DOMESTIC BLISS
Rooms dedicated to yoga and meditation are no longer a luxury just for the rich and precious
Kate Hudson, Jennifer aniston, ed Sheeran: they’ve all got them. a home yoga or contemplative space, that is.
‘ Sacred rooms’ — as they are sometimes called — are handy for those who risk being snapped by paparazzi in public classes, but now they’re spreading far and wide.
For, not only could they save you class fees, but you’re more likely to persevere with that yoga or meditation practice in these dark days of winter if you can incorporate it easily into your day.
Which assumes, of course, that you have a sufficiently inviting sacred room.
Some are creating these rooms via home extensions, separate buildings or even plumbed-in tree houses.
ed Sheeran’s new place of worship, recently granted planning permission, is effectively a private church complete with stained glasses windows — only boat- shaped and with what appears to be a truncated cone in place of a spire.
Research by John Lewis ( johnlewis.com) last year revealed that one in five of us are now practising activities such as yoga and meditation at home, and the interiors website Houzz reports that searches for yoga were up 89 per cent last year.
the Cheshirebased Swift Organisation ( swiftorg.
co.uk) builds standalone structures that can be dedicated to yoga, prayer or whatever your heart desires for upwards of £25,000.
Yet you needn’t break the bank. Indeed, your soul may be equally well served using a more modest approach.
the first challenge is locating that dedicated room, or at least a place free of clutter a corner of a busy playroom may not prove conducive to soul-searching.
If you’ r e using it for yoga, it helps to have enough space for arm or leg extensions. Stubbing a toe, or, worse, crashing a heel through a window at six in the morning is no fun.
Does the room face east? Sun salutations, which feature in most yoga practices, were devised to greet the rising sun.
Whatever the room’s primary purpose, colour and light will be key. Creams and soft tones are considered ideal. that old decor may need to go. Or will it?
the Beatles helped popularise yoga and meditation in the West while exploring various flavours of psychedelia, and some Seventies trends can prove positively useful (mirrored walls or ceilings, for example, enabling you to check for postural alignment).
Generally, though, the calmer the decor, the better.
Next comes the turbulent subject of air quality. to burn or not to burn, that is the question.
Debate has flared up in the wellness world around the possible risks of scented candle ‘ soot’ and pollutants.
It can all become quite confusing and stressful. If in doubt, consider investing in an air purifier (Dyson models cost from about £400), and, in any event, ensure that the space isn’t cold or damp.
another debate swirls around the possibility that the electromagnetic fields of our handheld devices might be interfering with our so- called ‘subtle bodies’ energy.
For some, it is imperative to incorporate a tablet or tV, to follow a favourite Youtube guru, or at least select some music and imagery harmonious with mood. Companies such as
Pro Display supply screens incorporated into mirrors, making them less intrusive.
However for those determined to meditate without distraction, it may prove necessary to opt for a bigger- ticket purchase. Jonathan Marcos chamer started Florida-based Open Seed after a ten-day ‘vipassana’ silent retreat, determined to create the ultimate place of stillness that could calm even the most febrile among us.
the resulting Mediation Pod combines womb-like design, therapeutic LeD lighting, essential oils based aromatherapy and immersive sound.
ANYONE able to accommodate the 8 ft width and 9 ft height, and afford the cost (more than £15,000), can enjoy the experience at home.
Others might make do with an aroma diffuser and a house plant. the fortunate may only require a meditation cushion or yoga mat (from £48, lululemon.co.uk).
For these blessed individuals, the motto might be: ‘Wherever I lay my mat, that’s my room.’