There’s something about crossing the yoga studio threshold that just puts me at ease. When yoga studios around the world were forced to lock their doors, many of us lost our connection to the peace of body, mind and spirit that we desperately need in these times.
The thing is, the tranquil studio, your teacher’s loving voice, are simply the conduit for your practice. But they are not your practice. Your practice is something that happens within you, whether you’re on a studio mat, beach in Bali or your living room. Owning this concept will empower you to successfully practice yoga anywhere.
We are grieving the loss of big and little things right now, and navigating unprecedented challenges and stress. Bringing yoga home can help us find our way.
Here are a few tips to help you initiate and keep a home practice going:
Be consistent. Make a recurring yoga date with yourself, and build in motivation and support to help you keep this commitment:
· Put it on the calendar and set reminders.
· Inform cohabitants of your designated yoga time.
· Create a yoga pass for yourself and punch your card each time you practice.
· Set up an attendance reward system.
· Write your intention to practice in your journal.
Hold yourself accountable, but be flexible in the execution of your new yoga plan.
Dedicate your space. Plan where you will practice if it needs to move depending on how others are using space, set up the mat or chair, pillows or other props ahead of time. If you can, leave them in your proclaimed yoga nook or gathered in a nearby closet for easy access and set-up. As the weather allows, consider venturing outside.
Set the mood. Before you begin your practice, create a supportive environment. Play energizing or relaxing music, light a candle, cut a fresh bouquet of daffodils, open the curtains, or place a mandala or anything inspiring to you in mat view.
Dress for success. We’re not wearing suits anymore, and perhaps you’ve foregone pants. Whatever you want to wear for yoga, plan ahead and set out your yoga-friendly outfit. PJ yoga is fine. Naked yoga? It’s your castle, your call.
Plan your format. Free-form yoga is yoga. Doing just one pose a day or sitting in meditation for 15 minutes is yoga. Doing 108 sun salutations is yoga. You are not tied down to a traditional studio class length or format. I encourage you, before you begin each practice, to spend a little time in stillness to connect with your body and mind and observe. Ask yourself:
· Where am I tight, physically or metaphorically today?
· How is my energy level?
· What activity do you feel the need to counteract (that could be couch slouch, gardening, on feet baking bread)?
On your own, you can note a few poses or practices that you know from your experience will that stretch or engage your body and mind in the way it’s calling for. Or, you can enlist an online teacher. Consider whether you’d like live interaction or prefer to follow a pre-recorded practice. Remember, your teacher isn’t going to be there physically to help you adjust poses. If you are not comfortable with this or if a suggested practice doesn’t feel good or would take you beyond your safe range of movement, strength or flexibility, don’t do it.
Many studio teachers are teaching live classes online these days, so if you have a favorite local studio that’s shuttered, check out their online scene.
[Yup, I’m in this boat. You are welcome to check out my online studio, donation-based Gentle Yoga class and live-streamed classes with YogaGeauga as several options.]
Create community. Practice with you pooch, spouse or kids. Enlist a friend to tune into the same live-streamed class from their home, or simply hold each other accountable from a socially acceptable distance.
Go with the Flow. If your kid’s virtual school requires you to immerse in Aztec culture or tuba practice at yoga time, no worries. The great thing is you own the yoga schedule. Rebook.
On the flip side, is it’s easy to let a home practice slide. Know that it will take effort and discipline to keep this commitment to yourself. If a full class is not realistic or what serves you best at this time, consider mini practices. A few rounds of cat/cow during a Netflix binge, or a couple minutes of deep breathing while the coffee perks…it all adds up and can be surprisingly restorative.
You can even spend a few minutes in savasana before bed. Students always say they wish they could go right to sleep after savasana, now you can! You might not be allowed to leave the house for yoga class, but you can eat dessert first and opt not to wear pants. And, you can do your home yoga practice your way.
I hope these tips help you get started. Have other suggestions or questions? Please share them in the comments below.