10 tips for practicing yoga at home

Practicing yoga at home has never been so easy . If you’re a beginner or relatively new to yoga and want to set up a yoga practice in your own home, it’s important to do a little legwork before you jump in. To avoid injury and maximize the power of your yogic experience, careful preparation and a small investment can make learning yoga at home feasible, efficient, and fun.

Here are ten tips to help establish a yoga practice at home.

1) Create a space

Establish a space dedicated to the practice of yoga. Make sure that it is free from furniture that could pose a risk to you when doing the different yoga asanas. Your space should be clean and serene. Decorate it with images and objects that create a sense of peace in your heart.

2) Invest in work tools

If you don’t already have a yoga mat, buy one. There are yoga mats for all pockets and tastes. Make sure you have two blocks and a strap for modifications and consider getting a yoga blanket. Not only will they keep you warm when relaxing in savasana but they can also be rolled up to help you modify poses. You may need 2 pillows to put under your knees, and you’ll probably want at least one zafu or meditation cushion style .

3) Take precautions to prevent injuries

When you practice yoga at home, it is your responsibility to make sure that you do not harm yourself. Keep your space free of clutter like furniture and children’s toys, and if possible, do yoga in a room with hardwood floors. Soft surfaces can lead to joint injuries, and thick carpet makes balance difficult.

Christel Pierron (Seva Simran Kaur), a seasoned Hatha Yoga, Yogadance, and Kundalini Yoga teacher on Cape Cod, warns, “Never force a pose. If you are going to seek your limits, it is better to have a teacher who can see you and help you go further. At home, take it easy. Don’t compete with your body. Love your body, nurture your body, and surrender. Give yourself up, warm up, practice the postures you already know… this is how a practice at home should be. For the more difficult postures you should go to a class, where the teacher can create a safe environment for you.”

4) Choose your style of Yoga

There are so many styles of yoga to choose from that it can be a bit intimidating at first. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, get excited! There are so many shapes to choose from, that if you don’t like one, you have a bunch more to try. Hatha Yoga is the most common form of yoga, but there are several Hatha yoga schools to choose from. Pierron recommends that beginners try something like Iyengar Yoga or Kripalu Yoga to help them learn the mechanics of a posture. If dynamic movement and deep meditation is what you truly love, Kundalini Yoga may be the perfect style for you. Look for teachers and styles that fit your needs, that serve as inspiration for your practice at home.

5) Get a teaching

Once you find a style and a teacher you like, go to a yoga class. You can work with a teacher to find a suitable series that you can then do at home. Says Pierron: “Nothing replaces a teacher who gives you a personal education.”

6) Do more research

If you can’t find a teacher in your city, or if you want to continue educating yourself about yoga, invest in some yoga books at home. They can serve as useful references for learning to master the asanas.

On the Internet there are a lot of resources for a yoga practice at home. You can search iTunes for a yoga podcast that suits your level and interests. You can also look for videos on Youtube with instructions and advice on practicing yoga at home.

7) Take yoga with you

Even when you are not at home, you can improve your yoga practice at home. There are applications for smartphones and tablets that can be used to study yoga asanas when you are traveling, or even practice pranayama. Many yoga apps are free and others are very affordable.

8) Be soft

“If you’re a beginner to yoga, start like one, whether you’re fit or not,” advises Christel Pierron. Start with small increments of time. Take it easy when starting a yoga practice. Yoga was not designed as an exercise routine, but as a way to achieve spiritual union with the divine and purify the body to prepare it for meditation. Respect the discipline and your body enough to give it time to adjust to your practice.

9) Set a mood

For many, good music during yoga is one of the best parts of the practice. Consider having a music player in your yoga space. Start collecting music that leads to a beautiful yoga experience and make a playlist just for your practice.

10) Meditate

The purpose of yoga is to support meditation. In your yoga practice at home, don’t forget to take some time after your workout to meditate and relax your mind while relaxing your body. There are many forms of meditation. Try something simple, like sitting up straight, closing your eyes, and concentrating on your breath. The benefits of meditation range from lowering blood pressure to improving your mood.

Remember that yoga is a practice of honoring yourself and your body. Take time to rediscover body and soul in an enriching way. Try to find the time in your busy life to take even ten minutes for yourself in your new sacred space. The stresses of the day and the world outside your yoga space may seem pressing and urgent, but ultimately, whether the dishes are clean or the washing machine is ready isn’t as important as whether you feel comfortable in your body and yourself. . Start your yoga practice at home little by little and continue steadily and smoothly.