Whether you are pressed for time or short on cash, doing yoga at home helps you deepen your personal relationship with your practice, and can be a rewarding alternative to yoga studios.
While you can join together and share the experience with fellow practitioners at a local studio, sometimes just making it to a studio can be challenging, from the traffic to the parking and travel time in between.
This is why many people commit to an at-home yoga practice. Doing yoga at home doesn’t come without its own set of challenges! You trade in the commute to a studio for the risk of distraction, and you swap paying a hefty drop in for trying to stay consistent at home.
These reasons are not an excuse to get on your yoga mat at home, but they are the premise of this article. So read on for our helpful tips to help you get the most out of doing yoga at home.
Get the Most Out of Doing Yoga at Home With These Helpful Tips:
1. Same Time, Same Place
Whenever you are trying to begin something new, whether it be an at-home yoga practice or a commitment to healthy eating, it is important to establish a routine. Try to commit to your at-home yoga practice at the same time and in the same place each day, and/or with the amount of days each week that you would like to practice.
This way, you know that at this set time each day, you will do yoga in your designated space. You make the commitment to turn off the TV, cell phones and other distractions during this time to keep you present and in the moment.
Pro tip: Let your friends and family know about your designated yoga time and kindly request that you not be disturbed. Once you have the support of those around you, you are more likely to stick with your routine.
2. Schedule It
Just as you would any meeting, event or appointment, pencil in time with your yoga mat. If you write it down in your planner, the act of putting literal pen to paper can hold you more accountable and make you more likely to commit. More tech-minded? Add it to your daily calendar and set a reminder to go off every day at the same time.
Even if you commit to just 15 or 20 minutes, hold yourself to it and just do it! If you feel good in a given day, you can practice longer and give yourself kudos or treat yourself to an extra long savasana. Show up presently and wholeheartedly, and reap the fruits of your dedication!
If you do need to skip a day, be gentle with yourself. Set the intention to come back tomorrow refreshed and ready to begin again.
3. Plan Your Practice
Saying “I’m going to do yoga today” is great, but having a set plan will not only ensure you do practice yoga; it will also save you time. Most likely you are practicing along with a teacher online or on the screen. Picking out the class you want to take ahead of time will get you on the mat and moving your body. Otherwise, you risk getting caught in the endless scroll of what to play.
Having a plan ahead of time will hold you more accountable, and will also get you excited for your practice each day. Remember – this should be enjoyable, and not something you view as a chore or obligation. Plan accordingly so you have fun doing yoga at home!
4. Create Your Own Home Yoga Space
If you try to do yoga in a cluttered, chaotic room with a lot of distractions, it may be difficult to stay focused. Create a special space in your home for your yoga practice, and make it feel warm and welcoming. This is your personal yoga studio, so make special and inviting!
Here are some ideas to get you inspired. Consider surrounding yourself with candles, incense or essential oils for an added aromatherapy benefit. Play your favorite music, and use colors that calm and soothe your mind. Adorn your space with beautiful artwork or pillows that makes you feel happy and inspired, and consider having a mirror if you would like to see your form during your practice.
You may want to read: 3 Things to Consider When Creating Your Own Sacred Space
5. Use Props
There is no shame in the props game! Yoga props are out there for a reason: to assist you with your unique yoga practice and also deepen it. Practicing yoga at home is your time to experiment and get comfortable with a pose, so grab a set of yoga blocks, a blanket, or a yoga strap to make pose modifications and explore what feels right in your own body.
Every pose can be adjusted to meet your needs and what your body is capable of, and props are a great way to make a challenging pose accessible – it’s how you evolve in your yoga practice. Safety is paramount in your practice and yoga props can help you maintain proper alignment in a safe and comfortable manner.
If you have a flimsy yoga mat that causes you to slip and lose your footing, you will be less likely to have a pleasurable experience.
Use a quality yoga mat, wear your favorite outfit, and gather all your favorite yoga necessities that enrich your practice so you will be inspired to keep coming back to your mat.
6. Document!
Documenting your yoga experience helps make it more real and palpable. You can keep a yoga journal that tracks your progress (time, duration, type, etc.) and your thoughts and feelings during each practice. Perhaps a pose evokes some pent-up emotions. Write it down.
If you feel a release or want to share your journey, write a social media post. If you practice with us on YA Classes, tag us so we can support your journey! 🙂
You can also take photos to share with your friends or online community, or just take them to document your journey. Photos are a great way to see the transformation that your practice undergoes over time. Documenting your practice holds you accountable, acknowledges your hard work, and inspires others in their own practice. That’s powerful stuff!
7. Find Resources
You might find it difficult to sequence a yoga practice in your head. Luckily, there are a ton of online resources that you can turn to for guidance. There are plenty of free online resources, such as podcasts, YouTube videos, and tutorials on social media.
Did you know that YouAligned.com offers thousands of articles on yoga, including yoga tutorials, how to deepen your practice, recommended resources and products, and much more? You’re already here, so start by checking out our Yoga section for all the yoga information you need.
But be aware that not all online yoga resources are reliable. With so many options out there, it’s important to find experienced teachers that you resonate with so your practice is safe and enjoyable.
One such option is YA Classes, the on-demand yoga class platform of YouAligned.com. You can try all classes free for two weeks! All of our teachers are experienced and passionate about bringing you a safe, accessible and enjoyable practice.
Every class a member completes helps plant a food-producing tree, so you can feel even better about doing yoga at home. Explore our classes here.
Enjoy Practicing Yoga at Home With These Tips
With these tips, you can enjoy doing yoga at home with consistency, discipline, and joy! These three words summarize what it means to find a fulfilling home yoga practice: remain consistent to build this new habit, have the self-discipline to keep showing up, and enjoy the process knowing how much benefit it brings.
Once you have set your mind to a dedicated at-home yoga practice and all of the logistics are sorted out, get started and don’t let anything stand in your way. Commit to your practice and don’t quit. Yoga should not be a chore or something on your to-do list that you have to complete – instead, view it as the lifelong companion that it is.
We hope that with the guidance shared in this article, your practice continues to be something that you look forward to and that you want to return to each day. Set an intention for your practice, stay connected to your breath, maintain that consistency, and enjoy taking the resulting mindfulness and inner tranquility with you throughout the rest of your day.
