Imagine meditating in a garden. Focusing on yourself among the buzzing bees and flowering trees––all while a cool breeze is in the air. It feels calming, peaceful, and relaxing.
You’re probably now wishing you had a place like a meditation garden after a long day of work. Let’s be honest––after your workday ends, you probably don’t want to be listening to busy voices and the ringing telephone. The good news is that you can come home to a meditation garden and engage in a peaceful mindfulness ritual every day to feel at ease.
Here’s how to build the perfect indoor meditation garden step-by-step, from finding a place where you feel grounded to traveling with your small green space to suit your needs over time.
Find a place in your home where you feel calm and relaxed.
The first step to building an indoor meditation garden in your home is to make sure you find an area that makes you feel grounded. This doesn’t have to be a bedroom or office space. In fact, if you share an apartment or room with someone, you may not have an extra room to dedicate your meditation garden. The area you choose can be small––maybe it’s your reading nook or a small corner of your kitchen, which has a bright window.
Regardless of what area you choose, make sure the space is meaningful to you in some way. Avoid places that remind you of work or sleep. The last thing you want to do is continue working or focusing on your professional life, when the purpose of this initiative is to strengthen your relationship with yourself. Moreover, the goal of doing a mindfulness practice is to make you more aware, not sleepy.
Grab some indoor plants
Embrace the beauty of lush, green plants in your own home. And, let’s be honest––a garden cannot be a garden without some plants. Luckily, indoor plants don’t really need much sunlight or water, which means you don’t need to have a green thumb to keep them alive. My favorite plants that require minimal care are succulents as they thrive in dry conditions.
When choosing plants, pick varieties that speak to you. Do any indoor plants stand out to you when you visit the nursery? If so, those are the ones you want to add to your space. For instance, you may be reminded of tropical destinations when you see plants like monsteras and birds of paradise. If you don’t find any plants that speak to you, you may want to choose plants that are in your favorite colors or designs. Ultimately, remember that your plant selection doesn’t have to be perfect. You’re not building a nursery––you’re building an indoor garden and only a couple plants will suffice.
Add items that help you connect with the space.
You’ve now found a place, found some plants, so you’re probably wondering what’s left. At this point, you want to personalize your meditation garden to make sure it fulfills your needs. This is a place where you’re going to be cultivating calmness and relaxation, so make sure you’re comfortable. Maybe you want to add a yoga mat to sit on while meditating or burn some incense sticks to sink in your favorite aroma.
Ensure your space is not too crowded with excess pillows or other items. Only add things that are meaningful to you. Some of my recommendations are an essential oil diffuser to diffuse your favorite oil, a glass of water for hydration, and perhaps a portable speaker to listen to relaxing music. Meditation and mindfulness music can be found on a variety of apps, including Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer.
Change your garden over time to suit your needs.
Your indoor meditation garden is not set in stone. This space can change over time, just as your life and your needs change. You can also bring your indoor meditation garden with you when you’re traveling. Maybe you can pack a succulent or a small plant with you to remind you of your calming space at home. But you don’t even need to bring a plant. Honestly anything that reminds you of that space, whether it’s the aroma of an essential oil or the sounds of music, can help you feel at ease.
Now that you have a meditation garden, you should probably start a meditation regimen that you can practice in your space daily. Here are some suggestions if you don’t know where to start:
- Pay attention to your thoughts as they pass through your mind with mindfulness meditation.
- Focus on something internal, like your breath, with focused meditation.
- Let your mind wander with mindful movement, like yoga or taking a walk, through movement meditation.
