Meaningful gifts for someone who does yoga or meditates (that aren't another candle)

People who practise yoga or meditate tend to receive the same things: a candle, some incense, another mat. They're lovely, but they run out or end up in a corner. If you want your gift to truly stay with her, think of something she'll use every day.

What makes a gift meaningful

• It gets used often, not just once.
• It gives her time for herself, rather than asking more of her.
• It speaks to what she already cares about: her practice, nature, calm.
• It's made with care, ideally with a real person behind it rather than a big brand.

Eight ideas

1. A journal for the year ahead. A whole year to plan and write: she'll open it every morning for twelve months. (I'll confess I'm not impartial here: I made one guided by the moon.)
2. A class or a one-day retreat with a teacher she loves.
3. A good-quality meditation cushion: it lasts for years.
4. A book about what she practises (yoga, ayurveda, breathwork).
5. A plant for her practice corner, and a beautiful pot.
6. A handmade ceramic mug for her morning tea.
7. A wool or cotton blanket for the final relaxation.
8. Time: a handwritten voucher for a free morning, with you taking care of everything.

The best gifts combine two: a journal and a mug; a book and a class.