People practice meditation for a variety of personal reasons. For some, meditation is a religious exercise, for others it’s a practical way to unwind and relieve stress, and still others practice meditation for its health benefits. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that meditation has been shown to relieve anxiety, pain, stress, insomnia and depression. But no matter why a person chooses to meditate, they must first find a place to meditate.
Indoor Locations for Meditation
The perfect indoor location for meditation should provide privacy and comfort. Many practitioners enjoy meditating while sitting on the floor in front of a small altar. The altar may contain nothing more than a candle or vase of flowers ? something that helps them feel relaxed and peaceful. A zafu, or raised cushion might be used to provide comfortable seating, but isn’t necessary.
If sitting on the floor doesn’t provide enough comfort, it’s acceptable to lie down on the floor, sit in a chair or lie back on a sofa. Becoming too comfortable during meditation can backfire you might become too relaxed and fall asleep. With some types of meditation this isn’t a concern, but to avoid an unexpected nap it may be best to stay in an upright position.
Outdoor Locations for Meditation
One of the wonderful things about meditation is that it can be practiced anywhere: In a parked car, a work cubicle or on the white-sand beach of an island paradise. Meditation doesn’t require any special equipment or preparation. If you want or need to meditate outside of the privacy of your home ? do it!
When meditating in an outdoor location, the number one concern is temperature control. A blanket or long jacket is ideal to have; you never know when a cool breeze might kick up. Noise can also be a factor in outdoor locations, but since part of the goal in meditation is to shut out distractions, meditating outside might just strengthen your concentration.
Finding the Privacy to Meditate
No matter where you choose to meditate, privacy can always be a factor. At home, you can tell your roommates or family members that you’re meditating or resting and don’t want to be disturbed for the next 20 minutes. Hopefully, the people you live with will respect your need for privacy. But if they don’t, and the lack of privacy is spurring you to find other locations in which to practice meditation, just remember that millions of people across the world meditate daily. The sight of someone meditating in the park or on the bus may not be as strange to others as you think.