The Benefits of a Home Practice and How to Get Going
Establishing a yoga practice at home can be a rewarding and transformative experience; it has the potential to allow you to connect with your inner self on a deeper level.
“Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind ”
A home yoga practice offers several advantages:
Self-knowledge: Practicing alone helps you learn to self-regulate and self-soothe. It's like driving your car; you decide the direction and respond to the journey as it unfolds.
Self-help: The more you practice, the better you'll become at assessing how you feel and choosing practices that counterbalance your current state.
Self-indulgence: Enjoy the freedom to practice whatever you want, at whatever pace, tone, and intensity you choose.
Exponential growth: Regular practice ensures that the benefits of each session build upon each other, offering compounded growth over time.
One of the greatest benefits of a home practice is the ability to listen to one's body and respond to its needs. Unlike a structured class, at home, one can choose to focus on poses that relieve tension in specific areas or address certain health concerns. This self-guided approach encourages a deeper level of body awareness and mindfulness.
Here are some top tips to creating a personal yoga space and routine in the comfort of your own home.
Creating Your Space
The first step in establishing a home yoga practice is to create a dedicated space that is inviting and free from distractions. Choose a quiet corner of your home that is clean, open, and sacred to you. This doesn't need to be a large space, a small, quiet corner of a room can serve as a personal sanctuary.
Essential yoga props such as a mat, blocks, straps and a blanket can enhance the practice. Nevertheless, starting with just a mat or a clean, flat surface can be just as effective.
Having a dedicated space isn’t always possible. If this is the case, identify a space that allows you to unroll your mat and move.
Setting Realistic Goals
Begin with realistic goals. Starting with small pockets of time, even 10-15 minutes, can be beneficial. Consider when a good time of day is for you to practice. Play around with the when. It might be before or after work, before bed or during a lunch break. Be open to trying different time slots on different days.
Also, consider how many times a week you can realistically manage to do something. Maybe aim to add 1-2 sessions of 10-15 minutes and see how that goes.
As your practice grows, you can gradually increase the duration and complexity of your routines.
Consistency is key to progress and establishing a new habit. Book the time in your diary like you would another appointment and stick to it.
What To Do When You Have a Time and Space
Your subconscious stores what you do in a regular class. You don’t need to watch a video or have a sequence to follow. If you lie on your mat, settle in with your breath and then start to move, you will move in a way that is beneficial for you and that is in line with your needs.
It takes trust in yourself and courage, but it will be a very rewarding practice.
If this seems a bit overwhelming to start, then there are numerous online resources available to guide you.
You can choose from a variety of yoga practices and styles. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refresh your alignment, videos from experienced instructors can be invaluable. They offer sequences for all levels, focusing on foundational poses and breathwork. There is no shortage of guidance for those embarking on their yoga journey, including videos through my website www.samanyayoga.co.uk/.
Overcoming Challenges
It's common to face hurdles such as complacency, fear, and busyness when starting a home practice. To overcome these:
Complacency: Choose poses that feel great, so you're compelled to practice rather than feeling obligated.
Fear: Start with basic sequences and expand your practice as your skills improve. Remember, there's no rush or competition in yoga.
Busyness: Integrate yoga into your daily routine, even if it's just for a few minutes. Consistency is key to building a lasting practice.
Building Your Sequence
A well-rounded yoga sequence typically includes opening poses, Sun Salutations, standing poses, inversions, backbends, twists, forward bends, and a closing relaxation with Savasana (Corpse Pose). Each category of poses prepares your body and mind for the next, creating a seamless flow. You just need to ask if you need some help with any of this.
Conclusion
Establishing a yoga practice at home is a deeply personal and flexible way to enhance one's well-being. It allows for a tailored approach to fitness and mindfulness, making it an ideal choice for many individuals seeking a balanced lifestyle. With the right resources and a commitment to regular practice, anyone can create a fulfilling and sustainable yoga routine in the comfort of their own home.
“When you practise yoga once a week, you change your mind, when you practise twice a week, you change your body, when you practise everyday it will change your life ”
Your time on your mat at home can become a space for growth, peace, and self-discovery. It can be a place of play and joy – so why not unroll your mat, start moving with a sense of curiosity and see what happens?