Creating the ultimate practice environment

Take an extra five minutes to create a sacred space for your daily self-love practice.

For years I would plop down on a mat anywhere and practice a few yoga poses, or say a few prayers in bed soon after awakening. While there is nothing wrong with these practices, and sometimes it might be our best choice, there are benefits from becoming more intentional about our practice environment. If we show up to intentionally create a sacred space for our practice, maybe we will also show up into our life and relationships intentionally as well. We can show up from a place of love or peace or excitement, from a place we choose rather than I place we end up.

So how do we create an intentional space for our practice? It can be simple and take five minutes or complex and composed over a period of time, but most important is that it is your own, and expression of your authentic self. You can begin by taking a moment to become present with yourself. This can be done by lying down, closing your eyes, and taking eleven deep, long circular breaths. Remembering to be consciously aware of the breath moving in and out of your body, pouring oxygen and new energy into and over each and every cell. Once you have finished, you can place your hands on your heart and imagine a new space or someplace you have been or felt that generates the feeling of pure, unconditional love. Is it a blanket or tapestry you acquired on an adventure? Is it your favorite scented candle? Or a rock you found on a beach last summer? Or a sweet something from a loved one?

Now take those things that create a sense of joy, peace, and/or safety and synergize these with a space that most resonates with self-love. Feel into whether that space is dark and cozy or bright and airy. You can even create the feeling of low lighting with an eye mask, or construct a light and bright space with lamps or pictures of sunny places. Intentionally place your sacred object(s) within your space of self-love. And now move into soothing your senses through creating the perfect sound for your space. Some ideas include classical music, sounds of nature, a meditation playlist, motivational lyrics, or silence.

Once you have created a space true to your own senses, sacredness, and self-love it just may encourage you to return to your practice with ease and grace knowing your unique space is waiting for you. Your practice environment then becomes a portrayal of authenticity. When we become irritable or restless in our practice, it may be that the needs of our soul has changed. We can then flow with those needs, take another moment to find presence, reconnect with our heart space and ask "what do I need? How can I create a more loving environment for my practice?"

“Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again.” Joseph Campbell