What to Give People Who Meditate
What do you give people who meditate? While it’s true that you don’t need anything special to meditate, there are some things that make it more comfortable or enhance the experience. And once you start meditating, you might find that you become interested in products that not only support your practice, but also come from businesses that are mindful of how they treat the planet.
We asked our teachers what they would recommend, and they came up with a variety of gifts for you or someone you love. Some will help you in your meditation practice; others are an invitation to nourish your body while supporting mindful businesses. All of them are well worth the money!
Gifts to Support Your Body When You Meditate
Recommended by: Javier García Sánchez
“If meditation is the best investment you can make for yourself and others, then investing in setting up the right space for your practice might be the second best thing. I love Samaya cushions, filled with buckwheat, comfortable, and nice looking. I look forward to sitting on my cushion every day and this is part of it.”
Recommended by: Javier García Sánchez
“It's hard for me to find yoga mats where my hands don't slip and that they feel natural also. I also like to feel the ground where I practice and these come in very thin versions. I especially love the travel mat which I bring with me on retreats and I often practice at home with.”
Charcoal Incense from Nalata Nalata
Recommended by: Javier García Sánchez
“I find Japanese incense beautifully subtle, with fragrances that linger but don't overpower a room. This one is made by burning bamboo and has very low smoke, which can be a plus for those with sensitivity or pets around.”
Gifts to Nourish Your Body Throughout The Day
Recommended by: Amelia Andaleon
“Regular coffee gives me the jitters and upsets my stomach. I tried to give it up but, missed the taste. I decided to give mushroom coffee a try and love it!”
Recommended by: Amanda Pandey
“I love consciously cooking and eating and Diaspora Co. adds so much to this. They sell high-quality, single-origin spices from regenerative farms, and also pay the farmers they work with a fair wage. They're a social impact company I admire and it feels great to get to cook & eat with ingredients that are not only clean but also sourced from farmers who are properly supported for their work.”
Recommended by: Amelia Andaleon
“Nutritious and delicious, sustainably sourced, clean ingredients. I personally enjoy these bars and often give them away as health-conscious gifts.”
Florra's Body Oil + Body Oil Making Experience
Recommended by: Amanda Pandey
“I recently got to make my own custom body oil at Florra's Scent Bar and it was such a calming experience getting to pick my own aromatherapy blend. The body oil base also includes ingredients that nourish the skin so I've loved having this as part of my daily self-care routine to help me feel more grounded. Apart from their Scent Bar, they're also a self-care boutique so they have plenty of products to support your wellbeing.”
Organic Buckwheat Pillows from Bean Products
Recommended by: Javier García Sánchez
“Advanced yogis utilize even sleep to deepen their practice and achieve realizations, so it follows that creating the best conditions for sleep is important also. I first found these pillows in Japan, and I haven't looked back since. They mold to my neck, I can change the amount of hulls in them to fit my needs, and they're all natural.”
Gifts to Inspire Your Meditation Practice
Recommended by: Hannah Knapp
“This inspiring deck was created by one of the first meditation teachers we brought on at WITHIN Meditation, Landra Eliopoulos - but that isn’t the only reason I love it! Pulling a card is a great way to take a break in your busy work day to recenter yourself and reconnect with what matters.”
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron
Recommended by: Hannah Knapp
“Pema Chodron’s vulnerability about her own difficult times is beautifully interwoven with her knowledge of dharma. The result is a contemporary take on applying Buddhist philosophy to everyday life - something we all could use, especially during these turbulent times!”
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa
Recommended by: Javier García Sánchez
“A wake-up call into how we relate to the things we do (and the things we buy), when some result (happiness, peace, comfort) in the things themselves.”
Recommended by: Hannah Knapp
“Wearing one of these beautiful pendants is a lovely way to remind yourself of why you practice meditation or yoga - and to reconnect with mindfulness throughout your day. The artist, Margaret Graham, will give you 15% off with promo code WithinMeditation15 - so be sure to use it!”
Live Online Meditation Classes
Recommended by: all of the teachers at WITHIN Meditation
“Meditating with a group and a teacher makes it so much easier to stick with your practice. But finding people to do it with in your area can be hard. That’s why we hold all of our classes online via Zoom. You can join our community for guided meditation and connection from wherever you are in the world!”
We hope these gifts fuel your meditation practice and nourish your body.
What gifts do you love to give people who meditate? We'd love to hear them! Share your favorites in the comments, below.