If you read my blog posts, you already know that I am a huge believer in the benefits of meditation. Want a few minutes each day to clear your mind? To relax, get centered, and focus? You don't need any tools to meditate. However, I find tools help me when I am trying something new or starting a new routine.
Meditation tools are essentially different physical items that you can use to help you practice meditation. If you are just starting out on your journey with meditation, it can help you have some tools to support you in your practice. These tools can even be helpful for more experienced practitioners to support them as well. These tools are an excellent meditation gift for a friend or family member too. Meditation is an inner journey but using these external supportive tools can allow you to move further internally and uncover more profound layers of the self.
You can use numerous tools for meditation, and it is important to try different things to see what works best for you. To help get you started, see below for a carefully curated list of the top 5 meditation tools along with directions on how to use them.
- A Meditation Cushion
The essential component of every meditation practice is to have a comfortable seat. If you cannot sit comfortably, it will be challenging to continue meditation for a lengthy period of time. Meditation cushions come in various shapes, sizes, and qualities so you can explore and shop around to find what you prefer.
To use a meditation cushion, all you need to do is place it on your chair or on the ground and then sit on top of it. A meditation cushion will slightly elevate your sitting bones so that your hips are higher or in line with your knees, allowing you to sit in a more supported position for your body during meditation practice.
- Noise Canceling Headphones
Meditation is generally practiced in silence, so having a tool like noise canceling headphones can help you tune out the noises of daily life and move inwards. This can be incredibly helpful if you like to practice meditation during your commute on the bus or if you live in a busy city. We cannot always find the peace that we seek, but you can practice meditation in peace with much greater ease with noise canceling headphones. Noise canceling headphones used in meditation are used the same way that they usually would be.
- Guided Meditation Recordings
One of the greatest meditation tools for beginners is to use one of the many phone apps or YouTube channels to guide them through the meditation practice. There are so many different meditation techniques in existence, and these various apps and YouTube channels will walk you through these practices step by step in a simple and easy to follow manner. There are so many phone apps and YouTube channels to choose from, but some of the most popular are Calm, Mindful, and Headspace. My favorites are the sleep talk down meditations. They help me fall asleep faster and I seem to sleep better all night long.
Malas (or prayer beads) are commonly used in the traditional practice of mantra meditation to help you count the number of mantras as you meditate. A mala is essentially a string of beads with genuine stones or other natural elements (like Rudraksha or Sandalwood), and they are very similar in design and usage to a rosary.
To use Mala Beads, you begin by holding the bead beside the tassel between your middle finger and thumb. With every mantra that you repeat mentally during meditation, you slide your finger to the next bead. Once you reach the end of the string of beads, this completes one round, and then you can either stop your practice or turn the strand around and begin again.
- Solution Stones
Solution stones are one of the best tools for meditation as they greatly help increase focus, decrease anxiety, and relax the mind. The weight and texture of these stones in your hand during your meditation can ground you into your inner being and connect you with the beauty of mother earth.
All you need to do to use a solution stone for meditation is to place it in the palm of your hand and slide your thumb back and forth across it. Continue to slide your thumb across its surface throughout your meditation practice to help connect you with the energy of this stone and the energy of nature. Meditation coins are also useful. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and serve as a helpful reminder to meditate or a great tool for focus.
Summary
Meditation is highly beneficial to the body, mind, and soul, and people of all ages and abilities can practice it. To deepen your meditation practice, the meditation tools described above are essential. So, make sure to check out our selection of meditation tools and other Zen items to help get you started on your journey with this profound practice. You can even use these tools as a wonderful meditation gift for a friend!
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