Dedicated spaces are what truly makes a house a home.
The bedroom is where you go to rejuvenate after a long day and the kitchen is where you prepare the nourishment your body needs. But oftentimes, we forget to carve out a small space for our mental and physical health.
A meditation corner in your home could be your own personal haven—your little space of freedom and tranquillity. It’s where you’d go to do a few simple stretching exercises or yoga poses; and feel Zen through meditation, deep breathing, and reflection.
To create your own meditation corner or space, identify a spot in your home that you love and can spend between 10-30 minutes without any form of interruption. Found it? Great! Now let’s get Zen.
Make it comfortable
It doesn’t matter what you’re working with, whether it’s a hardwood floor or a carpeted floor. Thanks to accessories, we can make any space comfortable. Grab some oversized pillows and throw in a yoga bolster to help support your back if you’re into deep postures. Since you’d be in an easy pose (Sukhasana) for a while, get a yoga mat that has a little thickness to it than the average.
Add your favourite accessories to give the space a homey feel. Create a clean, minimalistic space. Avoid clutter at all cost. For privacy, consider investing in a makeshift room divider curtain or a folding privacy screen.
Set the mood
Although the word is grossly overused on social media, mood truly is everything. Your meditation space should be very comfortable; adjust the thermostat to find a temperature that’s best for you. You may also light scented candles to get things going. The candle’s flame is very soothing; it reduces stress, aids in calm breathing, and helps to promote focus.
Consider playing soft, relaxing, meditation music in the background. My favourite is by Peder B. Helland on YouTube. Don’t forget to add a touch of green in the form of indoor plants to connect you to nature, and most importantly, let in the natural light.
Benefits of meditation
The primary focus of meditation is relaxation; and training your mind and body to rid itself of stress, tiredness, and anxiety.
Meditation is beneficial in the following ways.
- It improves the level of concentration and promotes calmness of the mind.
- It aids in relaxation of the mind and rejuvenation of the body.
- It controls heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the body’s response to stress hormones.
- Meditation helps in the production of serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood and
social behaviour, appetite and digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual desire and function. - It improves emotional responses and stability, and aids in better sleep because the body is trained
to relax irrespective of the eternal factors at hand. - Researchers at The State University of New York recommended meditation in the management
of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), whose symptoms include bloating and cramps.
