Basically, what kind of dinner are you taking your breath to? Wherever. There are some general conventions, however, that can be very helpful.

1) A very simple corner of a room, with few distractions, natural lighting, perhaps a small table with a candle, and something special to you. Period. You may even put this little corner in a larger room dedicated to being still and quiet, but that’s optional.

2) Have an elaborate, beautiful portrayal of a spiritual teaching, deity, various spiritual objects, colorful and brilliant, or a bit more plain, but still more elaborate than #1.

3) A spiritual gathering place or ceremony. A meditation center.

4) Whatever feels right to you. Some will find outside vs inside more real, others will find mountains as the best for them, others the ocean, and some that are totally at home wherever they are at.

The trick is really letting yourself see what is best for you. Allowing yourself to be drawn naturally to a style of your own—which may be the decision to follow a specific layout that somebody else suggests, things like feng-shui. Some will build on a few ideas from each area. Just keep it consistent, at least in the beginning, have a place that you KNOW that you can just sit and breathe . . . nothing else; it takes practice, and it’s more of a letting yourself naturally re-settle on your breath, vs trying to chase the inevitable distractions away completely.

When your meditation place is more in-line with your particular preferences, the easier it is to allow the re-settling to happen because you aren’t distracted by too many objects; you see, some people see some very ‘high’ people/teachers with elaborate alters, and feel that that’s the ‘correct way;’ well, it may be correct for that person, but you may do better with a simple table, candle and rosary. For others, they may see a very ‘high’ person/teacher with just a simple table, and think that this is the ‘correct’ way . . . and again, it may be, for THAT person, but for another individual, having a more elaborate alter may feel more comfortable since they were raised with one. All are fine. The real key is what you allow your breath to do while you’re sitting in front of this or that.