According to a Harvard study, stress-related health problems are responsible for up to 80% of visits to the doctor. However only about 3% of doctors actually talk to their patients about how to reduce stress. This study, and many others, show that mind-body practices like yoga and mindful meditation help to reduce the body’s stress response by lowering stress hormones like cortisol and strengthening the body's relaxation responses.
When I first started mindful meditation, I felt silly. I would plop on my rug or my bed and close my eyes waiting for some grand epiphany. Quickly, I realized that my personal, mindful meditation practice required a little more effort in order for me to feel comfortable. This is what I did to set up a space that helped enhance my meditation practice:
1. Clear Space, Clear Mind
The bad habit that I’ve been working on fixing this year is living in a cluttered space. After a long day, followed by an even longer week, bags just get thrown on the ground and that one infamous chair is suffocating underneath the weight of all my clothes. When I first began meditating in my room, I tried to do it around my pile of stuff. However, this did not work for long. For me, I learned that the best setting to meditate in began with a clean environment. Being able to place my yoga mat flat on a polished floor beside a well-kept bed and clear dresser tops bring an ease that I never knew I needed in my life.
2. Not Too Bright!
Bright lights get bothersome. Although I do not mind a peak of natural sunlight in my room, I now know that my meditation practice requires the lights to be turned off. If I’m meditating at night, I only like to leave my Himalayan salt rock lamp on as it provides the room with a subtle, calm glow.
3. Soft Scents And Sounds
When I have the time, and I’m feeling extra dedicated I like to solidify my space with delicate scents and sounds. I especially like to burn this particular brand of incense cones (pictured below). My favorite scents include "Pine", “Sandal”, and “Lotus.”
As for sounds, although I do not meditate with music all the time, some days I like to play the sounds of the sitar or flute at a low volume.
I love to start my early mornings off with a quick stretch followed by 15-20 minutes of meditation on my yoga mat after following the 3 tips listed above. Doing this helps me prep before my 5:30 am yoga class. However, on days where I’m rushing, or tired and nearly dragging myself out of bed, I skip the morning meditation and push it off till later at night as a sweet ending to my day. Although these tips helped me, I do want to remind everyone that meditation can be practiced anywhere and that there’s no one “correct” way to meditate. Once you start, you’ll begin to learn what’s best for you and your body.
Happy Practicing!
With love,
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