Feeling at Home: How Your Space Affects Your Health
Photo by Larisa Birta on Unsplash.
“When I started to take charge of my environment, I felt like I was taking charge of my energy, and in turn taking charge of my life.”
By the time spring arrives, I’m ready to shake off any stagnation built up from a winter full of rest and hibernation. When I open my windows to bring in fresh springtime air, I invite renewal and rejuvenation into my home.
Our spaces have the potential to create ease and joy in our lives. Ayurveda recognizes five sources of toxins from life. Space is one of the five and I find it’s often overlooked. This week, I explored the importance of space with Dana Claudat on The Healing Catalyst. Dana is a master of feng shui and the founder of The School of Intention Feng Shui Certification Program.
Increase the flow of energy.
Feng shui is a traditional Chinese practice out of the Dao tradition that facilitates the flow of lifeforce energy in your environment. Feng shui can be practiced in any space whether it’s your home or office. Cleanliness is part of the equation but it’s more about how your space makes you feel.
Clutter and disorganization can disrupt health-supporting habits, dampen your mood, or not feel like you. Each of those things can block the flow of your energy. Personally, my top priority is my home office. A clean and beautiful space makes it so much easier for me to work.
Feeling at home in your space.
If you’ve ever been in a space where you feel fully loved and reflected, you know it can be life-changing. Your home can feel that way too. And if you haven’t had that sense of belonging in your space, it can be difficult to uncover what that means for you.
Dana said that your home should be a place where you feel reflected, loved, and welcome. I love this so much. In my own home, I want there to be beautiful art, grounding colors, and seating for my family and friends to gather and enjoy each other. I care about the function of my space too. I keep the kitchen clean to encourage cooking health-supporting meals and the TV isn’t center stage because I want to focus on connecting with my family.
3 tips for refreshing your space.
Dana recommends cultivating a mindset of joy and intention as you transform and clean out your space to better reflect you and facilitate energy.
Disrupt stagnant energy by opening your windows to send negative energy out and wiping the dust off your baseboards with water and vinegar.
Prioritize health-supporting habits. Trying not to binge-watch the latest Netflix series? Move your remote to a box where you can’t pick it up out of habit.
Brighten your space with fresh flowers. For a low-cost alternative, try going outside and clipping branches from a tree. All plants have healing vibrational energy whether flowers or branches.
For more on the healing potential of energy, check out these posts:
Be well,
Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD
