Posted on: February 14, 2007

The Peace Movement

They seek and, more often these days, they find: A nook in the attic. An empty corner. An entire room. More homeowners are staking out a special space to meditate, relax and refresh their spirit

By Patricia Rivera
CTW Features

Minnesota architect Sarah Susanka believes so deeply in the importance of establishing a secluded space for meditation in a home that she'll go out of her way to carve out a potential enclave in her clients’ homes.

She’s even made room for contemplation in an upstairs closet, right in between racks of dresses and blouses.

“The space is not as much an issue as privacy, and you get that in a bedroom closet,” says Susanka, the author of “The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live” (The Taunton Press, 2001)

As Americans continue to search for ways to reduce stress, they’re increasingly creating sanctuaries and adapting far-flung Asian traditions for everyday practice in their homes. These retreats come in all names, shapes and sizes. They can be referred to as prayer rooms, reading nooks, yoga retreats, meditation gardens or, yes, parent lounges.

“The idea is just to find a place where you can slow down, remove yourself from the outer clutter and connect with your inner self,” says Jayme Barrett, a Los Angeles consultant on the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui, which offers guidelines for organizing and arranging objects and spaces to achieve greater harmony.

The search for inner peace and renewal is no longer a fringe movement. Even mainstream builders such as Toll Brothers, Horsham, Pa., have started to produce elegant, in-home retreats in Phoenix and Palm Springs, places where day spas are very popular.

Some elements of these rooms include: a massage treatment table, bubbling spas, space for those who want to practice the art of Ashtanga (an energetic style of yoga), simple shelves adorned with fragrant potions, aromatherapy candles and soothing palm trees.

These rooms feature neutral color schemes and warm, lush fabrics.

“The meditation room was created for those who aspire to mind, body and spiritual well-being,” says Linda Hanford, marketing director for Toll Brothers.

“There are few things in life more wonderful than a destination spa, especially when that destination is within your own home.”

One of the best things about meditation rooms is that they need not be lavish or expensive. In fact, places for spiritual retreat should be simple and clean. The main goal, experts say, is to establish a space that will encourage you to focus on improving your state of mind.

Homeowners in search of such in-home retreats have turned to their attics and guest rooms, for example. Some have simply placed a meditation cushion in a corner nook.

Susanka says she finds that people who want to meditate to reduce the stress in their lives often take a lesson from ancient practitioners, who learned to slip into a quiet place inside their minds no matter where they were. They did not need special rooms. “As the practice becomes more a part of your life, the sacredness is the act itself,” she says.

Creating a space for quiet contemplation can be important for those just starting to meditate, Susanka points out. The space helps create the association with quiet and inner peace. The refuge should be free of televisions, telephones and other distractions. Some people even prefer to paint the walls hues of pale blue or green, considered soothing water colors.

Of course, letting other family members know when you’re entering your sacred space is important to minimize interruptions.

Feng Shui consultant Barrett, who takes her meditation seriously, says it’s not always easy to create a meditation space. In her book “Feng Shui Your Life” (Sterling Publishing, 2003), she notes that creating a mood can be difficult in a busy home, especially if you live in a large city.

To help set the proper mood once you’ve designated a space, she suggests hanging a screen, beads, or a billowy curtain to give the area a secluded, private feel. If the space is near a window that lets in outside noise, place a buffer in the room.

“A water fountain can help create a calm and relaxed environment,” she says. “The splash of water has the negative ions that can make you feel happier and calmer.”

She also suggests using the space for more than simply sitting quietly. “This sacred space can be used to receive inner guidance and knowledge as well as to write, draw, paint, chant, play an instrument, or simply listen to birds sing outside,” she writes in her book.

Susanka’s meditation space, where she says she gathers energy and inspiration, is right in the center of her home office. She uses a firm meditation cushion placed across a wide window that overlooks greenery. Her “altar” is the windowsill, where she places incense, candles and spiritual icons from different belief systems.

She prefers to keep the area clutter-free. Wall hangings that send out serene messages can be good additions. Soft music further helps create the right mood. Those who practice yoga may want a specialized mat or a comfortable rug.

Rituals such as lighting incense or ringing a bell prepare the mind and body for meditation. Others suggest placing rocks, plants and seashells in the altar to embrace the earth element.

Instead of bringing outdoor elements inside, David Tolzmann, owner of Baltimore-based Labyrinth Co., takes his meditation outside. He’s helped thousands of others do the same with his design kits for creating labyrinths, circular mazes, used as a focal point for meditation, spiritual growth and just plain relaxation. Walking the pattern while meditating can help reduce stress and anxiety; research suggests that it might even provide health benefits, including lower blood pressure, less chronic pain and less insomnia.

The labyrinth business is booming. When he started his business in 1995, Tolzmann sold his portable and permanent meditation spaces solely to churches and other institutions. These days, he says, increasing numbers of homeowners have become interested in creating a replica of the ancient Greek pathway. Walking a labyrinth, he says, increases relaxation and opens the mind to contemplation.

Tolzmann sells garden kits for do-it-yourself meditation gardens. The kits include a template that is staked to the ground. “They can be big or small and they place you outside, in nature. What s a better place for meditation?” he asks.

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