It’s estimated that as many as 14% of Americans meditate – and for good reason. We’re frequently pulled in different directions due to the demands of work, kids, and other responsibilities, making meditation a powerful tool to help us relieve stress and anxiety, increase mental health, and grow.
Choosing where to meditate can play a large role in increasing the enjoyment and effectiveness of meditating, which begs the question: Where are good places to do meditation?
Where Should I Meditate?
We don’t have to travel the globe to find that perfect beach or mountain cliff (although kudos to those who have that luxury!). Ideal meditation venues can be right in our homes, down the block, or on the other side of town. Keep reading to learn about some of the perfect spots to meditate on so we can feel rested, relaxed, and refreshed when the session is over.
A Special Meditation Room at Home
One of the best places to meditate is right under our noses. Consider converting an unused bedroom or space into a meditation haven at home – our personal paradise, so to speak. But first, we need to roll up our sleeves and make the location conducive to relaxing. This can include:
- Choosing a place in the home that isn’t too noisy or a location where family members gather frequently.
- Ensuring the room or area is clean, organized, and uncluttered.
- Adding plants, incense, and cleansing herbs.
- Choosing the right lighting to produce a calming effect and increase comfort. This may include experimenting with a variety of light colors, including blue, orange, red, or green.
- Picking furnishings that allow us to relax and spotlight our personality. Cluttered rooms with too much furniture can have a negative effect on meditating.
- Choosing soft colors for the room.
1. Parks
State, county, or city parks are great spots to meditate, especially on a warm, sunny day. Look for nature parks, which often boast wooded areas, wildlife, lush vegetation, and sometimes ponds, rivers, or streams. There should be plenty of areas to plop down and meditate on a background that helps maximize the session and enhance our self-awareness.
Research shows that meditating in nature can reduce stress and depression, lower blood pressure, and improve concentration. Visit as many parks as possible to find the one that fits perfectly!
2. Places of Worship
Holy places are ideal locations to meditate, regardless of whether we’re religious, spiritual, or neither. Churches, synagogues, and mosques are commonplace, especially in urban areas, and give us a quiet, safe place to meditate. We can fit right in with the other people who are sitting quietly and praying in the pews.
3. Meditation Center or Yoga Studio
Meditation centers are growing in popularity because they bring together a group of like-minded people who share a love of all things meditation.
Most meditation centers offer a variety of classes throughout the week led by a rotating group of instructors. Some lessons may focus on how to become happier and healthier people in a busy, chaotic world, while others may teach us how to improve the quality of our lives or make a greater contribution to peace in the world.
4. Backyards
We love our backyards, right? Spending just a few minutes there can improve our physical and mental health and relieve stress. For many of us, our backyards are a great place to relax.
We often have fences to provide us with privacy, decks to relax on, and gardens to brighten up the area and send positive vibes. That sounds like an ideal spot to get our meditation on. We can place our mediation mat on the porch, patio, or on the grass under a shaded tree.
Backyards became a popular meditation haven over the past couple of years during the COVID-19 pandemic. And now that we’ve realized just how wonderful backyard meditation is, it’s going to be a go-to spot for many years to come.
5. Libraries
At first thought, libraries may seem like an unusual place for us to meditate. But in reality, libraries are one of the quietest places to spend time out in public, and that’s perfect for meditation!
Libraries in large cities or on college campuses often have multiple floors, so it’s easy to find a spot all to yourself and get lost in meditation. When the session is finished, check out a book on the subject. It’s a win-win!
6. Our Cars
Meditating in our cars is incredibly convenient if we’re away from home and have a half-hour break. This is especially true for salespeople who are frequently on the road, moms and dads who wait in long lines to pick up the kids from school, and those of us who work in busy office settings and can only escape for breaks in the car. Sitting in the front passenger’s seat with the seat back and our shoes off is an ideal place to meditate.
7. The Office
Yes, we all know the office can be a very busy and stressful place! But depending on where we work, there are usually places to sneak away to meditate. Consider finding an unused office or boardroom.
When we’re short on time, we have to make do with our surroundings – and sometimes the office is the most logical bet.
8. A Botanical Garden
Most urban areas have at least one, if not several, botanical gardens. Botanical gardens are amazing places to visit, as they give us access to unique plants, wildlife, and plenty of trees and open grass areas. Imagine a warm day with a gentle breeze – and I can’t think of a better place to throw down the mat and meditate!
9. Next to Rivers or Streams
The sound of running water has been a staple of meditation for many years because it is proven to induce neurochemicals in the brain that can lead to a calming effect. Although we may own a sound machine that produces the gentle sound of running water, nothing beats the real thing! Consider finding a relaxing spot next to a local river, stream, or creek.
We could even meditate in the water if we’re feeling daring!
10. Transportation
Riding on buses, trains, or even taking Uber rides doesn’t exactly scream relaxing, but these modes of transportation can be good spots to meditate when we’re in a pinch.
After all, we usually just play on our phones or stare blankly out the window while we’re going from point A to point B. We can make use of this time by closing our eyes, clearing our minds, and getting in our daily meditation session.
Wear noise-canceling headphones to drown out the sound.
Find the Perfect Spot to Meditate
At the end of the day, we all lead busy and sometimes stressful lives. We need a little bit of time for ourselves each day to clear our minds and focus on our health – and meditation provides us with the outlet we need to stay mentally healthy. We hope you enjoyed our list of good places to meditate.
If you’ve found some awesome places to meditate that didn’t make our list, feel free to share them with us!