Could meditating with houseplants make you more calm and mindful?
PSYCHOLOGIST Dr Katie Cooper has written a guide on taking the calming power of plants to the next level, writes HANNAH STEPHENSON.
Surrounding yourself with houseplants could even boost your meditation, says plant enthusiast Dr Cooper, author of Plant Therapy, a guide on how an indoor green oasis can support mental and emotional wellbeing.
“Having plants around you while meditating can be particularly grounding. It’s about being in the present, and plants really activate your senses,” Dr Cooper says.
Curious about meditating with plants? Dr Cooper tells us more...
The best houseplants for meditation are ones with “forms that repeat themselves as they are magnified, such as leaves or fronds, that are a lush green colour or have an over-arching shape to them, but typically I would just go with a large-leaved green plant, like an alocasia or a Calathea orbifolia.
“Have it in your eyeline, looking at and appreciating its form, colour and fractal patterns. If it’s purely yoga with plants in the room, then they can be placed anywhere, to give a general ambience and relaxing environment.”
Scented plants “would be great because you could use the smell to ground you in your body and connect you to the wider world”.
Dr Cooper suggests bringing the plant closer to become aware of its fragrance, or the smell of the soil.
To meditate with plants, she suggests you sit in a comfortable upright position with your feet flat on the ground, resting your hands on your thighs or a table, and allow your body to become still and focus on your breathing, then notice the plant in front of you, its colour, shape and pattern, the way the leaves connect to the stem, and the different bends and contours in the shape of each leaf.
“Lots of people get wrapped up in a moment just looking after plants. It’s much more of an applied form of meditation, like running or sowing,” says Dr Cooper.
“It’s about appreciating something for its natural beauty. Make room for these other living things in your life that aren’t just people or yourself. It’s about taking a moment in its entirety.”
■ Plant Therapy by Dr Katie Cooper, Hardie Grant, priced £16.99