Elements of a Meditation Garden

Research proves the anxiety-reducing power of both meditation and time outdoors, so why not combine the two? An outdoor space designated and designed for retreat and restoration can improve your well-being, and you don't need a large outdoor area to make it a reality. For example, this bungalow garden, located in the historic Professorville district of Palo Alto, California, sits on a lot of less than a quarter acre. The landscape architecture team carved out a garden retreat that complemented the home, preserved its native plants and exuded the Japanese style the owners so desired. Learn more about the key elements of a meditation garden like this one.

Meditation gardens should feel separated from the rest of the home or outdoor room, and private. In this garden, a rounded Japanese-style gate clearly marks entry into the sacred space. The act of moving through that passageway signals a new experience. Even if your garden — and budget — are much smaller, creating a sense of entry is key.

The stucco wall — and door as a gateway — make this garden space feel separate and sacred. Southwestern-style gardens like this one have an innate sense of enclosure but this effect can be achieved with any style using the features of a wall or fence plus a door or gate.

In this large garden, flagstone walkways make it easy to escape daily stresses with a stroll under the trees. For many, walking or strolling provides the best means of meditation, occupying the body while allowing the mind to wander. Include paths in a meditation garden design of any size. Winding walkways in the tradition of labyrinths and mazes pack a lot of path into a small space.