We all need to take a moment of the day to make a pause and release all the stress that we accumulate in our daily lives. A great way to do this is by introducing a meditation practice into our schedules; for that purpose, it would be ideal to have a designated space at home that you use only for meditation.
There are a few things that you should consider in terms of creating the ideal space to support relaxation, focus, and concentration during meditation. If you want to know more about this, continue reading because we gathered some great tips and advice from the experts to achieve this vibe at home and succeed in your meditation practice.
This is a guest post from Porch.com, where YogaDownload was featured in their panel of experts.
What do you suggest for setting up a meditation space at home?
Determine the purpose of your space.
What is your space’s purpose? Is it to have a private place for meditation or to have a shared room with others? Is it to create a serene feeling in your home or for you to seek inner calm and clarity? The purpose of your space will help you determine where it should be and what you will need.
Find a space.
A meditation space is a useful tool in anyone’s practice. It’s somewhere you can go when you’re feeling strong emotions and need somewhere to cool off, a place where you can “find yourself” daily, and just somewhere important for practice in general.
You don’t need an entire room for meditation – a corner of a room will do. You could also use an empty, spacious closet (if you have one!). Based on the purpose of your space, you could have it in a main area of your house, in the corner of your bedroom, or even in your backyard or garden.
Decorate your space.
Gather your sacred items. My suggestion here is to select one thing for each of the five senses plus something from nature:
What images or objects will fit the purpose of your space? Most people recommend a minimalist approach to decorate a meditation area in order to avoid distractions.
My space has a Buddha statue, candles, and a plant. You might want to incorporate flowers, cushions, and pillows, or special lights. I like having blankets and pillows to create a sense of softness. Choose something that is meaningful to you and sets this area of your home apart.
Supply your space.
You don’t really need anything to meditate besides your body and breath. But if you use a meditation pillow and cushion, a singing bowl, or beads in your practice, you could display them.
An app (or book / audiobook) for timeless instruction.
As I am a beginner myself, I use apps to help with my meditation as I am still learning to quiet down my mind. Meditating to an app is much easier for me. My favorites are ‘Meditation Studio’, ‘HeadSpace’ and ‘Mindifi’.
Make your space sacred.
By “sacred,” I don’t mean religious or spiritual (although you certainly could if it’s part of your practice). I mean sacred as in the opposite of mundane. You should associate this area of your home with stillness and special time for yourself or your family that is devoted to your practice.
Sit.
Now, sit in your space and try it out. Not comfortable yet? Add as many cushions, pillows, and blankets as necessary. (Some teachers advise otherwise, but I feel that you should do whatever you can to be comfortable.)
Time.
Set a dedicated time for meditation and do everything in your power to stick to it. Don’t schedule anything on top of this time; you need to act like it’s important, even if you’re just starting out.
Comfortable clothing.
Wear something comfortable. The last thing you want to do is to be wearing skinny jeans and a tight top.
By Kiran Singh from Kiran Singh
Which characteristics should a meditation space at home have to help with relaxation and concentration?
Creating the habit for an at-home meditation practice may be easier than you think.
Meditation is a practice to let go of the chatter in our minds and gain focus and clarity. When we worry too much about creating the perfect space, we miss the point of creating the routine of meditation.
From a tiny home to your own private yoga oasis, any space inside or outside can become a meditation space. It is the habit you create to establish your meditation practice that matters.
There is no wrong way to meditate. Day-to-day our meditation experience can change. Some days may feel like we are in it and other days may feel like it just isn’t working. Don’t be attached to the outcome. Continue with the practice.
When I meditate, there are a few things that are important to create a space that feels good:
What do you want that will help you create a meditation experience you would enjoy? If it doesn’t feel good or takes too much effort, it is harder to make it a habit.
When you are done, notice – What do you love about your home? What space would you like to create? Is there one thing you would like to change? Have you been holding onto items that don’t serve you?
Our best ideas come when we are present, clear-headed, and with a positive mindset. With the benefits of meditation, you can get inspired to create the home you want to live in.
By Monica Phillips from Spark Plug Labs
Where would be the perfect space at home to set up a yoga and meditation space?
The perfect space to set up a yoga and meditation area is somewhere in your home that feels cozy, light, and most importantly where you can get peace and quiet. Because of this, for those with enough space, an area of your bedroom is usually the ideal part of the home to set up a yoga and meditation space. If you have a section of your bedroom where there is room to lay out a yoga mat or put a meditation cushion, it can be easier to make yoga and meditation a daily habit, when it’s possible to roll out of bed and get onto your mat!
A living room, where you can get some time to yourself can also be perfect, as for many there is more space there. For some with families and roommates, it can be harder to get time in a more communal space to be alone and undistracted in your practice.
Natural light is a must (don’t make your yoga space in a room without windows or a basement). You want to feel energized, inspired, and uplifted where you practice. Also, regardless of where in the house you choose, make it beautiful. Hang a photo you love, put a plant there, and add elements that inspire and uplift you. Decorate it to make it your sacred space in the house and add elements that bring a sense of peacefulness.
By Keith Allen from YogaDownload.com
How can you create the perfect ambiance in your meditation space to help with relaxation and concentration?
Your bedroom is the perfect area to create a meditation space, and it all starts with the walls. Choose a soothing color palette – think neutrals or pastels, or opt for a zen pattern that brings comfort to your mind – for example, nature-inspired landscapes or flowing lines. If you’re struggling for ideas of how to style your bedroom, look to naturally relaxing spaces; Ancient Japanese zen gardens, Buddhist temples, mountains, or waterfalls. Try to keep your bedroom as a quiet zone, with an essential oil diffuser, low-level lighting, and plenty of soft textures. No screens allowed!
By Leila Jones from MuralsWallpaper
Which items do you recommend having in your meditation space at home?
For creating a meditation space at home, add items that evoke a feeling of calm and connection when you sit down on your meditation cushion. Keep it simple as you get inspired by the following ideas:
Find an item that represents nature, e.g., flowers from your garden, seashells from a beach walk, or rocks that you collected with your children. Add something that symbolizes love; this could be a photograph of a loved one, a special object that you associate with love, or a rose quartz crystal, commonly thought of as the heart stone. To honor your family, you could add a picture, a child’s drawing, or anything else that evokes gratitude for the VIPs in your life. Last, but not least, you may want to involve something that has spiritual meaning for you.
Another approach for choosing the right items includes allowing your 5 senses to guide you.
If you have children, you may want to invite them to pick one special item for them to place in your meditation corner. This will help them feel included and bring joy to your heart when you meditate.
By Sünje O’Clancy from Yoga Rascals
What is the easiest meditation technique for a beginner?
From my experience, the worst and hardest way to start meditation as a beginner is to sit and focus on your breathing. All that it will do is encourage feelings of frustration and irritation and often leave you feeling breathless… Rather, it’s best to focus on things that help focus the mind, and in-turn calms the body. My advice for a beginner meditator is to sit, lay or even walk in an open space and work through your senses. Spend a minute focusing on what you can hear, the pauses between sounds, the volume, and the differences. Then move onto touch, what temperature can you feel on your skin, is there a light breeze, or maybe you can feel your clothes on your skin or the floor under your feet. Move onto sight, what red things can you see around you, for example, or what different shades of the same color you can find. Keep going with your other two senses and try not to label, judge or explain your experiences, simply observe. It’s a really nice way of introducing mindfulness whilst focusing your mind on coming from intention and not reaction throughout your day.
From there, you can experiment with all sorts of visualizations and body relaxations! Aim for a practice that keeps the mind occupied without clinging onto anything in particular like Yoga Nidra, guided visualizations, and progressive muscle relaxation. Give it a go for 5 minutes with an open mind, and you’ll be starting well. Good luck!
By Helen from Helen Sian India
How do you suggest for a beginner to start a meditation practice and what should be avoided?
There are two things that really help: starting with a brief daily meditation and having real people you can talk to about meditating.
If you decide that, starting tomorrow, you’re going to wake up at 6 am every day and meditate for 30 minutes before you do anything else, I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll stop after just a few days. Instead, I’d encourage you to honestly ask yourself, “How long can I truly commit to meditating every day?” Maybe the answer is five minutes; maybe it’s just five breaths. The length of time doesn’t matter. The important thing is for it to be realistic. Then, meditate for that length of time right after something else that you always do each day – for example, after you’ve brushed your teeth in the morning. You know you’re going to brush your teeth each day, so you can connect your new meditation habit to that routine. That makes it much more likely that you’ll actually do it.
Then, find a group and a teacher you can practice with and talk to about what’s happening when you meditate. The number one reason people stop meditating is because they think they’re doing it wrong or it’s not working. If you can share your experience, ask questions, and get insight into what’s going on, you’re much less likely to give up. That’s why we started WITHIN meditation – there’s Q&A during every online class to help you stick with your meditation practice.
By Hannah Knapp from WITHIN Meditation
How would you suggest starting a meditation routine, and which tips can you give us to actually stick to it?
I suggest starting your day with a 5-minute (or more!) meditation. Find a comfortable seated position and bring your attention to your breath. Begin by taking several nice long, deep breaths in and out. Trace your breath as it enters and exits your nostrils. As your mind begins to wander, gently guide your attention back to your breath.
If you prefer silent meditation, scan your senses (notice the sound of your breath, any other sounds in the space you are sitting, or outside of the room that you’re in…) or scan your body (consciously relaxing from your head to your toes). Drift your awareness back to your breath. Each time you notice your mind thinking, direct your attention back to your breath.
You may worry about whether you’re doing it “right.” There is no wrong way to meditate! Much like when you are doing biceps curls, each one is strengthening your biceps… when you’re meditating, each time you notice your thoughts, you’re strengthening your presence and awareness.
If you prefer guided meditations, there are many great resources. Receiving support and guidance from an experienced meditation guide is great if you’re new to meditation or feeling stuck or struggling to independently establish a daily practice.
Creating a soothing meditation space in your home will help you feel calm and centered in your practice. Carving out a sanctuary of sacred space for yourself encourages you to fall in love with a daily meditation practice you treasure.
Meditating in the same space each day will begin to infuse your designated space with calm energy, and you’ll begin to feel relaxed just thinking about sitting for meditation. Space for self-reflection helps reduce distractions and increase focus. When you consistently sit in the same space or around the same time, your body and nervous system learn that this is when you practice slowing down, relaxing, and going within.
Commit to practicing for at least 10 days in a row, and each day, reflect on how you’re feeling as you navigate your day. You may notice you’re immediately benefitting from an increased sense of inner peace, better sleep, connection, clarity, focus, and productivity. It’s is common for challenging emotions, stressful thoughts, and feelings to rise to the surface, or for new meditators to notice they are anxious. If this is the case, don’t fret!
Meditation helps to reduce the stress that is accumulated from the past, so you are actually releasing and letting go of stuck, stagnant energy and emotions. The person you spend the most time with is the voice in your head, and so if you notice you have a strong inner critic, rest assured, it can be tamed! You can befriend your inner angel instead, with the help of an experienced guide.
I offer a complimentary class every Sunday evening at 6 pm PST. If you’re curious to see what it’s like to meditate in an online community, please join us! You can register to receive a link to class at anchormeditation.com
By Kelly Ryan from Anchor Meditation
Which practices can calm the mind to help a beginner with meditation?
It’s actually a common misconception that the goal of meditation is to calm the mind. There are some specific practices where this is the goal, but most meditation techniques do not train this trait. In most meditation techniques, you fully allow thoughts to arise and pass without push or pull. For example, if you’re focusing on your breathing and you experience a burst of mental talk, the instruction would be to allow the mental talk to arise, but gently move the spotlight of your attention back to the breath. As you focus on the breath, the mental talk can keep chattering away, but in the background. In the foreground of your awareness is the breath.
There are even some techniques that involve focusing on thoughts as they arise. So if you’re experiencing thoughts, great, that’s something to focus on.
All this being said, there’s another way to interpret “calming the mind”. This alternative interpretation might sound something like, “whether you’re experiencing thoughts or not, calming the mind means an overall softening around your experience”. Softening/accepting your experience absolutely is a goal of most meditation techniques.
There are many practices that might help a beginner soften the mind. Here are some examples: take a few deep breaths, put a slight smile on your face, and maintain global relaxation over your whole body. These three practices can help your mind soften, which leads to a pervading sense of calm. Try taking deep breaths, smiling or relaxing your body during your next meditation and see for yourself.
By Toby Sola from Brightmind
Which tips can you give us to start a meditation practice for a beginner?
I’ve found the key to a successful meditation practice is consistency.
Make meditation part of your daily routine and try to do it in the same place and at the same time each day.
I prefer to meditate first thing in the morning, but others prefer to do it in the evening. I have a cushion that I only use for meditation, so it is a physical reminder to sit down and do it.
Start with a guided meditation on youtube or an app. Perhaps try a few different meditations to start and then stick with one that works best for you.
Also, be patient. Like anything else, meditation takes practice, and each day can feel a little different. Stick with it, and you will feel the positive effects for sure!
Try this short guided meditation that brings awareness and intention to your breath to reduce stress and anxiety.
By Miranda Peterson from Namaste in Nature
Which tips can you give us to create a meditation routine?
Create a Comfortable Practice Space
Your meditation practice will be more successful if you have a comfortable and quiet place to practice. Try finding a place where you can sit distraction-free – put the phone away, turn off the TV, and allow yourself some time to step away from the noise.
Many people believe you have to sit cross-legged on the floor to meditate, but that’s actually not true. You absolutely can sit on the floor cross-legged if that’s comfortable, but you can also sit on a chair, the edge of your bed, or on a bolster to help keep you elevated. If you are sitting on a chair, try to keep your feet flat on the floor (rather than crossed) in order to keep your circulation flowing freely. You can also lie down if you prefer. However, some people tend to fall asleep while meditating lying down. If you want to receive the full effects of your practice, I always recommend sitting in an upright position with a tall spine. You can also place pillows or blankets in a corner of your room against a wall to help make you more comfortable & support your back so you can fully relax!
Sometimes it can be helpful to light candles, use essential oils or burn sage to help create a calming aroma. It’s important to have a specific spot just for your meditation practice so that you can truly focus on the present moment without getting distracted. Plus, every time you come back to this spot, you will be able to feel more relaxed and focused on clearing your mind!
A journal is also another tool that is useful for creating a home meditation space. The purpose of practicing mindfulness is to stay rooted in the present moment and to simply observe your thoughts. Having a journal near your mediation space will allow you the opportunity to write down some of your thoughts after you meditate and can help you reflect on what came up during your session
Start with Small Time Intervals
The best way to begin a mediation practice is to start small. Even a 5-minute meditation in the morning or before bed can help you start to feel benefits and form a habit. In this time period, allow yourself to clear your mind, concentrate on your breath and just be in your body in the present moment. Once you start to feel more comfortable with this, you can begin to lengthen the amount of time you practice for.
Put It in Your Calendar
Like many things in life, if you don’t make time for it on your schedule, it will be easy to forget to practice. Adding meditation into your weekly schedule will help you make sure nothing else gets put ahead of or interferes with your sacred meditation time. Find a time that works best for you – either in the morning before your day begins, in the afternoon during your lunch break, or even in the evening before bed. It doesn’t matter when you meditate, just as long as it works for you at a time, you will be able to actually enjoy it. If your schedule allows, try to plan your practice at the same times each day/week so it’s easier to form a habit.
Be gentle with yourself
Most people think that the purpose of meditation is to shut off your brain completely, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The purpose of meditation is to observe your thoughts as they were clouds in a big blue sky – let them come, acknowledge their presence, and let them float away. When you first start meditating, it may seem overwhelming, and you might let your focus get carried away with your thoughts. Know that it’s totally normal, and you’re absolux|x|tely still doing it right! When you notice this, gently bring your awareness to your breath and back to the present moment. Give yourself some grace and know that it’s not easy. You’re doing great!
By Jessi Moore from Yogapaws
What do you suggest doing to help soothe your mind for meditation?
Here is some advice to settle down before you meditate:
Choose a time to meditate. The best times are early in the morning just after you wake up, and then again at happy hour, right between work and dinner. Ideally, you meditate at least one hour after eating or before you have a big meal. The body likes rhythm, so choose the same time each day, and make it a routine, just like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. If you can’t do it at your regular time, do it when you can!
Find a quiet spot to practice where you’ll be undisturbed, ideally away from your electronics. If possible, sit in the same spot each day, though you can really meditate anywhere. Make it special with inspiring books you love, a journal and pen, a candle or incense if you are into it.
Get comfortable and cozy. Sit up in a posture in which you can be still for the meditation period. Find a blanket or a shawl you can easily wrap around you, so if your body’s temperature lowers a bit, you won’t be uncomfortable. Be sure you give yourself permission to shift your posture slightly if you need to.
Determine how long you will meditate for before you start, choosing a period of time from 10-30 minutes. This commitment puts your mind at ease during the practice. Staying with the entire practice session will help to make changes in the brain so you become more responsive and less reactive.
Go analog! Put your phone on DND or airplane mode. You can use it for a timer, but don’t choose anything that will “alarm” you when the meditation ends.
You can light a candle and use aromatherapy or incense if you are into it. Scents can help to create a mood (churches and temples use them!). Turn off all other sounds and sensory input if possible so when you close your eyes, your attention is easily drawn inward.
You can bookend your meditations with yoga, music, or reading something inspiring. Choose a reflective song or chant to listen to. You can also stretch or do some easy yoga asanas, and you could read a passage from your favorite spiritual books to inspire you.
Before you begin your meditation practice, take a few long, slow, deep breaths through your nose. This lets your body know that it’s okay to relax. Make a commitment to let go of all the to-dos and responsibilities during the meditation period. They’ll likely still be there when it’s over.
Remember, the benefits of meditation will show up as you live your life. So let go of trying to have a certain experience. Instead, treat each meditation as if it is your first one.
By taking time to meditate each day, you are engaging in a radical act of self-care for your mind and body! You deserve it!
By Sarah McLean from McLean Meditation Institute
How would you suggest making a routine practice of your meditation?
Meditation is more a lifestyle than a short-term effort, project, or course. Creating a meditation routine must have the dual benefit of giving you the benefits of meditation while also ensuring that you’re going to stick with it for the longer term. Here are our recommendations for creating a meditation routine:
By Shankar from Sahaja Online
Why is it important to meditate on a daily basis and what benefits can we expect to have from it?
Meditation is an ancient practice and one of the most important skills we can learn nowadays. It’s no secret that we are living in uncertain and stressful times. Statistics show that we are more stressed, anxious, and depressed than in the previous 30 years. Countless personal testimonies and scientific studies prove that practicing meditation on a daily basis can have a wealth of positive benefits for our well-being from lesser stress to better sleep, increased motivation, and creativity.
However, a common misconception is that meditation is a practice that requires perfect stillness and complete control of the mind, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s a very insightful analogy that invites us to think about meditation as a glass full of stormwater. If we allow the glass to stand, the dirt settles and we are able to see the clear water. When we make meditation a daily habit, we can scratch the surface and become more acquainted with the nature of our minds and the essence of our being. This is vital as the quality of our lives largely depends on who we are and how we perceive things rather than what we do. Being able to shift our focus from the negative thoughts and distracting mental chatter that plagues us so often can make a positive difference for our wellbeing.
When a stressful situation arises, for example, meditators are able to detach themselves from emotionally charged thoughts of anger and frustration. They don’t dwell on what happened in the past or what might happen in the future and are much more mindful of their actions. And the wonderful thing is that, the more we meditate, the more the way we perceive and interact with the world changes. Needless to say, someone who is looking forward to an effective way to balance stress and find inner serenity will greatly benefit from meditation. They will be able to experience much more surprising perks along the way such as better sleep, less anxiety, sharper attention, increased productivity, deeper emotional intelligence, a superior sense of intuition, and quite possibly a stronger immune system.
Of course, all of these benefits come with commitment and the determination to become our best selves.
By Pier del Rio from Synctuition
How do you use crystals for meditation, and which ones do you recommend using?
Meditating with crystals is a powerful two-in-one practice that can support your well-being and state of mind. But how exactly do you do it, and which crystals should you use? This guide to using crystals for meditation will help you learn how to get the most out of your crystal meditation practice.
How to Meditate with Crystals
When it comes to meditating with crystals, there are truly no right or wrong ways to do it. However, to enhance your meditation practice, one of the simplest and most effective ways to use crystals is by holding them in your hands as you meditate. You can choose to either hold a single stone in both hands, or hold a crystal in each hand to bring a greater sense of balance and equilibrium to your meditation. Any shape of crystal can be a powerful addition to your meditation practice, but touchstones, also known as palmstones, are one of the best shapes for meditation because they fit perfectly into the palm of your hand. Other great shapes to hold during meditation are spheres and harmonizers.
If you prefer not to hold crystals in your hands when you meditate or want another way to incorporate crystals into your meditation practice, placing them in the space around you is a great way to connect with their energies. Whether you choose raw crystals to radiate energy throughout your environment or another shape, the crystals around you can strengthen your meditation’s benefits
Top Crystals for Meditation
Just as there is not a right or wrong way to meditate with crystals, there is also not a right or wrong crystal to choose during your meditation practice. One way to decide which crystal to use is by trusting your own intuition and allowing yourself to be called to whichever crystal energy you need at that time.
Another method is to decide what you want to get out of your meditation. Here are some recommendations for common intentions:
By Heather from Energymuse
Which essential oils would you recommend to help relax and concentrate during meditation?
For relaxation and concentration during meditation, we recommend rosemary, frankincense, lavender, and our calming blend, Tracy’s Grace.
Rosemary– this herbaceous oil is known to help boost focus and is a favorite for studying and times of deep concentration. Frankincense- this spicy, sweet oil has a grounding aroma that improves focus and boosts mental clarity Lavender- this soothing, floral oil is known for it’s de-stressing abilities. It’s great for relaxing the mind and body. Tracy’s Grace- formulated with orange, lavender, and rosemary, this blend was intentionally created to help you relax, refocus, and unwind. It’s one of our most popular blends!
By Meghan Costello from Savhera
What are your preferred meditation oils?
Essential oils contain many therapeutic benefits as well as providing beautiful natural aromas, making them an excellent way to enhance meditation. Here are some of my favorites to consider incorporating into your practice:
Frankincense. A deep, grounding, and calming oil, which helps invoke feelings of peace, emotional stability, and protection. It helps to enhance breathing and soothe the respiratory system, making it an excellent essential oil to encourage steady breathing during meditation. Frankincense has played an important role in religious life in many ancient civilizations, as it is thought to strengthen our connection to spirit.
Ylang Ylang. An uplifting, floral oil that helps to calm the nervous system and promote feelings of joy, happiness, and sensuality. I like to refer to this essential oil as the sunshine oil as it has the ability to lift emotional exhaustion and awaken our senses. Ylang Ylang helps to dissipate negative emotions and bring in a sense of upliftment, so it can be particularly helpful when meditating during times of sadness or stress.
Palo Santo. An earthy, grounding oil that has been used traditionally in native American medicine, preferred by shamans and healers for its metaphysical properties of purification and clearing negativity. Using Palo Santo around your meditation space and body helps to clear negative energy and provide energetic protection, as well as enhancing spiritual awareness. A deeply calming oil, Palo Santo allows us to feel centered and grounded and helps to switch on the body’s relaxation response.
Rose Geranium. A beautifully floral-scented, balancing oil that helps to promote emotional stability, and transform negative feelings into more positive ones. This heart-opening essential oil can enhance emotional healing and self-love, whilst aiding relaxation. Rose Geranium essential oil also helps support mental clarity and focus, making it a wonderful addition to your meditation practice to help you stay centered.
By Corinne Taylor from Corinne Taylor
Which essential oils support meditation and how do you use them?
There are many oils to choose from to enhance meditation, which depends entirely on the meditation’s intention. For example to meditate and connect with self and deep within, oils such as Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides), Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), and Spikenard aka Nard (Nardostachys jatamansi). (Spikenard is the oil that Mary used to anoint Jesus’s feet) are grounding, stabilizing and assist in going inward. If, however, the desire is to connect with Source and all that IS in an expansive way, oils such as Palo santo (Bursera graveolens), Frankincense (Boswellia sacra), Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) are uplifting, protective and expansive. BTW, did you know that back in the day, Nostradamus used Nutmeg to enhance his visions?
Other essential oils and extracts commonly associated with meditation and spirituality are the ones associated with the Bible. Frankincense (Boswellia species), Galbanum (Ferula galbaniflua), and Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha). These three oils are distilled or extracted from Resins. Oils that are extracted/distilled from resins are wonderful to assist us with matters of the Spirit and psyche. They are very powerful when used in prayer, rituals, and meditation. The resin of the tree is a type of liquid that is stored in the outer cells, that when broken, release the resin to clog the hole create and saves the life of the tree. This is very analogous to the way we heal with scabs. It makes sense, then, that these oils assist us with deep emotional wounds and the suffering in our emotional body. Oils distilled from the resins are extremely protective and soothing to the psyche and a very powerful addition to any type of meditation.
Inhalation is the most effective way to use essential oils for meditation. Inhalation is the fastest and most impactful way to alter our state of mind and bring us into center and balance A drop or two of the essential oil can be placed in the palm of the hands and then inhaled deeply. Other ways to use essential oils via olfaction is either a diffuser or an aroma stick (which is blank nasal inhaler that you can place the oil of your choice in.) If desired, a drop of oil can also be placed on any of the chakras. I prefer to put a drop on my Brown (third eye) and Root chakras. Lastly, applying the essential oil to center of the soles of the feet and the bottom of the big toe can have profound effects when meditating. The center of the foot chakra helps ground us and the big toe connects to our pineal gland via reflexology points.
Any way that you choose to work with oils will enhance and have profound effects on meditation. There really is nothing like connecting to the essence of the plants and trees when quieting the mind and entering the soul. So, just pick the scent that resonates with you and see what inner journey she takes you on.
By Virginia Joy from Stillpoint Aromatics
How do you recommend introducing mindfulness into your daily life?
I would recommend either setting a timer for certain times of the day (3 would be ideal) or taking time during certain routines like walking, eating, or going to bed to pause. In these moments, close your eyes and take three deep breaths to calm and center yourself. Slowly say to yourself, “Be here now.” Then notice anything about your body, your mind, or your environment (things you see, smell, hear, or taste). Try to notice these things with curiosity instead of judgment. When you make this a daily practice, what you experience each day will change. Notice the changes with curiosity.
By Paige Oldham from Simple Mindfulness
Now that you have all the tips, advice, and expertise from the very best and more knowledgeable, set up your meditation space and start applying all these to enhance your meditation practice. In no time, you’ll notice all the benefits that meditation will bring to your health and well-being.
By Cassandra Rosas
Cassandra is a content writer at Porch.com. She is passionate about technology, the environment, sustainability, reading, writing, and music.