound impact on a coach's ability to guide clients toward their goals.

A History of Meditation: From Ancient Practices to Modern Applications

Meditation is a practice that transcends cultures and time. Throughout history, individuals have sought to understand themself and their place in the universe through introspection. The Sanskrit word "dhyana," meaning meditation, comes from the root "dhee," which translates to "contemplative, non-judgmental awareness." This practice aims to disengage from the constant chatter of the mind and achieve a state of enlightenment, or "samadhi."

?Yoga Sutra defines “dhyana” as focusing on a thought, before disengaging from thoughts, to reach the state of enlightenment, in which the Self merges with the Self in energy that is beyond senses, mind, and body matter.?

The Mind-Body Connection: How Meditation Benefits Coaches

As Carl Rogers suggests, a coach must cultivate a state of "no-mind" to listen deeply and intuitively to their clients. Only a coach in the space beyond the mindful ego state can listen non-judgmentally, unconditionally, and generatively to become aware of the client’s vision. Meditation helps coaches achieve this state by:

• Reducing stress and anxiety: Meditation promotes relaxation and emotional regulation, allowing coaches to approach sessions with a clear and centered mind.
• Enhancing focus and concentration: By quieting the mind, coaches can become more present and attuned to their clients' needs.
• Improving self-awareness: Meditation fosters a deeper understanding of one's own thoughts, emotions, and biases, leading to more effective coaching interactions.

Understanding the Mind: Eastern vs. Western Perspectives

There is a fascinating divergence between Eastern and Western approaches to understanding the mind. The Eastern perspectives emphasize balance, purpose, and interconnectedness, while Western perspectives lean toward individualism, meaning-seeking, and external interventions. These cultural differences shape how we perceive and understand the mind:?

• Eastern Perspective (5,000-year-old Hindu Model): This model proposes four parts of the mind: senses, memory, ego, and higher intelligence. Each plays a role in shaping our perception of reality. Meditation practices aim to cultivate the higher intelligence and transcend the limitations of ego.
• Western Perspective: Multiple models exist in Western psychology, focusing on the brain's function rather than the mind itself. The triune brain model , for instance, divides the brain into three parts: reptilian, limbic, and neocortex, each with specific functions.

The Role of Senses, Memory, and Ego in Coaching

Our senses act as gateways to the world, feeding information to the mind. Memories shape our personality and identity, often influenced by ego filters. In coaching, understanding these elements is crucial for helping clients break free from limiting patterns and beliefs.

Meditation Techniques: Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi

Yoga, the ancient science of integrating body and mind, incorporates meditation as a core practice. The eight limbs of yoga include:

• Dharana : Practices that cultivate focused awareness on a single sense, breath, or thought.
• Dhyana: Meditation, where the mind rests on a single thought or image.
• Samadhi: The ultimate state of disengagement from thoughts, achieving a state of pure witnessing awareness.

Meditation Techniques: Mantra, Yantra, and Tantra

Depending on the nature of your thoughts, you can explore different meditation techniques:

• Mantra Meditation: Focusing on a repetitive word or phrase, such as "Om" or a prayer.
• Yantra Meditation: Concentrating on a visual image, like a mandala or a cross.
• Tantra Meditation: Using a word, phrase, or visual image to create an embodied experience in the mind and body.

The Four States of Awareness

Eastern spirituality recognizes four states of awareness:

• Waking State: Fully conscious and aware of our surroundings.
• Dreaming State: Thinking with internal sensory perceptions.
• Deep Sleep State: No thoughts or sensory perceptions.
• Fourth State : A state of wakeful awareness with disengagement from thoughts and feelings. This state is considered the highest level of consciousness.

Chakras: Energy Centers and Emotions

Tantra meditation integrates the concept of Chakras , energy centers in the body associated with emotions. By focusing on these chakras, we can release negative emotions and cultivate positive ones.

Tapping into Your Inner Powerhouse: Exploring the Seven Chakras

Our bodies hold a fascinating system of energy centers, known as chakras. These seven chakras are believed to influence not only our physical well-being but also our emotional and spiritual state. Here's a deeper look at each chakra, its location, and the emotional energies associated with it:

1. Muladhara (Root Chakra): Located at the base of the spine, this chakra is associated with our sense of grounding and security.

• Balanced Energy: Feeling grounded, connected to the earth, and with a strong sense of self-worth.
• Imbalanced Energy (Fear): Feelings of instability, insecurity, and a lack of purpose.

2. Swadisthana (Sacral Chakra): Located in the lower abdomen, this chakra governs creativity, sensuality, and emotional well-being.

• Balanced Energy: Feeling confident, creative, and open to healthy emotional expression.
• Imbalanced Energy (Shame): Experiencing fear of intimacy, difficulty expressing emotions, and a disconnect from your creative side.

3. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra): Situated in the upper abdomen, this chakra is the center of personal power, will, and self-esteem.

• Balanced Energy: Feeling confident, assertive, and motivated to pursue your goals.
• Imbalanced Energy (Anger): Experiencing low self-esteem, difficulty making decisions, and a tendency towards anger or frustration.

4. Anahata (Heart Chakra): Located in the center of the chest, this chakra is all about love, compassion, and empathy.

• Balanced Energy: Feeling open to love, both for yourself and others, and having a strong sense of empathy.
• Imbalanced Energy (Grief): Experiencing difficulty forgiving, feeling isolated, and having a closed-off heart.

5. Vishuddha (Throat Chakra): Located in the throat, this chakra is associated with communication, self-expression, and truthfulness.

• Balanced Energy: Feeling confident expressing your thoughts and feelings authentically.
• Imbalanced Energy (Doubt): Experiencing self-doubt, difficulty expressing yourself clearly, and struggling to speak your truth.

6. Ajna (Third Eye Chakra): Located between the eyebrows, this chakra is the center of intuition, wisdom, and higher consciousness.

• Balanced Energy: Having strong intuition, clear vision, and an ability to see the bigger picture.
• Imbalanced Energy (Illusion): Experiencing confusion, difficulty making decisions, and a feeling of being disconnected from your intuition.

7. Sahasrara (Crown Chakra): Located at the top of the head, this chakra represents our connection to the universe and our spiritual essence.

• Balanced Energy: Feeling a sense of connection to something greater than yourself, experiencing inner peace, and having a sense of purpose.
• Imbalanced Energy (Disconnection): Feeling isolated, disconnected from your spirituality, and lacking meaning in life.

Chakra meditation involves focusing on each of the energy centers, working with negative energies present in our mind-body space as emotional experiences, experiencing them, releasing them, and transforming them through meditation into positive energies.

Empowering Your Coaching Practice through Meditation

Meditation offers a powerful tool for coaches to cultivate self-awareness, become more present with their clients, and ultimately guide them toward greater fulfillment. By incorporating meditation into their practice, coaches can create a transformative space for themselves and their clients. Coacharya’s coach training programs and curriculum encourage meditation as a practice under the guidance of experts. If you’d like to explore meditation in depth or learn more, contact Coacharya today!?

Disclaimer: Chakra meditation practice needs the supervision and guidance of an expert. Coacharya does not encourage and/or approve individuals attempting to apply these techniques without adequate training and guidance. If you wish to try the practice on yourself or others, please contact us at [email protected] .?

Repurposed from the original blog Meditation by Ram Ramanathan.

Cover photo by Benjamin Child on Unsplash