The Ultimate Guide to Yoga At Home

• December 27, 2021
• By Holy Yoga

The Ultimate Guide to Yoga At Home

Practicing yoga at home is becoming more and more common for many reasons! You have the flexibility to get your flow in anytime, you can do it in your pjs if you want, and you can browse through a library of videos and find the exact one that you want to follow along with. But how do you do it the “right” way? And is there a “right” way?

It’s easy to loose momentum if you don’t have some sort of natural flow or organization to your practice. While your at home yoga practice does offer more wiggle room for where and when, it’s definitely important to have a system in place so that you are getting the most out of the time on your mat! So let’s take a look at some helpful ways to do just that!

How to make time:

Knock your flow out first thing in the morning. If you find yourself struggling with low energy levels during the day, then this tip is for you! Stretching and opening up your body before you start your day can help you feel more awake and less tense. Plus, when you prioritize your yoga practice you’re less likely to get sidetracked or push it off because you can’t find the time. 

Trade in 30 minutes of screentime. Raise your hand if you spend at least an hour per day on your phone, computer, or watching TV? Don’t feel bad, you aren’t alone! The average person spends up to 11 hours interacting with media everyday. Swap out an episode of your favorite show or a trip down the Facebook newsfeed for some time on your mat. 

Get your family involved. Spending time with your family is so important, so why not make your yoga practice a family affair? Closen your bond with your partner by doing a flow together, or keep the kids busy and active. We have tons of family-friendly flows on Holy Yoga TV! 

Have the BEST. LUNCHBREAK. EVER.  This is a great tip for our work-from-home yogis! When you plan your meal in advance, and set your yoga gear out in the morning, it can be feasible to fit a short flow into your lunch break. Plus, getting back to work after breaking a sweat isn’t as much of a problem if you’re remote!

How to develop your at home practice:

Learn to recognize that there is not a right or wrong way to do a pose, just optimal alignment. It can be very tempting to think that there is a right or wrong way to do a pose when really you want to build a mindset around what is accessible to your body. A pose will not always look like what you see in pictures and videos for your body. That is alright! Just try to honor optimal alignment for your body and what is has experienced. If you offer grace to your body, you are seeking one of the goals of yoga – to connect with yourself. Making this realization helps you eliminate the fear that you’ll do it wrong. Your body knows what it needs, and you can trust that.

Create as much of a distraction free environment as possible. One of the values of attending a yoga class at a studio is the ability to leave your house and all its distractions. Dogs, dishes, to do lists, etc. Leaving that environment leaves those tasks behind. But you can do that at home by creating your own yoga space that you continually return to for your practice. Much like creating a habit, your body and mind will come to know that is a relaxing place and begin to focus on your practice. In this way, you are honoring another goal of meditation which is to withdraw and bring your focus within.

Plan a flow beforehand if you want a self-led practice at home. Using prior class experiences, online practice videos or internet searches, plan a flow for yourself. Keep it short at first, no longer than 15 to 30 minutes to start. Begin with a couple of seated postures, add a few standing postures depending on your ability level, and add a few balancing postures. Then bring it to a close with a couple of seated postures. End with a final resting pose of your choice. Starting small is great because if you experience success with shorter practices on your own, you are likely to return to your mat again in your home practice. It is all about building confidence on your mat at first. It is ok to pull back in your practice to hone this part of your practice; consistency. We tend to think our practice has to be long or not at all and that is not true. You always get benefits no matter how long you practice.

Find a trusted source to guide you if you want an instructor-led practice at home. Have you tried Holy Yoga TV? The time and practice level need to be something that will support your goal for confidence and consistency. So, if you are a beginner, I would not jump to an advanced power flow. Ultimately, in Holy Yoga, our goal is for you to connect with the living God on your mat and when you do, it transforms you. If you approach the practice with that in mind, the overwhelm may begin to decrease.

How to create a space you enjoy practicing in:

Give yourself lighting options. A bright and well-lit space is optimal for a morning flow to get your day started, but it is equally important to give yourself darkness for restorative and meditative yoga. Opt for a room that is well lit, but add window coverings so that you can have the best of both worlds.

Go green. As wonderful as it is to go out in nature and get your flow on, it’s not always possible. Maybe it’s snowing, way too hot, or your home doesn’t have an outdoor area. Bring the green to you by adding some easy to care for houseplants into your space. Plants help improve mood and also can improve your air quality by adding oh-so-essential oxygen.

Less is more. We all have some areas in our house that could use some decluttering, but start by where you practice. During your flow, you want to be focused on the moment, not thinking about why you still haven’t taken those boxes of Christmas decorations back to the garage yet! Plus, it can be a safety hazard.

Stay rooted with a meaningful piece. By adding a piece of wall art that has meaning to you, you can remind yourself why you’re practicing in the first place. Maybe it’s your favorite Bible verse, a scenic or family photo, or a quote that inspires you. Help remind yourself of your “why.” You don’t have to go all out or spend a lot. Print it off, or look to Etsy or Pinterest for inspiration!

We pray that these tips make it easier for you to practice yoga at home, and that they allow you to make the most out of it! If you’re ready to get started, we encourage you to take advantage of your free 30-day trial of Holy Yoga TV! You’ll find 100s of videos including yoga flows, meditations and pose breakdowns, available to you where ever, whenever!