Yoga and meditation have numerous benefits, improving your mood, concentration, and overall sense of wellbeing. While it may seem challenging to find the time and space for daily practice, there are easy ways to transform your home and your mindset to make yoga and meditation attainable. Candles have been part of meditation rituals throughout history as they help engage the senses, create a relaxing environment, and transform your ordinary space into something sacred.
Lighting a scented candle is a great way to turn your living room or bedroom into the perfect practice space. Candles melt slowly, releasing subtle fragrances throughout the room. Smell can be a highly intimate experience, reminding you of a certain time, place or person in your life. Certain scents have been studied for their effects on stimulating certain moods; lavender, for example, is calming, peppermint is invigorating, and lemongrass improves concentration. Universally, scent has the power to focus your attention on your breathing, making it a powerful aid in meditative practice. You can select candles with a variety of different fragrances, but it’s important to make sure your candles are made from 100% natural ingredients.
In addition to providing a calming fragrance, focusing on the flame of a candle can help guide your meditation. Candle meditation involves sustaining focus outwardly on the flickering flame of the candle and clearing your mind of any distractions that may arise. You can also choose to practice yoga by candlelight for a more relaxing, restorative practice.