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Everyone can benefit from yoga. Anyone can have a home yoga practice. Yoga is a multi-faceted practice, not just about the asana, or the poses. All you really need is the desire to learn and the perseverance to practice consistently.
Why should I have a home yoga practice?
- Incorporate the practices of yoga into your life, and your life will be more peaceful and fulfilling.
- Save time and money. You do not have to get ready and drive across town to a studio/gym!
- Dedicate time to practicing things you have learned at a class, maybe a certain pose, a type of pranayama or a type of meditation practice. Really learn with the extra practice.
- Make the practice your own. You choose the intensity, duration, and focus of the practice.
- Flexibility. You choose the time and place that works for you.
- Consistent practice equals exponential growth in many areas.
- Do yoga in your pajamas, with your child or pet by your side!
What do I need?
The following items I would consider to be essential props for beginning a home practice:
- A yoga mat I have the IUGA mat and I love it. It’s lightweight, eco-friendly, truly non-slip, and pretty! Check out the Consumer Advocates guide on the Best Eco-Friendly Mats of 2019.
- 2 yoga blocks
- blanket
- Online classes (see below)
The following items are definitely nice additions to your practice. I use all of these items every day in my own home practice. Make the time spent dedicated to the practices of yoga sacred. This is your time for self care and is critical for the wellness of mind, body and spirit.
You need a dedicated space in your home where you can practice. It does not need to be a large space. You can keep your props in a box or tub so they will be readily accessible when you need them. Beautify this space to make it your own. A peaceful, beautiful haven that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. You may want to have a table draped with a lovely cloth that holds your essential oil diffuser, a picture of someone you revere or perhaps a statue. You can find lovely items to beautify your space at Buddha Groove (see sidebar).
How do I get started?
I recommend starting with an online class platform. Even as a Yoga Instructor I have had memberships with various online yoga class providers. There are some terrific programs available with seasoned, renowned teachers. It keeps your practice fresh and I love the flexibility of being able to easily find and choose the class that fits with how you are feeling on a particular day. Maybe you are exhausted and feel like doing a 15-minute restorative class to help you relax and wind down. Or you might want to try learning something new and challenging. You might want to focus on a particular body part. A meditation video might be what you need that day. This is possible with online class memberships.
One platform I highly recommend is Yoga International. I had a membership with them for over a year recently. Their website has a wealth of information. Not only do they have hundreds of classes to choose from, they also provide articles on many different topics such as Recipes, Seasonal Tips, Yoga Philosophy, Injury Prevention, step by step practices for meditation, a variety of yoga tutorials, and so much more. Classes are provided from beginner to advanced levels, including some chair practices. Videos range in length from 5-75 minutes with a variety of styles. You can try something new!
There are a multitude of styles to choose from such as Hatha, Guided Relaxation, Vinyasa, Prenatal, Conditioning – just to name a few. I am very impressed with the quality of teaching in their videos and the depth of information in the articles. There are also many different yoga and meditation Challenges that range from a few days to a month in length. There is even a 4 week Build Your Home Practice Challenge currently. They have something for everyone, no matter what your level. As a member, you have unlimited access to classes. Try a 30 day trial, start today! 30-Day Trial Link
Another platform I enthusiastically recommend is YogaDownload. They have 1600+ online yoga classes, with new classes every week. Their classes range from beginner to advanced levels, with class lengths from <5 minute tutorials to 120 minute length classes. Unlimited streaming of classes is available. You can purchase specific programs as well, such as – Yoga 101, Start Here, Start Now.
YogaDownload has classes from a multitude of yoga styles. Here is a sampling of the styles you can practice: Hatha Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Fusion Yoga, Juvamukti Joga, Bhakti Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga with Weights and so much more!!
The blog on their website has over 1400 articles on interesting topics for the wellness minded individual! I found multiple posts I will be reading asap!
All this for as little as $10/month. That is a steal of a deal! It is rare to be able to find even one class for $10, even if you are doing a Zoom class. So give it a try my friends, there is nothing to lose!
Make yoga part of your daily routine
I recommend practicing DAILY. Even if it is just for 5 minutes. For me, this time is usually in the morning. I get a cup of coffee and head to my mat or chair. Sometimes I just feel like doing a seated meditation. I don’t always do this sitting on the floor, or on my zafu. Oftentimes I like to do my meditation seated in a chair.
If I’m planning to go for an early bike ride, I do a 10-15 minute yoga warmup. Frequently, I do a short movement practice followed by a seated meditation. The thing is, just take some time for your practice. Maybe it’s a few minutes of meditation or pranayama, maybe you want to do some yoga asana. 5 minutes, 20 minutes, 50 minutes – it’s totally up to you, but anything will be beneficial. You will grow by making the practices of yoga a part of your regular routine.
I think we often make the mistake of thinking, ‘I have to do a 45-minute practice or it’s not worth it.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps what would be best for you is to do a 5-minute pranayama practice before heading to work. Or maybe a 15-minute energizing asana practice after work. A 20-minute restorative practice in the evening might be just what you need. Flexibility is one of the major benefits of a home practice, do what feels right for you today!
Maybe a daily practice is not feasible for you. Then choose what days will work during your week to add in your mind/body/spirit dedicated practice time. Consistency is key is having a fulfilling home practice. The more you do it the easier it will be to include in your daily life. You may find yourself practicing the Bee breath prior to a stressful encounter/activity, or practicing tadasana as you wait in line at the grocery store and stopping to take a few mindful breaths and checking in with the present moment throughout the day. Slowly, but surely you will find yourself living a more conscious, mindful and joy-filled life!
Combine your home practice with teacher-led yoga classes
This is the best of both. By attending group classes, you meet and talk with others with similar interests. You can share thoughts and feelings about yoga practices with like-minded people. By attending a class, you can receive modifications and cues that you will not get with an online class. The teacher may share tidbits of yogic wisdom, or share personal experiences that are beneficial.
The home practice provides consistency, flexibility and variety. You can practice a variety of styles with many different, talented instructors. You will save time and money. A membership to an online service is similar in cost per month as it would be for one drop in yoga class!
I urge you to begin your home yoga practice. You can do it!! There are many resources out there to get you going. I am here to support you in your practice with any questions you may have. I do have a YouTube channel with some yoga and pranayama videos to try.
Please share your experiences, challenges, questions, celebrations below. I would love to hear how your home practice is going!! Let me know how I can best support you in starting your home practice.
Recommended essentials ~
Additional items, nice to have~
Joanna
August 19, 2020 4:38 pmGreat post! I started yoga few years back as a way to stretch after my indoor spin classes. Slowly it became a practice on its own but I still need a lot of guidance. I’ve been haphazardly looking for random YouTube videos and now with your post I have REAL resources. Thank you!
Julie
August 19, 2020 4:56 pmHi Joanna! Even as a yoga instructor and practitioner of many years, I enjoy having a subscription for online classes. The variety is amazing and it’s nice to take classes in different styles and with a multitude of teachers! 🙂
Sarah S
August 19, 2020 12:40 pmLove this post!
We just started practicing yoga in our home during the pandemic. I would sometimes go to a class before the pandemic started but it has truly been vital practice for me at home. But I’m verrrrry new to it. Appreciate the suggestions in this post 🙂
Julie
August 19, 2020 1:22 pmI’m so glad my post is helpful! I am a yoga instructor with years of yoga experience and I can truly say that the online yoga platforms are wonderful for beginners and advanced yogis alike. I currently have a subscription to Yogadownload.com and I LOVE it! 🙂
Barshan Turno
August 14, 2020 3:01 pmNeedful content. Keep creating content like this! Tons of love for you
Julie
August 14, 2020 4:01 pmThank you for reading! 🙂
Amalia
August 14, 2020 8:56 amI love this idea of a small retreat corner in your own home! 💖 Especially now, since the pandemic, it makes so much sense! Thank you! 💖
Julie
August 14, 2020 4:00 pmIf you are lucky enough to have a space where you can leave your things out that is ideal! I often need to roll up my mat and put it in my bin, but it is still easily accessible! Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Hong
August 9, 2020 4:41 pmGreat post. I enjoy yoga but never thought I was good enough to teach it s this is interesting for me
Julie
August 10, 2020 9:42 amHi Hong,
I practiced yoga for about 5 years before I decided to take my teacher training. I felt a calling to become a yoga teacher!! With the online class platform it’s nice that you have exposure to so many different types of yoga. You can find what best suits you. Good luck! 🙂
Elle
April 5, 2019 7:12 amI have to admit, I’ve never tried yoga but it’s something I wanted to try. Thanks for sharing this bit of motivation.
Julie
April 5, 2019 10:24 amHi Elle,
It’s such a great mind, body, spirit practice and there is much more to it than just the physical poses. The online classes are nice, they are at different levels and different focus (meditation, pose tutorial, etc.). Range from 5 minutes to over an hour. I also have a YouTube channel if you are interested I can send you the link. Thanks for reading and commenting! 🙂
Anne-Marie
September 13, 2018 8:49 amAwesome post! It has been months since I have taken a yoga class and boy do I feel a difference. I am stiff and less flexible now. My favorite pose was “legs up the wall” at the end, forget what the yoga name was for the last relaxing pose. Gotta go back or I may try the MyYogaWorks. Thanks for posting about this. 🙂
Julie
September 13, 2018 1:34 pmThank you, Anne-Marie, I can’t imagine my life without yoga now that I have practiced for at least 12 years! No matter how I am feeling I ALWAYS feel better after a yoga practice. I tell my students that “A few minutes of genuine breath body practice will help you more than hours of advanced poses from a place of ego and achievement.” Even a short practice is so beneficial! The last pose in a class is called Savasana, or Corpse pose. Thanks for reading my post!
Katie
September 12, 2018 10:28 amI do like yoga but am not consistent with it. Do you have some favorite poses you like to put together on the fly? Thanks!
Julie
September 12, 2018 11:00 amHi Katie, it really depends on my mood and how I am feeling on a particular day. I like to come to my mat and start with centering for a moment. Then do some asanas to just warm up the body like cat-cow and bhaktasana (devotional/child’s pose). I will then move into some lunge variations and into downward facing dog pose. From there I will frequently come into a forward bend (uttanasana) and come up to a stand for a few standing poses. Some favorite go-to poses are the Warrior poses, triangle, extended lateral angle, and a balance pose. I will come back to the floor for some seated poses to include some twisting and chest opening. Ending with savasana. That is a typical go-to routine I like to do! I am going to be putting together more short videos for people to practice along with. Here’s my youtube channel if you would like to check out my first 2 videos ~ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3fZdmZThlIaBXrCGMOjcBQ?view_as=subscriber
Shannon
September 11, 2018 2:36 pmGreat advice for maintaining a consistent practice at home. I’m guilty of wanting to do 45 minutes and nothing less, without considering how beneficial a 20 minute routine could restore mind and body. I say this right before I head to do an hour class. Lol. I use YogaGlo but I’ll check out MyYogaWorks.
Julie
September 11, 2018 3:48 pmI have heard of YogaGlo, but haven’t checked it out yet! I love Yoga International and I have been using MyYogaWorks recently. The classes I have done so far are well-sequenced by knowledgeable instructors. Thanks for checking out my post!
Tracey
September 11, 2018 1:01 pmGreat ideas to keep all of your yoga tools in a tub near your practice space. I tend to do that mistake where I think yoga will need to take me 45 minutes and then it gets dropped from my day when the schedule gets crunched. I like the idea to consistently aim for that 5 minute+ a day for daily consistency.
I looking forward to ready more of your new yoga and wellness material!
Julie
September 11, 2018 1:23 pmThere are plenty of days that I do a 10-15 minute practice, because that is what works for me on that particular day. I like the online platforms as they offer so much flexibility. This morning I did a 12 minute morning stretch yoga practice on MyYogaWorks, because that was what I was feeling today!
Christina
September 11, 2018 11:56 amWhat a great wealth of information! I have slowly been trying to incorporate yoga but have not been consistent. Recently though I have started doing the Miracle Morning and I would like to add daily yoga as part of the exercise piece of this each morning!
Julie
September 11, 2018 12:33 pmI have heard a little about the Miracle Morning from a friend of mine. The online class platforms are great. It’s nice that they have classes with so many different variables. This morning I did an easy 12 minute morning stretch yoga practice, which was just all I wanted this morning. Good luck with your goal of daily yoga! Let me know if I can help in any way!
Sandy
September 11, 2018 11:48 amYoga International sounds like a great site. Reasonably priced. Lots of choices. Something I am considering.
Julie
September 11, 2018 12:38 pmYoga International is a wonderful site with so much information, great classes and challenges. I have also taken some of their paid courses which are very good. I agree with you, reasonably priced and so many choices. It’s nice they have the 2-week free trial also.