Meditation Myth #5: I need a special space to meditate and be mindful

I am sure we have all seen those pictures on social media of a beautiful person, sitting in lotus position in a perfect room with sunlight streaming in, vases of flowers, paintings on the wall, incense lit. And then you think about your home, with its clutter and pets and kids, and noise, and ….

Many beginning meditators worry they don’t have the right space, or atmosphere, or quiet in their home to be able to practice. (I will talk about sounds in a future Tiger Tea). In fact, we all practice mindfulness in our daily lives, sometimes without knowing it. When you take a moment to savor your morning cup of coffee, stop and listen to a favorite song, or watch a sunset without other distractions, you are practicing mindfulness. Any activity that you perform without other distractions is mindful.

Think about some of your daily activities. Are there are a few you could try to do without any other distraction? Walk the dog without getting out your phone, go for a walk without your ear buds, do the dishes without watching TV? This is a way to build mindfulness in your current life.

In terms of meditation itself, as you become more experienced, you will find you can meditate in many different environments. I will meditate in the exam room while waiting for the doctor to come, for example, instead of being on my phone. (bonus, it’s good for those blood pressure readings too!). In fact, any time you are forced to wait is a good time to focus on your breath and calm the mind. It’s also a way to practice patience in those situations. If it feels strange for you at first, simply practice taking slow deep breaths while sitting in a traffic jam, waiting in line at the post office, or walking from one meeting room to another. Even these short doses can help calm and recenter.

You can meditate sitting on a bench in the park, or walking in nature, sitting on your couch, or even at your desk. All it requires is that you soften your gaze and focus on the breath or the body for a few minutes without distraction. If you are lucky enough to have a home workout or office space, putting a yoga mat or a simple folding chair in the area is enough for you to use that space for meditation. Yes, sometimes your pet will join you, the phone will ring, the kids will holler. Part of the practice is observing those events then letting them go, like clouds passing through the sky.

There is never a better time to meditate than now. Don’t wait for the perfect time, the perfect space, the perfect quiet, as those things will never be. Release perfection and expectation, and just breathe.