Setting the Tone for Your At Home Yoga Practice

Taking time to create an atmosphere, even for your at home practice, can make a huge difference to your meditation and yoga practice. 

Why do we sometimes find it easier to focus when in a studio, rather than at home? By looking into this we can replicate the atmosphere and setting that we need for a truly restorative and focused practice from the comfort of our own home.

Energy

Spaces really can hold energy. Think about the automatic quiet that falls when you step into a Cathedral. Or the hum of excitement at a gig. We feel and react to the energy.

Create the Perfect Yoga Atmosphere At Home

This doesn’t have to be anything fancy but taking a few moments before you sit on your mat to create an atmosphere will help you sink into mindfulness more quickly. This might involve:

• Using lamps and candles to create mood lighting

• Essential oils or room spray for a sensory experience

• Curate a playlist you love - ask your yoga teacher for help if you’re not sure where to start, they might share their class playlist with you

• Tell your family you’ll be practicing for a certain amount of time and ask them not to disturb you

Accountability

This was a big one for me when I first began to practice regularly at home. I would use videos and found that it was too tempting to skip a challenging posture, to check my phone, to just sit…tips on how to overcome this coming up shortly!

Complete Your At Home Yoga Practice

You have to hold yourself accountable. This might mean attending a live online yoga class so that a teacher is watching you and you feel the same accountability as in a studio. If it’s just you, then really notice those urges to give up, moments of boredom or feeling like you can’t complete your practice. And choose to stay on your mat. 

You can still modify postures, take some time in childs pose or other rest posture mid-practice. But really make the decision to stay on your mat until your practice is complete. 

Community

As much as yoga is about our own bodies, minds and spirits, it is also a practice which brings community. Whether that is online or in the studio. We feed off each other's enthusiasm, we get a lift when someone else wobbles and we share a knowing smile. The teacher's energy (should) add to the experience. 

Join a live online yoga class and stay for the post class chat or connect through in person events.

Savasana

I really do believe that this is the most important part of the practice. It is the treat for completing the asana, it is the moment entirely with yourself without the distraction of movement or breathwork. It is the time to lie back and feel all of the goodness of your practice. 

Yet, many of us feel tempted to skip. I know some studios will allow students the chance to leave before savasana, I also know many of us will finish a yoga video and hop straight back into our day. 

You deserve better than that. 

Grab a blanket, a pillow and some warm fuzzy socks. It doesn’t have to be long, but give yourself at least a few minutes. I like to pick a piece of music and stay in stillness until that song is over. 

Arrive on your Mat

Just as we might be tempted to skip our savasana, we might be tempted to hop straight into sun salutations and standing flows. 

It is rare this would happen in a studio class. 

Most teachers allow us time to arrive, to settle in. I like to give students the option to shuffle about on the mat, a few breaths to get comfy, adjust your clothes, try out different starting variations. And then, stillness. A few mindful breaths or pranayama practice. 

Something to tell us - body, mind and spirit - that it is time for our yoga practice. 

Next time you are coming to your home practice, take a few moments to get settled in. Perhaps start lying down. Shuffle about, try your hands palm face up and then palms down. Try having feet on the floor, then legs flat. What feels best for this practice?

And then, take five mindful breaths. Not controlling the breath but just noticing your full inhale and full exhale. And then begin your asana. 

Everyone is different and your at home practice may look very different to mine. It’s all good. But I hope you’ll find some of these tips helpful for building a home practice which is truly restful and mindful. 

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Hannah