If you are anything like me, then you agree that yoga is a fantastic way to relax, release stress and improve suppleness and strength. With all of our busy lives and work schedules, we can find ourselves too tired or too busy at the end of the day to go to a class or studio. But that doesn't mean you can't still practice yoga! In this post I will show you how easy it is to practice yoga right in your own home with minimal equipment required.
Find a yoga mat
There are many different types of yoga mats, but in general, they should be thick enough to provide a cushion between your body and the floor. They are also sold with many different colours and designs all availability in a huge range of prices. You don’t however have to spend a fortune and you can usually find something suitable within your price range on-line or in a sports shop. You may even find a perfectly good mat in a larger supermarket.
Find a comfortable space
Find a comfortable space to practise yoga at home. This can be any room in your house where there are minimal distractions and you feel safe. Make sure the room is warm enough for comfort (and not too hot) and in addition, make sure the space is clean and tidy so that it doesn't distract with messes around the room! Unless you live alone, ask whoever you live with not to disturb you and perhaps close the door to your pets as it’s a well known fact that your dog or cat is going to want to join you as soon as you unroll your mat! Turn your phone to mute. Make sure that you are wearing loose and comfortable clothing and you haven’t just had a large meal. Yoga is best practised on an empty stomach.
Getting started
Yoga is best learned from a trained teacher who can demonstrate and guide you into correct alignment and can tailor practise to your needs. Perhaps before you start practising at home for yourself, attend class or find a qualified teacher so that you are familiar with the basics. There are many yoga books and initially, it maybe be better to see what your local library has to offer and then if you find a book you really like, you can consider buying it for yourself.
The internet is an amazing resource for finding anything and everything, including yoga instructors who can guide you through a well sequenced routine. There are many pre-recorded videos for you to follow and the good thing about these is that you can stop, pause and rewind and play them again and again. Usually there will be guidelines as to the style and difficulties of the practise so that you can ensure that you choose something appropriate for your needs and mood. There are many free resources out there and then there are those that you pay a fee for. You may also find yoga online which is a live class and it is quite common these days to find teachers who will teach live face to face with a class and stream at the same time on platforms such as Zoom.
Once you have perhaps had a few classes with a teacher, looked at videos and books, you may feel ready to practise yoga for yourself. It is best to start off keeping to postures that you have already learned and feel comfortable and confident with really notice how your body and mind feels. As you grow in confidence you can add other postures into your routine. Think about moving your joints and muscles through a range of movements but without straining or pushing your body into a position where you feel pain or discomfort. By listening to your body, you will avoid injury.
Practise regularly
Whilst practising yoga every day is ideal, its not always possible but practising regularly is a habit that will make you feel better and happier in the long run.
Finding time each day might seem impossible but if something is important enough then we always find ways of fitting it into our lives somehow. Think back over your past week: what were some things that stood out as priorities? When would you be able to fit in time for practise? Perhaps think about getting up a little earlier, you may well find a morning practise helps set you up for the day. Alternatively, perhaps begin to wind down your day a little earlier and practise before you go to bed, you’ll likely find that you have a great nights sleep! Remember, a little amount of time spent practising even if it's just 10 minutes is better than no time at all!
Yoga is a great way maintain good health, but it can also be difficult to know where to start. That's why I've compiled this guide on how to practice yoga at home! I hope that you find these tips helpful and please get in touch with me if you think I can help you get started.
If you would like some help and support getting started with yoga so you can practice at home, please get in touch with me at Charlotte Huggins Yoga for information about yoga classes in Surrey. A warm, friendly welcome awaits you!