Where to Meditate

It’s good to have a dedicated place where you always meditate, and where you only meditate.  In India, it is common to have a room dedicated just to meditation.  Houses in the west often aren’t afforded their own meditation room, particularly in the city.  I’m still living in Italy for the next few days, and we don’t have a lot of spare room in our apartment.  I use part of my bedroom as my “meditation area,” but it’s not practical for me to keep that space for only meditation.  Yogis recommend that if you have to use part of a room that is also used for something else, that you use a screen or something similar to “wall off” the room a bit.  

There are different reasons for having a dedicated meditation space.  First, it helps in forming the habit of meditation.  When I pass through my room and see my meditation cushion on the floor, it automatically triggers in my mind thoughts of meditating.  If I know my daily meditation is yet to come, it gets it into my consciousness so I know where best to insert it into my day.  Meditating in the same space also helps build up meditation vibrations in that area.  As those higher-frequency, peaceful vibrations build over time, you benefit from them each time you sit for meditation.  They help you go deeper more easily.

Try to avoid engaging in other activities in your meditation space.  You want to create a relaxing atmosphere, conducive to meditating, which may make you tempted to use the space for reading or writing.  If you absolutely feel compelled to read or write in that space, assure you are reading/writing uplifting things that connect you to your highest potential.  However, when we are engaging outwardly in any way, we are not in that high vibration that comes with deep meditation, and that can impact the environment we are trying to achieve/maintain with our meditation space.

Now, all that being said, the important thing is that you meditate!  Period.  So, if your space is too small to carve out a dedicated space, meditate where you can, when you can.  Maybe you’re a student living in a dorm room.  I hardly had room to turn around in my dorm room, so it would have been absurd to expect me to find a dedicated space where I never studied, ate, rested, etc.  Don’t let anything get between you and reaching your higher self.  The absolute most important thing is to make space in your life and in your heart for meditation, and just do your best with the physicality aspect.