Candles for Yoga and Meditation

Candles are an excellent way to create a peaceful and focused environment for your yoga or meditation practice. In fact, a few softly burning candles create a soothing, restful atmosphere perfect for a quiet early morning yoga practice or a calming late afternoon meditation.

Pillar candles or small, scented tea lights in glass votive holders are the best choices for yoga or meditation – both types of candles burn safely and can be used for multiple practices. For meditation, you may choose to burn a single pillar candle and use the flame as a point of focus.  If you're using candles for a yoga practice, you may want to place candles in several places around your practice area, remembering to make sure the candles at a safe distance from your yoga mat.

Fragrant aromatherapy candles are another excellent candle for meditation. In addition to offering the same calming benefits as unscented candles, aromatherapy candles also offer the therapeutic benefits of natural scents. Experiment with different types of scented candle until you find the fragrances that work best for your practice. Aromatherapy candles make an excellent alternative to incense sticks or cones because candles burn more cleanly and last longer. 

When you first start using candles for meditation, you may want to experiment with the degree of candle light you want by placing your candles at various heights – try arranging them on the floor around the edges of your yoga space to create low-level lighting for a practice focused on seated and floor poses.  If your yoga practice is more active, arrange candles on shelves and ledges so that the candles' light is more widely diffused.

No matter how many candles you decide to use, or how you choose to arrange them, candles add a contemplative, restful dimension to any yoga or meditation practice, and candles of all types help you transform any space into a haven of candlelit tranquility.