There are many benefits to doing yoga at home. Not only is it more comfortable, you’ll also save lots of time and money. Plus, it would be easier to cultivate a daily practice at home rather than in a studio. It’s definitely worthwhile to attend yoga classes but if you’re wondering how to start yoga at home, it’s as easy as 1-2-3-4. There are only four steps to it!
How to start yoga at home
1. Get a yoga mat and wear comfortable clothes
You need a yoga mat so you can do the postures on a comfortable surface with a bit of cushion and some grip. For example, in balancing postures such as the tree pose, one foot will be placed on your inner thigh and the other foot will be firmly planted on the ground. As you will be standing on one leg, you’d want to have a good surface grip. With a yoga mat, you can focus on balance and alignment rather than slipping.
You probably already have some workout clothes in your closet. Any comfortable outfit that will allow you to stretch and move in various positions will work.
As you progress, you may also want props like blocks and straps but they are always optional. When doing breathing exercises or meditation, you may want to include a cushion for comfort seating. Feel free to throw in a cushion or a small pillow that you already have in your home.
2. Create your special yoga space
It helps if you dedicate a space in your home for your practice. This can be a room, a corner, or any spot that you can come back to again and again. It can be a fixed spot where you leave your mat unrolled. If you have a smaller space, it can be a popup spot. Simply roll your mat and place it nearby for your next session.
It’s important to make sure you have enough space to move around and with little distraction. A quiet space to spend quality time with yourself is ideal. Think of your yoga space as sanctuary. It’s also where you spend time to meditate, to find more calm and rejuvenate.
Remember, this is your space, have fun with it! If you want, you can add extra items that inspire you. Think plants, cushions, pictures, tapestries, crystals, a Buddha fixture- anything your heart desires.
For my personal yoga space, I converted the space in my apartment that’s supposed to be for the entertainment center and turned it into a yoga nook. I found another spot for the T.V. instead so now the center and focal point of my living room is what you’re seeing above. I kept it simple and minimal with soft colors. You can make yours as colorful and vibrant as you want!
Place some yoga cushions to make your space even more inviting. My meditation cushions remind me to unwind, relax and to breathe more and worry less. Remember, you don’t have to do a full blown yoga session every time, you can use your yoga space simply for savasana, meditation or journaling.
Zabuton meditation mat in rose quartz by Ajna Wellbeing
Round meditation cushion in grey by Florensi
Use décor that inspires you! I got my hanging plants and rug from World Market.
3. Make time
Build a routine and set aside time to practice yoga. This is a healthy habit that’s worth your time. Remember, it’s not a task, but a retreat. Be firm yet flexible when it comes to time management. Some days might be harder than others and that’s okay. Once a week for 10 to 15 minutes is a good starting point for anyone.
No energy to do a full yoga session? Just sit in easy pose or lay down in corpse pose. Yoga is not about getting into bendy poses. It’s about cultivating a mindful lifestyle.
Here’s another tip. Say “no” more often to activities that don’t serve you. Say “yes” more often to activities that benefit you and add value to your life. In doing so, you will free up more time for yoga and your overall well-being. It sounds selfish but taking time for self care empowers you to better serve others.
4. Start slow
Begin with a sequence that’s appropriate for your skill level. Start with gentle poses and allow for a natural and gentle progression. Yoga is a journey and not a destination. The point is to enjoy the process as you learn each pose. You don’t want to just do yoga, you want to grow with it. That’s why it’s called “practice.”
Yoga offers self-reflection. It’s an exercise of self-compassion and continued growth. Your expectations may change over time. Maybe you just wanted to be more flexible at first but then you realize there’s a sense of calmness that comes from it. And so you want more of it. This is precisely why you start slow, so you can listen to your body.
Yoga isn’t only for self-reflection. The benefits are real. Click here to read about its proven mental health benefits.
Try the sun salutation
Here’s a simple and easy sequence to start with. It’s called the sun salutation because it’s an excellent flow to energize your body first thing in the morning.
So there you have it, the four easy steps of how to start yoga at home. However, starting is the easy part. The real challenge? Sticking to it.
Develop a healthy habit to last
To be effective in your yoga journey, the very first step isn’t actually buying a yoga mat or perfecting downward dog. It’s asking yourself a simple question. Why do you want to start? Understanding the principles behind your behavior is one of the best ways to stick to a healthy habit.
According to Stephen Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” you should always begin with the end in mind when starting a task or project. This means before you start yoga, you must be clear with why you’re doing it. In doing so, you can then identify a clear vision of your desired outcome.
This desired outcome is the “end in mind.” Beginning with the end in mind allows you to harness motivation from a deeper level. So you lessen the risk of starting something and then not following through.
Start with the end in mind
- Why do I want to start?
- What is my desired outcome?
For example, many beginners want to learn yoga because they feel achy, stiff, weak or stressed out. Those are great reasons to start. From those reasons, we can then identify a desired outcome. In this case, the desired outcome is a person who has no aches, more flexible, energized and relaxed.
Having a clear vision of your desired outcome plays such a pivotal role in beginning, persevering, and being successful in your yoga practice, or for any tasks or projects!
So, think about those two questions for a moment and insert your own answers. Then, hold the vision of your desired outcome in mind. Better yet, write it down.
Do this simple exercise to get in the right mindset of developing a healthy habit that’s sure to last. Whenever you lack motivation, just think of your desired outcome.
Enjoy the process
Lastly but most importantly, have fun. Be patient with yourself and go back to easy pose or corpse pose if you feel hasty or worked up. That’s the beauty of a home practice – there’s nobody else to keep up with, there’s only you.
Decor inspiration
Ready to decorate your yoga space? The best items are those that inspire you. I will post a video here soon about my home yoga space inspiration. Stay tuned!