How to Create a Simple Meditation Practice

Meditation isn't new or unique to any particular culture or belief system, and it can take many forms ranging from movement to stillness, silence to singing. However, despite its role in our history, meditation rarely comes naturally to us, as we are increasingly consumed by our gadgets, commitments, and interconnectedness, it can be nearly impossible to disengage physically and mentally. But meditation has been proven to be a powerful tool for calming the mind and healing the body, and the best part is, it doesn't require any fancy tools or equipment to do it. Though if you are new to meditation or want to enhance your own practice, here are a few ideas for creating a meditation practice you enjoy:

1. Find a few minutes every day to turn off distractions and get quiet. For some people, first thing in the morning is the best time to clear their heads and prepare for the day. Perhaps you prefer to take a walk during your lunch break, or to meditate before bed. Find a time that works best for you and stay consistent. Try starting with just 10 minutes and work your way up. 

2. Keep your mind from wandering to your to-do lists, texts, emails, and other ways the world demands your attention. If writing is therapeutic for you, have a journal handy to write down a few sentences or words to focus on. If you need to physically move to focus, try yoga or walking while focusing simply on your breath or a prayer.

3. Use a few simple props to enhance your practice and trigger your senses into "meditation mode". This could be aromatic through the use of a candle or essential oils, taste through your favorite cup of tea, audibly through a simple bell chime blowing in the wind, or something you wear- such as a mala bead necklace that serves as a physical reminder of your intention. As you practice meditation, your mind will begin to associate these triggers with "quiet time" and will help you focus for those few precious moments. 

4. Breathe. Perhaps the most powerful meditation tool we have is entirely within us, our breath. By consciously slowing down and deepening our breath, we create physical space inside our bodies to clear away tension, stress, and stale energy. The best part is if you find yourself in need of a few moments of meditation while at work, on the road, or even in the shower- all you need to do is tune into your breath for a minute or two and take long, steady inhales and exhales. As you inhale, imagine filling your body up with oxygen, light, and a cooling sensation, and as you exhale, release the warm, old air and anything that no longer serves you. Breathing is the foundation of all physical movement and what sustains us subconsciously every day of our lives.

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About the Process: Wolof Weavers of Senegal

For the Wolof women of Senegal, weaving is not only an important cultural tradition that is passed down through generations, but a viable means of earning an income in rural villages where resources and infrastructure is limited. As teenagers, girls learn the techniques from their mothers and aunts and sell the baskets in local markets. 

image via SwahiliModern

The Wolof people are mostly Muslim and they use these simple prayer mats several times a day. When the mats wear out, the discarded material is repurposed into practical home decor products like baskets and hampers. The Wolof technique of wrapping natural fibers with plastic cord and then coiling the long strands together makes these baskets ultra-durable and resistant to heat or moisture damage.

image via thelittlemarket

These simple and modern baskets are a stylish and practical way to store everyday items in every room of the house. In a bathroom they could stash towels, hair brushes, and toiletries. On a shelf or dresser, they can keep small accessories within reach. They also look great atop a bookshelf or cabinet. They're ethical, sustainable, and minimalist-approved!

About The Process: how repurposed saris bring hope and renewal to women in Bangladesh

image via Basha.

Author's Note: I am so thrilled to finally add these beautiful quilts to the shop and tell their incredible stories, but finding a company whose vision, mission, and standards matched my own was harder than I anticipated. Like with- well, nearly everything you can buy- there are vast differences in terms of quality and style when it comes to Kantha Quilts. I began my search for the perfect kantha while in India, digging through shops and market stalls, but I was pretty disappointed with the low quality of materials and manufacturing methods.

Since it makes zero sense- seriously, zero- to sell, let alone own, something that isn't useful or beautiful (William Morris was on point), not to mention employ others to make it, I knew that I wouldn't settle for a less-than-stellar product. When I discovered Basha, I was such an instant fan of their designs and direction that I decided to take a leap of faith and I am so glad that I did. The patterns and fabrics are vibrant and clean and incredibly soft, like your-favorite-t-shirt-soft. Not only has each Basha quilt passed a super strict quality-control test, they have been made to age beautifully with {gentle} washing and wear. I hope you will treasure these unique works of art and the stories embedded in every colorful stitch and inch of fabric.

Enjoy the process!

Hailey

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About the Process: { BASHA. } "a house of hope"

image via Basha

At Basha, women who were once oppressed by cultural, educational, and financial systems, earn their freedom and independence by using their hands to create beautiful and unique textiles that tell a story. Each quilt begins its life as colorful cotton sari fabric worn by women throughout Bangladesh that is transformed, one stitch at a time, into stunning symbols of hope and renewal. 

During my trip to India last year (did you know I went to India? Have I mentioned that before?! ha.) I was struck by the beautiful sarees (sari/saree, try to keep up. sorry...whoops) that I saw women wearing everywhere we went. And I mean, everywhere. Women wear elaborate and delicate sarees while working in fields, riding on a scooter, walking around the markets, carrying children, and cooking. Personally, this seems like having to climb scaffolding in a floor-length bridesmaid dress, but I've only wore a sari for a total of 3 hours that two women wrapped, pinned, and tucked it around me while I tried to not fall over. But for most women, particularly those who are married, throughout Southern Asia, sarees are the most common and culturally embraced form of dress.

image via Basha

The average sari requires five to nine yards of fabric which not only makes them relatively heavy, but also expensive, so many women may only own one or two at a time. The most affordable options are often made from colorful block-printed cotton fabric that can withstand the elements and be mended as needed (notice the little patches on the blankets). Once the material is eventually discarded, it is often re-sold in markets. This is where Basha comes in...

image via Basha

After acquiring the fabric, the pieces are cut into salvageable panels to be layered and assembled with even rows of stitches, known as the "kantha" technique, to produce functional and beautiful home goods and accessories. Kantha quilts can take up to 40 hours to create, depending on the size and complexity, but the role of Basha has less to do with teaching technique as it does with providing women a safe place to work, a means to provide for their families, and perhaps most importantly, a way for them to cultivate community with other women. 

As in many countries around the world, human trafficking and addiction is rampant and many women find themselves trapped in systems and marriages that are oppressive and abusive. Without access to work or support, most of these women do not have a safe way of freeing themselves or their children from the cycle. Basha not only provides their artisans with a safe work environment, stable income, and access to health care and education for their children- it also serves as a platform that empowers them to rebuild the lives they were previously deprived of.

How will a one-of-a-kind quilt be part of your story?

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