Finding the provider's own preparation instructions

The best preparation notes come from whoever made the practice. Look for them on the provider’s own page before you trust anyone else’s tips. If there are none, a quiet seat and a silent phone are enough.

Where do a provider’s own instructions live?

Providers put their notes in a few predictable places. Check them in this order, since the first is usually the shortest.

• The description on the app store listing or the recording’s page.
• The first screens inside the app, or the introduction at the start of a recording.
• The “about”, “help” or “FAQ” pages on the provider’s own website.
• A welcome message from a class organiser, if you signed up for a class.

For example, the App Store lists Miracle of Mind by Sadhguru as provided by Isha Foundation¹. That tells you whose website to look at for the provider’s own words, rather than a stranger’s summary.

How do I tell an instruction from an opinion?

An instruction comes from the provider and is written on their page or spoken in their recording. An opinion comes from everyone else, however confident it sounds.

Reviews, reels and forum posts can still help you decide whether to try something. They are not a substitute for what the provider actually asks of you.

Try this: a five-minute preparation note

Do this before your first session with any new recording, app or class.

1. Open the provider’s own page and read the description slowly.
2. Write down in one line what the practice is, in your own words.
3. Write down anything the provider asks you to do or avoid.
4. Write one line about when you will sit, such as “after the school run, in the car park”.
5. Write one question you would ask if you could, and note where you would send it.

If step three is empty, that is useful to know. It means the provider has asked nothing special of you.

What if the page says nothing?

Short recordings can come with no notes at all. Then the sensible preparation is plain: choose a time when you will not be interrupted, silence your phone and sit comfortably.

Our guide on choosing a safe, uninterrupted moment helps with timing. Please keep guided practice away from driving, as explained in why a guided practice belongs outside driving and riding.

Fitting this into a real day

Preparation does not need an hour. In a busy flat, it can be the two minutes after dinner when the plates are done and the family WhatsApp group has gone quiet. On a shift, it can be the first few minutes of a break.

If you are not sure a practice fits your beliefs, health or age, ask the provider or someone you trust before you start. Our guide on questions to ask about a practice lists simple ones.

If a practice ever brings up distress, dizziness or painful memories, it is fine to stop. A doctor or counsellor is a good person to talk to, and our support page shows where to start.

Where to go next

For a wider checklist, see how to evaluate whether a resource fits your needs. Our meditation for beginners guides gather every starting guide in one place. To rehearse the quiet part without any app, try the free meditation timer.

When you have read the provider’s notes and found your seat, Sadhguru’s free seven-minute guided meditation in the Miracle of Mind app is one optional way to try it.