A Simple Guide to Start an At-Home Yoga Practice Now
If you want to embark on the journey of at-home yoga practice, but don't know how - this post is for you!
Hello World! This is my first blog ever!
How exciting! Right?!
Wait a minute… No, no, no! Scratch that! Nope, this is not going to be your typical “Hello world!” post, even though technically it is the first post… xD
I won’t talk about why I started this blog, what I’ll write about, and all that introductory stuff. Instead, I will give an introduction to another topic that’s close to my heart.
This is your post with all the info about starting practicing yoga in your own home!
So, if you’re interested in that, please keep on reading!
Let’s dive into it! 🙂
Skip reading the whole article & get the tips ready to go in a simple Guideline + Checklist pdf.
FOR FREE!
Should you start an At-Home yoga practice?
Have you been interested in yoga for a while now? Or maybe you’ve just discovered it and you’re a bit intimidated? Whatever the case, your interest spark is lit and you’d like to try it, you just don’t know where, when, how…
Well, I am thrilled about you being interested and even more that you’re here reading this! It means you’re taking a step further by researching and taking the initiative to get closer to starting practicing yoga.
And you know what? I started my yoga journey with an at-home practice! In my apartment, just me and my laptop.
First of all, let’s see why you should decide on an at-home yoga practice.
Several deciding factors that might influence your decision are:
- Maybe you’re a bit self-conscious and shy about your body, so having other people’s eyes on you makes you so nervous that it takes away the most important benefit of yoga – relaxation.
- Maybe you’re a boss-babe (or a guy, no discrimination here!) and you simply have a very busy schedule where the thought of adding another ride to some studio, time to park, then change clothes and all, it’s just way too much!
- Maybe you’re a stay-at-home mom who doesn’t have the chance to leave the house
- Maybe being in a studio with a bunch of other people, most probably overcrowded, way more mats laid out than there should be, is not something that appeals to you.
- maybe the type of yoga you’d like to try is not offered in the area where you live
- maybe you didn’t ‘click’ with any of the teachers that offer classes in person
So if at least one of these applies to you, then practicing yoga in the comfort of your own home is the right choice!
How to find &prepare for an At-Home practice
Okay, so you’ve figured out that practicing at home is perfect for you, but you’re still confused and don’t know exactly what to do to start.
Well, good thing you’re here!
I’ve broken down the process into several simple steps. After going over this list I’m sure you’ll be ready to start.
Keep on reading!
Get these tips in an easy to follow Guideline + Checklist PDF for FREE!
1. Budget
Your budget is the first thing you must consider and decide on. Yes, money makes the world go round. Or does it? Hmm…
Anyway, you absolutely must decide whether you’re willing to pay or not to make your process easier.
If you’re choosing the paid option, then write down the highest price you would accept to pay. This might be a price per class, per bundle of classes, monthly subscription, or even per year. If you choose this option, it’s good to also think about if you’d like live sessions via Zoom or some other software, or you’d prefer prerecorded videos.
If you’re choosing the free version, I suggest sticking to YouTube (pssst, I practiced solely with YouTube videos for a whole year!), just to keep it sweet and simple.
2. Time & place
Next, think about your daily activities and flow. When do you wake up, how do you feel throughout the day, what is your job, when do you leave your home, what are your chores, and so on.
While you’re at it, also notice what you do while you’re at home – when are you alone or when is the atmosphere calm?
Dot it down to the detail, so that you can see clearly when is the best time and place for your at-home yoga practice.
For example, if you’re a morning person who likes to wake up before everyone else and that is the time when you feel most energized, then an early morning yoga practice in the middle of the living room, would be a good time and place.
3. Equipment
After you know when and where you’re going to practice and how much you’re willing to pay (or not to pay), you need to think about what you need for the actual physical part of the practice.
Honestly I would never ever suggest worrying about clothing. First of all, I’m sure you already have plenty of homewear. As long as it’s comfortable, breathable, and let’s you move freely, it’s going to be perfect for yoga. Second, you’re at home! Nobody’s going to see you!
So, don’t get stuck on all the cute outfits you see the beautiful yogis wearing on social media (should I include myself in this group?! xD) and move on!
The most important thing of the physical aspect is the yoga mat. In my opinion, this is something you can’t go without, especially as a beginner.
When I started I used a fitness mat that cost 5 euros, but it started falling apart really quickly and it didn’t provide suitable support. Of course, I didn’t know this right away. I thought that yoga mats, like many other things in our consumerist world, were a marketing trick, BUT, boy was I wrong. After I invested in a proper yoga mat, I immediately noticed a positive change in my practice – better knee support, solid grip, and most importantly durability! (I’ve been using my Lululemon mat every single day, for 2 years now, and besides a few accidental cat scratches, it still looks like new! Learn more about my yoga journey here.)
So, I’m not saying you need to break the bank, but do some research and find a mat that suits your needs and budget (pricier doesn’t always mean better 😉 ). p.s. choosing a mat is a whole other topic, so if you’d like some help in that area, leave a comment at the end!
Regarding all the other yoga props, I think you should skip them, but if you want or absolutely must have some, then I’d go for yoga blocks. Why? They’re the most complicated to replace with something else. However, if you know you have in handy some big boxy sturdy books then you can omit yoga blocks too! Instead of a yoga strap, simply use a long scarf or a belt. Instead of a yoga cushion use a pillow. Instead of a yoga bolster, use a rolled up blanket or big towel.
4. Style of yoga
Lastly, to conclude your list you should choose the style of yoga you’d like to practice. Think about this – do you like a slower pace or faster fitness style sweaty practice? Do you like moving from pose to pose in a fluid motion or stopping in between? Would you like to hold the poses for more than 1 minute or not?
Answering these questions will give you a general idea of what it is you like and want, and according to that, you can choose the style of your classes.
Oh, if you have absolutely no clue about styles of yoga, which is also a totally different topic, generally I’d explain it like this:
1. yin/restorative – slow paced, poses are held longer, hence only a few poses per class.
2. Hatha – not too fast paced, going from pose to pose with no standard repetitive ‘flow’ in between, focus on mindfulness and breath.
3. Ashtanga – more physically demanding with focus on muscle strength, with repetitive nature i.e same series of poses in a specific order.
4. Vinyasa – the most free and fluid style, with focus on the breath, but physically demanding.
There are also Iyengar, Kundalini, Power, Bikram, Hot yoga… But, these 4 are the most popular in my opinion, so choosing one of these will give you a general idea and help you in what to choose.
General tips for your At-Home yoga practice
Okay, so you’ve decided on your budget, when and where you’re going to practice, you got your mat, you found the classes in the proper style and you’ve finally started practicing.
Now what?
Well, following the next general rules might help you reap the benefits of your at-home yoga practice:
- Put it on your calendar! Believe me, it helps. Consistency is most important and getting that notification pop-up makes it harder to want to skip the practice.
- Always listen to your body and consult your doctor/physician for any concerns you might have. So, don’t do everything you’re told in the class blindly.
- Don’t be afraid to change classes, style, teachers… I didn’t like my first yoga class and thought about quitting it altogether, thinking it wasn’t for me. But, it turned out that I simply don’t like the teacher (not personally, just her style of teaching!).
- Don’t watch – listen and do! The teacher is giving you verbal cues for a reason, so listen more and look less. Turn to visuals only if you’re truly lost and don’t understand what you need to do (which can happen if the cues are unclear).
Conclusion
This post turned out a lot longer than I expected, but hey, I’m passionate about yoga and want to share it with the world, so I have a lot of words to put out there! 😛
In conclusion, if you wish to start practicing yoga in the comfort of your own home and you need help on how to actually do it, this post gives you a nice breakdown that’s easy to follow and detailed enough to cover pretty much all aspects.
Hopefully, you find it helpful and you’ll join me in the wonderful world of yoga (no matter if it’s at-home or in-studio!). And if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message directly!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a happy 1st of December, may this last month of the year be the most wonderful, prosperous, and healthy ever!
Yours,
