Probably like many folks, I used to attempt to meditate in a less-than-ideal environment. I’d get up early and use the couch in the sunroom, the bolt upright chairs at the kitchen table, or other locations that were equally sub-optimal. I’d get interrupted by noises and sensations…like my kids jumping on me when they got up early.
It didn’t take me long to recognize the value of having a dedicated space for meditation. I also found that there is value in a few well-chosen accessories to a meditation space. If you can create an association between tranquil meditation and a certain space and/or certain objects, you’ll attain that inner silence that much faster.
Below I’ve divided meditation gear into categories and I’ve made at least one recommendation per category. Whether a gift to yourself or to a loved one who meditates, this list should get you faster results in your quest for inner peace.
Meditation Furniture
If you want to outfit a quiet space with purpose-built furniture (which I think is a solid idea), you’ll need a place to sit and maybe a table, at a minimum.
Meditation Chairs
I once had a meditation teacher that described the proper posture for meditation. It is possible, of course, to meditate in virtually any position. However, there are also positions that encourage the proper flow of energy through one’s body.
My teacher described it as sitting with dignity, as you’d sit if you were a monarch. I personally found it easier to do this if seated in a chair that encourages that posture. It takes a bit of practice to hold it without any assistance and that’s one less thing I’d have to avoid obsessing over while trying to meditate.
Below is our top pick, followed by a more portable model and the Padma seat, which is really an accessory for any chair. Also, check out our full review of meditation chairs.
The Alexia Meditation Seat
This is hands-down the coolest meditation seat we've seen. It's not the cheapest one you can buy and it's not very portable, but it looks incredible!
This isn't really a chair or a cushion, but it's a great way to hold your body effortlessly in the Lotus position regardless of what else you're sitting on. This could be a great addition to one of the chairs in our review and it's very affordable.
Meditation Benches
Some people find it a great deal more comfortable to sit on a meditation bench than on a cushion. It lifts you higher off the ground which is easier for people with limited flexibility. See our full review of meditation benches here.
Ronin Meditation Bench
A cleverly designed hinged, folding meditation bench made of sturdy walnut. It's not cheap for a meditation bench, but it's so much better looking than the other options (and so portable) that it may just be worth it.
Kindseat Adjustable Meditation Seat
We dubbed this one the "iPhone of meditation benches" because in terms of design and usability, it's just WAY ahead of the pack. A lot of thought went into this bench and it shows. See our review of this and other meditation benches here.
Meditation Mats
This category is also to help you sit properly and if you’re more experienced and don’t want or need a proper chair, you can save some money by just getting a cushion or mat. You can also use a mat in combination with a cushion. That's what I do because anywhere your bones hit the floor (like your ankles in a cross-legged position) will start to hurt pretty quickly if there's no cushion at all. We've reviewed a few different meditation mats here.
Organically Holistic Acupressure Mat
This mat is a little crazy in the sense that you'll initially feel like you're on a mat of needles. It's an acupressure mat that doubles as a meditation mat. Two benefits in one if you're up to the challenge!
This is a high quality mat that can fold so that it's part mat and part seat/cushion. It's actually great for any kind of floor or outdoor seating but it was designed specifically for meditation.
Meditation Cushions and Pillows
Below are some great meditation cushions and pillows, which you can use with or without a mat. See all of our meditation cushion reviews here.
This is the Zafu Yoga Meditation Pillow which I like because it is tall enough to help out inflexible folks like myself. It also comes in a wide variety of colors and is pretty affordable. They make a variety of these as well, filled with cotton or buckwheat and with several designs. This is one of the most popular meditation cushions on the market.
This is a neat idea. It's a highly mobile meditation cushion that has 3 separate chambers that are filled with air when you want to meditate. The rest of the time it can be flat as a pancake; perfect if you are a meditator who travels often.
Meditation Tables
The options for meditation tables falls into a pretty narrow range. There are a lot of similarly priced options and most of them have a very minimalist and modern appearance. If that’s your thing—which it is for me and I suspect for most people—then here are a number of good options below and on our full meditation table review page.
This is the top-rated option from our meditation table reviews. It's beautiful and made of reclaimed wood so it's recycled. You can't beat it!
Another cool-looking and modern option, this table is two-toned which gives it a whole different appearance than the other options. Still totally modern in design though.
Meditation Aids
This category contains aids to help you meditate. There are essentially three sub-categories here, apps, books and sounds/music. There is a tremendous opportunity to improve your practice through education and augmentation. I’ve listed some of my favorites below.
Meditation Monitors
This piece of equipment is almost eerily effective. I'm sure it's not actually reading your mind, but it sure seems like it is. Muse: The Brain Sensing Headband is a bio-feedback tool for meditators. If your mind is calm and you're on track, you hear pleasant sounds like birds chirping. If your mind has wandered, you'll hear thunderstorms or some other unsettling sounds.
The Spire Stone performs a similar function. It monitors your breathing and activity all day long to help you prevent stress before you realize it's happening. It also tracks your activity and gives you data on your fitness levels but it also alerts you when you become tense, reminding you to take a deep breath and relax.
Meditation Apps
My two favorites here are Headspace and Calm. They both have free trials that are useful even if you never go beyond that. You can get a pretty good meditation practice going with nothing but one of these apps. I highly recommend them for beginners.
Meditation Music
There's a wide variety of meditation music available. Which music you choose is entirely up to you and for the purposes of effectiveness in your practice, probably doesn't matter that much. The one exception to that is binaural meditation, which is covered later in this article. We also have a review of meditation music other than the ones below.
Below are a few of my favorites to get you started:
Meditation Books
Meditation (like most things) is best learned by doing. However, you can get a useful foundation from reading books. I also find that it helps me to stay inspired to continue my practice. I specifically do NOT recommend the books on transcendental meditation (TM). I have nothing against that practice, but the books are just long sales pitches for seeing an expensive TM teacher. In addition to the recommendations below, here is our full review of meditation books.
Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorite books on meditation:
Binaural Meditation
One of the very best ways to get farther faster in meditation is using binaural sounds to slow your brain waves much more quickly than you'd otherwise be able to without years of practice. The best program for doing this is called Holosync by CenterPointe. It's a scientifically proven method for accelerating your meditation practice.
Meditation Accessories
I consider these more optional than furniture and even than the other meditation aids in the last category. They are essentially decor items that personalize your space and some believe them to have their own energetic properties.
Meditation Crystals/Stones/Rocks
You may not be aware of this (I wasn't until a few years ago) but a lot of people believe that different stones have different energies and healing properties. Whether you believe that or not, some of the meditation stones below can make attractive additions to your meditation space. We have a few types shown below, but you can also check out our review of meditation crystals and stones.
Meditation (Mala) Beads
Another common meditation accessory is prayer, or mala, beads. Many practitioners of meditation, particularly Buddhists, use prayer beads when they pray or meditate. If you like them, they're one of the cheapest accessories available. We've shown a couple below but also see our article on how to choose mala beads.
In addition to these bracelets, there is a wide variety of meditation jewelry available, from pendants and charms to rings and necklaces.
Meditation Bowls/Gongs
Why would I lump bowls and gongs together? It's a fair question but it's because they both exist for the purpose of making similar noises. I strongly prefer a bowl, the sound a good bowl makes is transcendent, but that's a personal preference. The first one listed below is the one I actually own. See our article on using meditation bowls and gongs for more info.
Meditation Statues
These are obviously just for decor and creating a serene space that is customized to you and your beliefs or practices. Below are a few that I like, but see our article on using meditation statues for more info.
That's a complete run-down of all the meditation accessories that I use in my practice. Hopefully this helps you to create an ideal space for your meditation practice.
Have you used any of these items? Did we leave any out? Let us know in the comments below!