How To Create & Personalize Your Yoga or Meditation Space in 3 Simple Steps
(Hint: these are also great ideas for creating a comfy, welcoming therapy office!)
Do you meditate? The practice of meditation is spreading across the world because of its many mental and physical benefits. Fitting the practice of meditation into your daily routine can be challenging, especially if you're a busy person or in a busy home environment. I was having this problem so I thought to myself, 'how do I fit meditation into my busy schedule?'
Welcome to Rose-Minded, a mental health and self-care website for anyone and everyone! Even though it can be difficult to fit meditation into your daily (or weekly) schedule, there is a solution. What if you had a comfortable, personalized space, dedicated to your meditation practice and nothing else?
I created a personalized meditation space in my bedroom, and now I'm able to fit meditation into my schedule. I now have space I love to be in that's just for my meditation, and it's helped me so much! Don't worry if you're not familiar yet with meditation, a brief recap is located just below.
Table of Contents
What is Meditation?
Meditation is the practice of resting the mind using awakened consciousness, different from sleep. Its main purpose is to create mindful awareness of oneself and the thoughts, emotions, sensations, etc. that are often ignored when we don't stay in the present moment.
Here's a definition from the National Institute of Health:
"Meditation is a mind and body practice that has a long history of use for increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being. Mind and body practices focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior.
There are many types of meditation, but most have four elements in common: a quiet location with as few distractions as possible; a specific, comfortable posture (sitting, lying down, walking, or in other positions); a focus of attention (a specially chosen word or set of words, an object, or the sensations of the breath); and an open attitude (letting distractions come and go naturally without judging them)."
Why Meditation?
A Harvard neuroscientist, Sara Lazar, conducted multiple studies on the benefits of meditation, and what it actually does to change your brain. You can read her interview here to see all the ways our brains are affected by meditation here. Here's an excerpt from the interview:
"Mindfulness is just like exercise. It’s a form of mental exercise, really. And just as exercise increases health, helps us handle stress better and promotes longevity, meditation purports to confer some of those same benefits."
Why Yoga?
An article on Rose-Minded, from guest writer Nisha, explains one type of yoga that relieves the three levels of tension for ultimate relaxation. An excerpt from her article is included below.
'Yoga Nidra simply means "yogic sleep." It is also called "psychic sleep." Yoga Nidra is a powerful technique in which a person relaxes on a deeper level. It is a state that looks like sleep but the person will be conscious of his internal experiences with the ability to listen to the instructions. In Yoga Nidra the relaxation takes place in all three levels: physical, emotional, and mental; thus ultimate relaxation is obtained.' You can read the full article on Yoga Nidra and how to practice it here.
"Yoga Nidra is the yoga of aware sleep. In this lies the secret of self-healing. Yoga Nidra is a pratyahara technique in which the distractions of the mind are contained and the mind is relaxed.”
- Satyananda Saraswati
How To Prepare Your Personalized Meditation Space
Located below are a few tips and tricks for putting together your own meditation space in your bedroom, garden, balcony, or even a patio or porch. Your meditation space can stay in the same place all the time, or you can pack it up and move it as you work with your ever-changing schedule.
The essential personalized meditation space should consist of at least one, if not many of the following items. Know that this space does not have to cost a fortune... please do not spend a fortune! Choose from what you have at home, add a few extra items from the following personalization methods, or save to your Meditation Space Pinterest board as inspiration!
1. Meditation cushion/pillow/blanket or yoga mat for comfort
Staying comfortable while meditating is crucial; the distraction of discomfort could interrupt your practice and focus. Meditation cushions and pillows come in all kinds of designs, sizes, and shapes, so pick whatever works best for you and personalize it to fit your style! You can also replace a meditation cushion with a yoga mat for your yoga practice.
2. Aromatherapy
Again, this step is up to you to personalize your favorite meditation or yoga aromas. This could be with candles, reed diffusers, essential oil diffusers, roll-on aromatherapy, incense, etc. Choose a calming scent and keep it near while you're clearing your mind. Although it often happens naturally, we can train our minds to have an emotional reaction to certain scents. Smelling a scent before or during a meditation/yoga practice could help you over time recognize this scent and experience a calming or enjoyable emotional reaction.
3. Meditation Affirmations
The reason affirmations are considered an essential step towards your personalized meditation space- they focus your meditation and direct your goals.
A few affirmation examples:
I want to clear my mind from negative thoughts and I will.
Only positive, healthy, and helpful thoughts are allowed in my mind.
Some negative emotions and thoughts may arise, and I know I am strong enough to face them without repressing my truths.
I feel calm. I feel tranquil. I can rest.
I am at the center of myself, my mind surrounds me.
Use the following graphic to prepare your own affirmations that will inspire your meditation!
Other Meditation/Yoga Space Popular Decor Ideas
One of the best parts about personalizing your own meditation space is you get to make it work for you. If you like crystals and precious gems, set them up around you! If you're religious, incorporate your spirituality within your meditations. You can even add a pretty tapestry in your meditation space to spice up the design.
Check out any of the photos above of other cool products you could add to your yoga/meditation space to make it your own or even just spruce it up. I have fake and real plants (I'm up to over 70 real houseplants now) all over my house because they make me feel so happy and cozy when I'm at home. I also have a pink salt lamp, which purifies the air, and it looks so cool in my room, especially when it's on at night.
Check out some of these cool meditation spaces below! Get inspired to start preparing your own with Rose-Minded's guide to the perfect meditatino space. This post includes some photos that are not mine, as well as affiliate links. For more information, check out the disclaimer.
Share this post with your family and friends who are interested in meditating and/or yoga so they, too, can create a personalized space just for them. Comment below what you like from this post, or what you will be adding to your meditation/yoga space. Let us know if you have any suggestions in the comments for other ways to personalize your space!