A weekly (or more) yoga practice at a studio will provide
volumes of benefits to your physical, emotional and spiritual health. Can you imagine
what’s possible if you extend your practice to the point that you roll out your
mat at home – daily?
It took me many years to cultivate a home practice, and it's incredibly fulfilling. While I still love attending classes, and being in a studio does inspire me to stay longer in a pose, it's empowering to know that I don't need to rely on someone else to practice.
My home yoga practice travels with me, and has become a necessity when I’m on the road. I practice in nearly every hotel
room I am in (you’d be surprised what I find under beds!). I bring my own mat,
rent one, or even buy one for next to nothing. Two long bath towels will work
in a pinch.
When traveling, I drive most everywhere I can (limiting distance to nine
hours or less). Whether I’m pumping gas or visiting a rest stop, forward folds and sun
breaths keep me energized and allow me to feel open, not constricted, upon
arrival.
(If you’re lucky enough to be flying through one of these
five airports, there are dedicated
yoga rooms for weary travelers.)
Here are my seven top
benefits of practicing yoga at home:
1.
It transforms
the feel of your home. Everyone has always said my homes have been so calm
– I believe that’s because of the regular yoga done there. And at times when I’m
triggered by a situation, when I choose to roll out my mat,
it always leads to an improved perspective.
2.
It’s
convenient. Do you ever have insomnia and find that a few spinal twists
helps you get back to sleep? Yoga studios aren’t open at 2:00 a.m., while the
commute to and from your bed to your yoga mat is probably 10 seconds. You don’t
need to worry about parking, being late for class, or if you have any quarters
for the meter.
3.
It’s free
of distraction. It’s lovely to be able to silence your phone, alert the
family to be quiet, close the door to your pets (or invite them in!), and be confident that the
quiet will be maintained. There’s no fear of someone walking in late to class,
jangling keys and rolling out their mat to interrupt your meditative state. You
can focus fully on your breath and your pose.
4.
It’s
economical. While I believe yoga is one of the best investments out there
in terms of keeping you healthy (yoga is like health insurance in many
respects), it can get costly. What if you could practice daily for free?
5.
It builds
self-discipline. Setting a goal to practice at home a certain number of
days, and then achieving that goal, helps exercise your self-esteem muscle.
6.
It’s
private. Ever resist trying a balance pose like crow because of fear of
looking foolish? At home, your cat’s the only one who can see how you look
falling over. And it’s so liberating to practice in pj’s, with unwashed hair,
no makeup, and no pedicure!
7.
It’s doable.
One down dog and three mindful breaths can all be accomplished in five minutes
or less. And yes, that’s yoga, and yes, that’s a home practice. And maybe that’s
a good place to begin.
Just like it’s really important that you know how to prepare
easy, nourishing foods on your own without a personal chef, it’s valuable to be
able to do your own yoga practice without a teacher. This way, yoga becomes
integrated into your life.
So how do you begin a home practice? If you’re not a yoga
teacher, the task can seem daunting. If you want to start and don't know how, reach out, and let's talk.