If you've decided to start a regular meditation practice. You're going to want a space at home that is free from clutter, promotes calmness and is your personal sanctuary for mindfulness. There are many things you can consider when creating your space including making it a place that's ascetically pleasing but also light, has natural elements, well ventilated and peaceful. What is the intention for your meditation space? Let the answer guide you to creating your authentic place to practice.
Let's Sit
If you're going to use a traditional meditation cushion you might like to look at getting a Zabuton and Zafu from Stretch Now in Surrey Hills, Melbourne or EMP Industrial Supplies in Malvern. Look for high quality, organic cotton, and make sure they have a zipper for easy removal to wash the cover. Other options for sitting are a chair, stool or meditation bench. If you're going for a bench I recommend Black Dragon Seats; I have one and they are great for daily practice and also portable to take on retreat for longer sits. Black Dragon Seats are carefully crafted in Australia with sustainable materials by a lovely couple and have won design awards they are so good!
After some time sitting in meditation there will be aches and pains I can guarantee so having a few extra cushions, bolsters and a blanket handy is a good idea. Especially during the cooler Winter months. I like to have a scarf that I drape over my shoulders and one of teachers showed me how to tie it around your waist to support your hands in a pouch. It helps take the pressure of your shoulders with your arms hanging loosely.
Meditation Prompts
Make your space visible by having it somewhere that you will be reminded daily to sit and practice.
It's no good tucking it away in some secret corner of the house and forgetting about it. A lot of my clients struggle to commit to meditation and make it a habit so you really need to help yourself as much as possible. Joining our mindfulness support group can also help you commit to a regular sit with a community online. The best practice spaces are integrated into the daily life routine and functionality of the home. Always inviting you to slow down and take the time and space for practice and self-care. Ideally encouraging you to take your practice off the cushion and into life.
Meditation Tools
All you need for meditation is yourself, your breath and a space to just be but your meditation experience might be enhanced by having some tools. A Tibetan singing bowl or Tingsha are used in Tibetan meditation to awaken through their vibration and sound and help prepare one for meditation practice through ritual sound bath. Some people like to add candles, salt lamps, crystals, art, imagery, music and mala beads. I have purchased the rose mala beads from Quiet Mind Meditation. Sarah is now producing meditation boxes that are themed, seasonal and come with a selection of products, a book, experiences and access to a learning hub.
If your children are using the meditation space you might like to include mind jars. If it's your personal space add anything that helps you reconnect with yourself. This might even include photos of loved ones passed that remind you of your ancestry and where you came from or meaningful trinkets from past travel that spark joy and fond memories that are meaningful. An incense or oil burner and your favourite scent or essential oil can also add a sensory experience of smell to associate with your practice.
Natural Elements
Adding some plants to your space can really make it feel ambient and peaceful. There's lot of research around human wellbeing and nature so bring the outside in or alternatively consider making a meditation space outside too. We are going to work on an outdoor mindfulness space in our backyard and surround it with indigenous plants to attract birds so we can listen to birdsong while we meditate. A few pot plants dotted around your meditation space can be great especially if the cooler months mean you're indoors meditating. Succulents are easy to look after- don't require much water if you're not a green thumb, hanging plants or plant walls look dreamy and there is also a range of plants listed in this article that help clean and filter the air.
Guided Mindfulness Meditations
If you're keen to listen to a soundtrack and be guided through your mindfulness practice I can recommend the following playlists and apps you may want to explore.
Eco-Mindfulness by Marion Miller - Great for outdoor practice.
Now you're ready to get started on designing an intentional mindfulness meditation space you may want to consider getting some coaching. The Mindfulness Coaching 8-Week Discovery Program offer 8 sessions of one on one coaching, a 8 module optional online course book and access to the mindfulness support group sessions online.