Starting a home yoga practice can feel daunting if you have only ever followed a teacher’s instruction or watched videos on YouTube. But have you ever left a yoga class feeling like the theme of todays class just didn’t fit your bodies needs for that particular day? This is one of the key benefits of starting a home yoga practice. You get to tune in to yourself at the start to find out what you need today, whether that be energising vinyasa, slow, long hold yin or even no practice at all. If you start a home practice you can always create a flow that meets your needs that day.
The other benefit is that a self-practice is the best way to connect to yourself and advance in your practice. As the more experience you gain within your physical practice, the more experience you gain on what makes you who you are. Which, in turn, will make the process of tuning inwards easier every time you step on your mat. And soon you will be so experienced at finding out what you need on your mat, that it will start to rub off in your every day life. Helping you to instinctually know when you need to change something in your life.
Starting a home yoga practice can be so liberating. Finding flows that speak to your bodies needs in the moment can be poetic and magical.
Self Doubt
Often why yogi’s believe they can’t start a home practice is their self doubt. Do you find yourself asking:
Am I ready for a self practice? What do I do on my mat? Where do I start? How do I structure my practice? What if I can’t think of the next pose to transition to?
Do any of these questions sound familiar to you though? If they do, believe me when I say you are not alone and in todays blog we’re going to talk all about how to overcome them with, 12 ways to start a home yoga practice.
12 Top Tips
1. Just START
To start a home practice, in the beginning can feel very daunting, especially if you have no prior experience of yoga. But the only way you will ever gain experience of flowing to your own rhythm, is to get on your mat and START to practice.
At first it might feel totally alien to you, like you have no idea what you’re doing. But everyone starts out as a beginner in any new hobby. So, just remember that even the yogi’s you have been admiring on Instagram started where you are starting right now…… With no idea if they are doing it right or not. And I can almost always guarantee that they probably struggled to touch their toes too.
2. Schedule it in your diary
Create a routine with a set time of day and place where you do your home practice. It takes time to start a home practice and build a new routine around it, so give yourself the time and be gracious with yourself.
But scheduling it in your diary is going to give you far more chance of actually turning up for yourself than if you don’t.
3. Read Up On All Areas Of Yoga
Read books and enlighten yourself on everything to do with yoga because the more knowledge you have about yoga, the less daunting it becomes to practice. And it removes that doubt about whether you know what you’re doing.
4. Create a Yoga Space
And maybe even leave your mat laid out, as this can help to remove any mental barriers to practicing. What I mean by a mental barrier, is that sometimes if you have to make too much of an effort to re-arrange furniture or get your mat out of storage, you are far less likely to practice.
But by having a set place that is ready to go, means you’re more likely to make it on to your mat on a more regular basis.
5. Set a Non-negotiable
For motivation set a non-negotiable term, that you get on your mat for a minimum of 5 minutes, if you have committed to do a practice that day. Even if you don’t feel like it at the time you said you would do it.
Then if you’re still not feeling it after 5 minutes of connecting movement to breath, you can give yourself permission to roll up your mat.
The reason I say this is because the hardest part of finding motivation to do something is often the initial momentum of getting started. But once you’re flowing, most of the time you’ll find you start to enjoy being on the mat and so end up staying for the full flow.
By using this method, it allows you to tune in to your body and decide whether you just needed a little motivation to get on the mat today, or whether you really do need a rest day
6. Attend a Class or Online Yoga Platform
Attending a yoga class with a teacher helps us to continually learn new things and advance in our practice. So that we can explore these new techniques more deeply when start a home practice.
But if you are really feeling uncreative it is better to take an online video than not practice at all. This is always my go to, if after 10 mins on my mat I’m feeling frustrated with my inability to focus. So, I give myself permission to follow a led class instead.
Because sometimes when life is hectic it is really, damn hard to switch off the monkey mind so I can concentrate on creating my own practice. Give yourself grace when it is just you and your mat feeling swamped by a thousand thoughts, going a million miles an hour around your mind.
Also, watching online classes can help inspire you next time you get on your mat to create your own flow.
So, here are some of the YouTube yogi’s I really enjoy practicing with:
7. Find a Yoga Buddy
Having a yoga buddy will help to keep you motivated and accountable, as well as help you build your passion for yoga. Having someone to chat with, who has a similar interest, can spark your joy and imagination. Which can help keep your interest going in this new hobby.
8. Practice Pranayama (Breathing Techniques)
Yoga is more than just practicing the physical asanas. Sometimes what our bodies need (more than a physical practice) is to feel the life force within you and allow the breath to infuse your body, calm your mind, and warm your heart. Notice how calm and centred you feel after just a few simple, mindful breaths.
9. Practice Meditation
research shows that those who meditate regularly show great health benefits such as, low blood pressure, reduced anxiety and stress, reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, a happier constitution and a greater ability to focus in the present moment. I would highly recommend adding it in to your yoga routine to take advantage of all of these benefits.
10. Life Lessons
Finally, remember to take the lessons you learn on your mat, in to the real world. Lessons such as, patience, compassion, discipline, understanding, focus, sensitivity can all improve the quality of your life and those around you. The real lessons in yoga are embedded more deeply when applied off the mat. And seeing how they are positively impacting your day to day life cultivates more motivation to continue to practice.
And those are my tips for helping you to build a regular home practice, I hope these were helpful for you. If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy my other blog, Ways to Be Mindful – 10 Easy, Everyday Techniques.
Recent Comments