With more yogis embracing a “stay-at-home” approach, it’s important to set a few guidelines for optimizing the area you practice in. Whether you have a huge space to yourself or just a corner of your room, having an established yoga space with the right equipment can help you get into the right mindset. Here are some tips on getting your home yoga space set for a perfect practice.
Equipment
First things first: in order to practice at your 100%, you’ll need the necessary equipment. Many Anusara yoga courses feature a variety of props to help keep the body balanced and aligned. To have a complete yoga set-up, you will need:
A Yoga Mat: A quality yoga mat is the foundation of your practice. Having a mat both helps create traction between you and the ground, and helps define the space in which your body moves. While there are many different types of mats on the market, I suggest using a mat that’s at least ¼ inch thick for stability while practicing on carpet, and for adequate padding on hard floors.
Blocks: Yoga blocks are meant to provide comfort and stability. They can be used as an extension of your arms when doing poses that require you to reach towards the floor, allowing you to prop yourself up without compromising alignment. I recommend having two blocks to help assist with especially dynamic poses.
Yoga Strap: Much like blocks, a yoga strap is meant to provide additional support and flexibility while still allowing you to maintain alignment. Using a strap allows a wider range of movement and helps you keep balance during tricky poses. You can wrap a strap around your feet during foreword folds to help keep your back straight, or use it to keep your hands behind your back when needed.
A Blanket: A blanket is a surprisingly versatile tool, and more than likely something you already have at home. Having a blanket on hand can help to support the body in various ways. For example, you can use a folded blanket to provide comfort during sitting poses by keeping it under your tailbone, or prop it under your hips to elevate them while lying down.
Check out Hugger Mugger Yoga Props for everything listed in this article and more!
Tips for Creating a Yoga Space
Now that we covered the tools you’ll need for yoga, let’s discuss how you can establish a harmonious climate to practice in. Creating the right atmosphere with minimal distractions is integral to sustaining an at-home yoga practice, and maintaining healthy habits can make or break your experience. Here are some tips to get you in the right mindset:
Be Present: One of the most important things you can do to get you in the mood for yoga is to be present in the moment. Turn your phone off or don’t engage with it for at least five to ten minutes before starting a class, and try to limit other distractions that may take your attention away from your practice.
Make Room: While having tons of room seems ideal, many home yogis find themselves confined to smaller spaces. Don’t sweat it if your home yoga space is limited to a corner of your bedroom! As long as you have enough space to move comfortably in your body, you should be able to enjoy almost any class.
Get Technical: If you’d like to watch a class on a larger screen than your phone or laptop, here are a couple methods of playing videos out on your TV!
- You can purchase an HDMI cable from most retailers who carry electronics, then connect one end of the cable to the outlet on your TV and the other to your laptop (note: depending on the brand and age of your laptop, you may have to purchase additional accessories to properly connect your device to the cable).
- If you have a Smart TV that supports screen mirroring, you can use your phone or laptop to wirelessly project media onto your TV - as long as it’s on the same Wi-Fi network. Most Apple devices are compatible with Smart TV software and feature a button in the Control Center that allows effortless screen mirroring (see below).
Practice Pradakshina: Pradakshina is a Sanskrit term used to describe the act of consciously moving in a clockwise direction with meditative intent. The belief is that doing so helps keep the mind, body and spirit moving with grace and integrity. I recommend setting up your yoga space so that your monitor is positioned towards the head of your mat and to your right, this way you can open with me in a clockwise motion throughout the class.
Include Others, But Don’t Exclude Your Practice: If your children, pets, or partners come into your space during a yoga session, don’t feel like you have to shut them out. If you are able to stay involved in the class, feel free to let them stay, and even encourage your kids to join you if they’re old enough. It’s important for children or partners to see you engaging with healthy practices like yoga so they might grow to emulate it. With all that being said, your time for yoga is vital to your wellbeing, so communicate with your beloveds and ask for the space that will serve your practice.
Pitfalls of The Home Yogi
While there are many benefits to practicing yoga at home, some may find themselves struggling to keep up without the structure of an in-person class. Here are some tips on how to sustain your home yoga practice:
Set Boundaries: One of the great things about at-home yoga is that it removes the hassle of going to-and-from the gym or studio. But you’re not getting the most out of your practice if you’re constantly stopping to respond to texts or check your email. Setting appropriate boundaries with yourself can help you stay on course and block out external distractions.
Be Self-Motivated: As with anything, some people may gradually lose the motivation to make yoga a regular practice. To combat fatigue, commit to a system that works with your schedule, and make a habit of setting goals for yourself to keep you engaged. I also strongly recommend finding a yoga buddy that is also interested in committing to a consistent schedule.
Don’t Walk Away: It may be easy to walk away from a yoga class if the poses become challenging, or aren’t filling your cup at the moment. But as tempting as it may be to give up, I encourage you to stick with your practice and commit to getting stronger. After all, a regular yoga habit will support you through ALL of life’s ups and downs.
This concludes all you need to know to make your at-home yoga practice a success! By equipping yourself with the right tools and a positive mindset, you can make any space your own personal yoga studio.
I hope you continue to grow as a yogi, no matter where you practice.