Creating a Beautiful Home Yoga & Meditation Space

By: Sally Collins

Yoga and mindfulness meditation have certainly piqued the interest of the media, thanks to important findings showing that these millenary practices can help with a plethora of stress-related conditions, including anxiety and depression. Yoga practice under the guiding hand of a professional is important, since an experienced instructor will ensure your asanas are on point, and will help you with any issues you may be struggling with, including panoramic (or controlled) breathing, meditation, and concentration.

It is equally important to practice what you have learned at home, of course. On days when you cannot get away to a class or you are working at home on an important project, why not add a touch of peace to your interiors with a few small changes?

The Tiny Details Matter

Concentration is key when practicing yoga, so think of the little features that can make you feel calmer. Recreate the aromas, surfaces, and textures you might have encountered at your favorite yoga class, with touches such as candles (opt for soy rather than paraffin, since the latter releases toxins into your home environment), gentle music, and aromatherapy. For the latter, use therapeutic grade essential oils such as (relaxing) lavender or (revitalizing) citrus oils, diffused through a machine.

Sounds are also important. Many yoga practitioners like to take their classes outside, so as to avail of the stress busting effects of nature. Recreate those you might encounter in a forest or park, with everything from the sounds of birds to water. For the latter, an indoor fountain works very well in a yoga room, both aesthetically and as a means of bringing the mind to a more peaceful place.

Sites and Sounds

If you can, build your yoga space outdoors. A garden is a perfect place for your daily sun salutations. As mentioned above, nature has a unique ability to calm stress, primarily because it is a short cut to the state of mindfulness. If you don’t have to stick to a tight budget, you might want to construct an outdoor wooden decked area with a thatched roof, surrounded by plants and imagery you associate with yoga practice.

Even if you don’t have the budget or time to build an outdoor yoga room, you can bring the outdoors inside through touches such as plants, flowers, and floor-to-ceiling windows that connect interior and exterior spaces.

Building a yoga space can take as little or as much effort as you wish to make. Regardless of the space you set up, make sure it contains the basics such as storage furniture for your mats, pillows and towels; living plants and flowers to bring nature into the equation; and all the items you need to create a serene ambience.