A designated space for meditation and relaxation

Posted June 21, 2018 in Landscape Design

Life can be extra hectic at times.  Between career, family, hobbies, after school activities and trying to fit in much-needed vacations, there isn’t much time left to just…be.  While we are apt to reach for our smart phones or tablets to superficially scroll through social media or catch up on the he-said/she-said news of the week, we really aren’t doing ourselves a service by falling back on screen time.  What little time we do have to ourselves should be spent on clearing our minds and doing activities that will recharge our batteries to make us happier and more progressive.

Take a look around your home, specifically the backyard.  Do you have a designated space you are able to slip away to?  If not, finding the perfect location is as easy as finding a spot that you are instantly drawn to.  Perhaps this space is next to your favorite shade tree or fragrant perennials, or maybe you notice an underwhelming part of your yard that would be perfect for reimagination!  Wherever this spot may be, there are a few elements that will help to transform this location into the perfect place to zen-out, collect your thoughts and re-center.

Level and comfortable ground

Whether you are looking for a specific spot to practice yoga or to just sit and work on calming breathing exercises, it’s important that the ground is level and comfortable.  For hardscapes, you can soften the ground with your yoga mats, blankets, tapestries, pillows, whatever soft items make you relaxed and happy!  The same approach can be used for uneven ground if you are out in the yard.  Cover the ground with blankets and build up any less than level spots with throw pillows or freeform bag seats.  You can’t begin to relax until your space is flat and cozy!

Water features

A water element(s) is an essential factor in an area built for meditation and reflection.  The sound of water is inherently soothing and provides double-duty to drown out any neighborhood noise around the property.  Water features, no matter how big or small, are a gift for the eyes and  for the soul which results in a dramatic reduction in anxiety.  It is said that the movement of water removes electrical ions in the air and creates positive energy, and if that’s the case, we’ll take 2!

Meaningful plantings

You can’t enjoy the outdoors without the inclusion of a few of your favorite plants and flowers, right?  In your special relaxation zone, be sure to plant flowers that display your favorite colors or fragrances and plants with foliage that sway in the breeze to give you additional soothing sounds.  You may even find a personal value to incorporate specific plants to attract butterflies or hummingbirds!  You will find that you can save yourself some money by incorporating perennials into your meditation landscaping plan.  Plants like hosta, purple beautyberry, iris, daylilies…etc. are perfect pairings for any annuals you include in this spot.  Be sure to plant anything with thorns further away from your immediate personal space, nothing will snap you out of deep thought like a bump into steadfast rosebush!

Accents

You will find that your new space can get busy quite quickly, so try to limit the amount of items you include in this space.  We all know that a clean, tidy and uncluttered space is the easiest way to take a deep breath and relax (especially if you are trying to steer clear of the Mount Everest pile of toys in your home’s playroom).  Limit your outdoor space to a few select items that bring positive vibes to the space.  An elegant wind chime, a statue, an antique wooden bench…whatever the items are, make sure they are meaningful and bring you joy.

For those who live in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley through the Main Line of Philadelphia and western New Jersey who know what they would like to see or how they would like to feel in their backyard, but can’t put it all together and lack that designer touch, reach out to MasterPLAN Outdoor Living!  Whether you are looking to achieve your very own meditation area or a complete outdoor transformation, MasterPLAN would love to sit down and chat about all of the options and possibilities for your property, your family and your lifestyle!  Together, we can build an honest, creative and positive partnership to achieve the ultimate goal, a beautiful and function outdoor living space for your family to enjoy for many years to come.  When you are ready, we would love to welcome you into the MasterPLAN family!

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