Creating your own Yoga Practice at Home

Yoga, as you probably know, is a series of stretches and poses that you do with breathing techniques. It offers the powerful benefits of exercise. No matter which type you choose, yoga is a great way to stretch and strengthen your body, focus your mind, and relax your spirit.

If you (like me) are new to yoga, start practising yoga at home, it teaches you to pay attention to your own body, to understand what it needs on any given day and how to practice in a way that supports you both physically and mentally. Starting a Yoga Practice at home is simple;

“You just do it…Bit by bit. Day by day. Minute by minute. Posture by posture. Start with what you know, and do that.”

Find a book that resonates with you, a DVD that captures your attention, and a website with articles that you like and add to what you know. As I am a beginner myself, I am trying out Rituals Yoga & Meditation classes. If you take it up and you find yourself becoming a yoga enthusiast, to make you aware, there are yoga teacher training courses, once you’re qualified you can teach classes to face-to-face and online classes.

Begin by sitting down, on your mat, wearing comfortable clothing that will keep your body temperature warm, and just BE there. That said, it’s your yoga practice — so build it to best meet your individual needs.

How to stay motivated to keep doing Yoga regularly

Setting up a home yoga practice is only half the battle — now you have to roll out your mat and do it.

The best advice is to make yoga part of your morning ritual. This means getting to bed 15 minutes earlier so your yoga practice does not cut into your sleep time. The second piece of advice is to sit down with your weekly calendar and begin to cross out any activity that is not serving you anymore (this takes being brutally honest).

Perhaps start by making a commitment to practice for 10 minutes a day (If you think you don’t have 10 minutes to spare, use the time you spend browsing social media, instead).

Whatever Yoga routine you follow, there are certain accessories that every Yogi needs to own. A good yoga mat is the first accessory every individual considers buying even before starting with doing Yoga.

I had a chat with Chris who’s a Yoga teacher at Origym in Bootle, and he shared his top tips on starting a Yoga Practice at Home:

• Yoga is supposed to provide you with comfort both in your present routine and future self. This is why it is instrumental to make a space that provides comfort and escape. I have a room in my house that is specifically for Yoga. All I have is a set of speakers and a soft roll of mat on the floor. I also have a window that provides natural light in the mornings. If it is nice weather, I will go out and do it on the grass. There is nothing more comforting than having your bare feet in the grass. In summary, make your space a reflection of your own comforts. (Make sure you have plenty of space).
• Yoga requires focus and it is important to maximise your chakras. I recommend that you have a totem or symbol placed in a convenient place within your room. When you need to focus, move your eye-line directly in place with this point. I personally have a picture of my family in the centre line of my room’s wall. I also have a dreamcatcher hung on the curtain rail near my window. I use these points as a reference for my positioning.
• When you start practising Yoga at home begin by using the same consistent routine. The repetition will help you understand the changes in your physical self and mentality. Before long you will have perfected your form. Once you understand how to use your form properly, you can carry those lessons into other positions. Just as if you are practising a karate routine for your white belt, you can not understand what it will take to reach your red belt.
• At the end of every practice, I take my time to sit for five minutes and empty my mind. It took me a long time to succeed in emptying my mind. Once you condition yourself to the nuances of silence and stillness you will relish the time you take to practice Yoga. This is one of the most satisfying aspects of Yoga. You learn to dissociate from your surroundings and appreciate the relationship between your body and your mind.

Do you have any tips you’d like to share? Just comment below.