You know meditation is good for you, it reduces stress and anxiety, and even lower blood pressure, among other benefits. But how do you create a meditation space in your own home? East a better room that the other?
The good news, any room in your home can serve as a place for om. “We generally feel safe in our own homes, and that’s the key to starting his [meditation] practice,” says Gayatri Devi, yoga and meditation teacher and director and founder of the YaMM Yoga Festival. Below, Devi shares tips on how to prepare your home for a zen meditation session and the four best meditation spaces to close your eyes and clear your head.
How to create a meditative space?
No matter where you choose to meditate, keep in mind that you will want to take the time to carefully prepare the space for your meditation. Devi says it’s important to declutter the rooms before meditating, as an overwhelming amount of outside visual distractions can make looking inward difficult. Also consider the smell of space. “If you like incense, light some,” she says. “If you prefer palo santo or sage, you can burn some before you start meditating. The fragrant smoke helps clear the air and aids concentration.
With several options accessible, if you’re having trouble choosing where to meditate, Devi recommends considering the colors of a particular space. “Soft colors really help us relax: some pink, lilacs and dark light blues instill calm,” she says. Try to prioritize parts of your home with these softer colors, or if you’re looking to carve out a dedicated space for yourself, consider incorporating these hues.
Wherever you meditate, make sure the space is above all distraction-free. “The most important thing is to turn off all your devices, air out the room, and eliminate all distractions,” says Devi. While people meditate in different ways and in different places, one thing is universally true, she explains. “No one can meditate if their cell phone is ringing with text messages, if the doorbell is ringing, if the dog wants to relieve itself or if your child is asking for attention. You have to find time for yourself, when you don’t don’t have to focus on those distractions.
Mediation in the chamber
