At-home yoga sessions are a wonderful and convenient way to break up your workday, give your body the good old stretch it needs, and get a great workout in all at the same time. 

Perhaps you're looking to set up a new space (or convert an existing one) in your home as a dedicated spot for your practice?

Read on as our lovely friends over at Yoga Lab share their tips on picking the perfect spot to set up your sanctuary, what props or accessories might supplement your sessions, and how you can stay motivated and consistent in your practice. 

Picking the Best Spot

Set boundaries

When determining the perfect spot in the house to set up for your practice, carve out space with proper physical boundaries so you are practising away from your sleep or work zone.

Having these physical boundaries will translate into your practice by carving out mental boundaries too. 

If you can’t do it indoors, take it outside

If you’re tight on space inside the house but have ample room out on your balcony, void deck, or open spaces around your estate, feel free to take your practice there! Both indoor or outdoor spaces work the same for your practice as long as you’re comfortable in that space. 

When taking your practice outside of home, note that distractions may arise. Do your best to keep your focus on your own practice and away from any potential distractions that may come from people who are walking by or noise from cars driving past. 

Allow yourself to be flexible 

While having a dedicated day, time and space to practice would be beneficial, there’s no hard and fast rule. Allow you and your practice to flow with the events of your day. 

Let go of any restrictions 

Don’t let yourself feel trapped within any given practice. Instead, let go of any restrictions and let yourself practice freely. 

Get creative with your sequence and don’t be restricted by orientation. If you’re practising with your instructor through a screen, remember that facing a different direction from the teacher is sometimes okay.

Make space not only for your practice, but also for yourself in your practice, and watch your practice evolve. 

Props & Accessories

If you’re really committed to your at-home practice, you might also be considering getting some yoga props or accessories to facilitate or supplement it. 

Often props or accessories are optional, so don’t feel like you absolutely need them to be able to practice. The ones that'll best fit your practice, however, can be dependent on the style of yoga you engage yourself in, as well as your level. 

Yoga mat 

First and foremost, a yoga mat will not only help define your space for your practice but also provide some cushioning for your joints and help to prevent your hands and feet from slipping during your asanas.

Yoga blocks and straps 

Yoga blocks and straps are also common props used in yoga classes as they can be used by beginners as support and to ease into poses.

They can also help intermediate practitioners deepen their stretches, maintain proper alignment and further challenge themselves in certain poses. 

Bolsters, myofascial release balls and foam rollers

Yoga bolsters, myofascial release balls and foam rollers are other popular equipment that is mostly seen in Yin practices.

Yoga bolsters increase stretching during restorative postures and provides comfort in deep breathing exercises.

Myofascial release balls and foam rollers help relieve muscle and joint pain, acting as a form of self-massage. 

Tip: You don’t have to purchase brand new props! Get creative in repurposing and upcycling items you already have at home. For example; a belt as a yoga strap, lunch box or sturdy books wrapped in a towel as a yoga block or a tennis ball as a myofascial release ball. 

A Few Words on Finding Motivation & Consistency

When you’re practising on your own at home, it can be easy to convince yourself to skip or miss sessions or lose the motivation to upkeep a consistent practice. 

While you’re always free to practice if and when you want, setting aside a fixed time of day or day of the week to get a scheduled practice in, is a great way to hold yourself accountable in maintaining consistency in your practice. 

Allow your time on the mat to be your commitment for an hour of self-care, and prioritise it because you deserve it! Make sure that you show up consistently regardless of the teacher or class type. Just set it in your calendar and lock it in. 

Show up (and suck even), but most importantly, show up for yourself. 

Need more guidance for your at-home yoga practice?

Learn more about Yoga here.

Contributor:

Yoga Lab is founded on the belief that yoga should be accessible to all. We aspire to empower all students to explore their edges and challenge possibilities. We take care to ensure that each class is small enough so that you get the attention and the space you need while our teachers provide instructions that are easy to understand.

Yoga Lab offers a wide range of classes and workshops for practitioners of all levels; whether you are looking to build a solid foundation or take your practice further, they are here for you.