Create an outdoor meditation space and enjoy all the benefits that come with connecting closer to nature.
Being outside can help relax and soothe us, which is why many prefer to meditate in the open air. Meditation itself relaxes your mind and body by focusing on steady breathing, muscle control and stress relief. Combining nature and meditation together can amplify the effects of both.
If you’ve been wanting to create an outdoor meditation space, follow these tips to get started. Each of these ideas can be incorporated into whatever outdoor setting you choose, be that yard, patio or balcony.
1. See The Potential Of Your Space
The core principle of setting up an outdoor meditation space is to find somewhere that makes you feel comfortable. A simple walk around your area can help you discover the natural spots you gravitate towards. You may be attracted to a sunny opening, or you may enjoy the shade under a tree, or the coolness of the pool. From there, assume the position you like to meditate in – standing, walking, reclined, or seated – and brainstorm how you can interact with your chosen space. Don’t feel bad for letting an idea go if you find you can’t meditate comfortably there; just keep going until something feels right.
2. Use What You Have Or Build Up
Meditation is meant to be accessible, so it can be done with nothing more than a yoga mat on the grass. Still, a bespoke meditation zone can help establish a tranquil environment that enhances your experience. Shaded spaces are fantastic for enjoying nature without being directly under the sun. A platform, patio, deck, or even stone garden are also great options as they prevent you from getting dirty and keep you off the dirt.
3. Set A Permanent Meditation Space
If you use one specific spot to meditate every day, eventually, your neural network and body will automatically feel more relaxed when you step into this area. Once your body understands that this is a place you go to relax, it will do so instinctually.
4. Incorporate Greenery
The role plants have in meditation is varied and important. They can act as partitions that section away a special place where you can practice mindfulness. In addition, plants have a close relationship with meditation by promoting serenity, allowing for a feeling of closeness to nature and infusing soothing smells and sounds into your meditation space.
5. Establish an Altar
Altars are a symbolic and practical feature to include when you create your outdoor meditation space. It can be as simple as a flat stone that displays and keeps important objects close at hand. Many Yogic principles say that your altar should face toward the rising sun in the east, or north if the prior isn’t possible. In truth, an altar can be placed wherever you feel is right.
6. Play With Your Sound Experience
What we hear is an important part of meditation. Wind chimes, rain chains, bells, and sounds of nature can all create a calming environment that also dampens external noises that may interfere with your meditation. Other sound healing instruments can help create a calming and relaxing environment. Tuning forks, drums, gongs, tongue drums, harmony bells, singing bowls and many other instruments are great to try out.
7. Design For Privacy
Different people want different things from their meditation space. Some want an enclosed, cosy area, while others feel most comfortable in wide, open spaces. Even though people think privacy is reserved for more contained meditation spaces, it’s actually really important for both options.
It can be hard to get in the zone if you’re worried about prying eyes, or vice versa if you feel like you can see too much of your neighbours. By utilising plants, fabrics, or more permanent structures like fencing, you can make a space that makes you feel comfortable in your meditative state.
8. Shelter Your Area
Shelter significantly expands the times in which you can meditate. It allows you to meditate in the rain without getting drenched or under the sun without getting burnt. A string of lights over a pergola can provide a gentle glow for some late-night meditation sessions. A patio, umbrella, or other roofed space lets you meditate on your terms, no matter how the day turns out.
The Best Places To Practice Backyard Meditation
Yoga Platform: A wooden yoga platform gives you a designated and safe space to meditate in your backyard. The platform also keeps you off the ground and offers a cleaner area to sit or stand.
Hammock: If you’re the type of person who meditates best while lying down, stringing a hammock between two trees, or the support beams of your patio can be the ideal environment.
Patio: A patio can provide a wide, open and sheltered area for you to practice meditation. If you tend to move around during your reflections, a patio offers a wider platform to accommodate that. When you create an outdoor meditation space, a patio offers the best shade coverage and protection for permanent designs.
The Lawn: Meditating under the sun can be an energising experience as you allow the natural glow to recharge your energy. The feel of the grass under your feet can be extremely grounding and is a great stress-relieving technique.
Let SEQ Patio Group Create The Perfect Outdoor Meditation Space
Many people find that it’s easier to find a designated yoga space outside than it is indoors. Having a permanent space can help encourage more regular meditation and removes any anxiety that may come with needing to set up or clean a space before you practice. A patio offers the perfect protection from the elements while still allowing you to connect with the outdoors. If you want your meditation station to be set up under a pergola or patio, contact SEQ Patio Group today!
