How to Start Practicing Yoga in Your Home

Having a home yoga practice has loads of benefits. You can practice anywhere, day or night, and you don’t need much in the way of equipment. There are a huge range of teachers and classes at your fingertips, plus, it’s also pretty inexpensive. You even do it in your pjs!

Get a mat and grab some props

One of the best things about yoga is that you don’t need much equipment. However, a mat and props can help make some poses more comfortable. When yoga first became prevalent in the West, yogis practiced on towels or cotton mats; it wasn’t until around the 1980s that ‘sticky mats’ became more widely used. Nowadays, the yoga mat and accessories industry is a booming business, with a huge array of choice to suit almost every requirement.

Make some space

If possible, try and find a place to practice that’s peaceful and quiet. Having a clear wall nearby might be helpful too but it’s not essential. Some people like to decorate their practice space with things like candles and incense, a photograph that inspires them or a quote.

Commit to a time – make it achievable

Consider what works best for you – are you a morning person or an evening person? Could you squeeze in some yoga on your lunch break? As for the ‘ideal’ length of time to practice, forget about whether your friend practices for an hour each day or what you think constitutes a ‘proper’ yoga practice and go with what works best for you. Perhaps start by making a commitment to practice for 10 minutes a day.

Follow your body’s lead

If you’re used to following a particular sequence or type of class, just once a week close your laptop or book, get on your mat and do your own thing. This can feel really daunting at first but ignore that nagging worry that you won’t know what to do; yoga doesn’t need to be a seamlessly structured series of poses. Just get on your mat and wriggle around for five minutes doing what feels nice for your body, or perhaps just sit quietly.

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Make it fun!

When you’re starting out, practice a class or sequence that you enjoy so you’ll have an incentive to roll out your mat. What about putting some music on or practising with friends? You could decide to do this physically (social distancing rules permitting) – or commit to doing an online class at the same time / day each week. This helps to keep you motivated and you can share your experiences.

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