Creating Your Meditation Space
One of the first things I ask a new client who is beginning a meditation practice is, where in your home or apartment do you want to meditate? I have found that especially as a beginner, having a dedicated place where you return to each time you practice your meditation is one of the factors that can help you quiet your mind. It doesn’t matter if you have a whole room dedicated as a meditation space or simply your favorite spot on the couch – as long as you consistently practice your meditation in the same place the brain will recognize very quickly whenever you go there – “Oh, I know what we are going to do now – meditate!” It’s like having a bedtime routine, when we consistently wash up, dim the lights, get into bed and start reading – the brain knows, “Ah, it’s bedtime” which is why sleep experts always recommend a routine. It is simple behavior modification.
As I am writing this post, we are in our 8th month of the 2020 pandemic. As the world has been shut down in many ways, we have all been spending most of our time in our homes or apartments. During this extremely challenging time of navigating through fear, change and uncertainty, more and more people are drawn to meditation and want to learn how to get started. Meditation and other mind/body practices such as yoga, tai chi and even dancing around your living room are gaining popularity and are being covered in the media because we are all looking for ways to reduce our stress and fear during this unprecedented time. Recently, I was part of an article on how many of us, because of the pandemic, are transforming parts of our living spaces to meet our new needs such as home schooling, working from home and where to find some quiet. You can read the article HERE and see pictures of how I transformed a very small room in my house into a meditation space.
Even if you do not have a separate room to work with, you can carve out a corner, or create what I call a “Zen Tray” to take with you anywhere inside or outside of your living space. Just like creating a bedtime routine, if we create a meditation routine – some people think of it as a ritual – we are readying the mind and the body for relaxation. So, what is a “Zen Tray”? It’s a simple tray, picked up at a craft or Home Goods store, filled with sensory items that you enjoy and will engage with each time you sit down to meditate. For example, you can see my Zen Tray pictured above. It holds flowers, a candle, a tiny singing bowl, an inspirational card (which changes), and some crystals. I may rearrange the items and replace them with different ones from time to time, but the routine or ritual is consistent. They are all objects that provide different sensory engagement, like the sight and smell of the lit, scented candle. The feel of the crystals in my hands, the scent and sight of the flowers, the sound of the singing bowl when I play it and the inspiration of the message on the card as I read it to myself – all ready me for the practice of quieting my mind.
It doesn’t have to cost much money. Just a couple of items that you enjoy are enough to help set up a peaceful and beautiful routine to begin the peaceful and beautiful practice of meditation.
I hope this post has inspired you to find a quiet space, gather some items to create your Zen Tray and create a simple routine for yourself to support you in a consistent meditation practice. As always, it is my honor to share my experience, knowledge and ideas with you.
Sending love to all,
Donna