Practicing yoga at home is an easy and practical way to improve your health and well-being at little or no cost. If you have a computer or TV, a few feet of space, and a yoga mat, you can work at your own pace in the comfort and privacy of your home. There are no monthly fees, no sharing locker rooms with strangers, and no time wasted traveling and/or parking just to follow someone else’s schedule.
Practice yoga at home when it’s convenient for you at the challenge level of your choice and comfort, and reap the benefits!
One of the best things about practicing yoga at home is the incredible variety of workout lengths, styles, and challenge levels that you have at your disposal. If you need a quick workout before you start your day, no problem. If you want to work up a serious sweat and burn some calories you can do that, too. From free starter workouts on YouTube to intensive DVDs, there’s a virtually unlimited array of workouts to choose from.
Yoga at home is for everyone: comfort and ergonomics
The first preparation to make when planning to practice yoga at home is to find a good way to set up your computer monitor or TV so you can see the poses etc. You don’t want to have to turn your head so much and so often that it disrupts what you’re doing. We’ve found having either end of the mat facing the monitor to be the most comfortable, as opposed to having it parallel. You’ll also need to make sure you have enough space to stretch out in different directions to do the various poses.
Be sure that you can see the video screen comfortably. Computer remote controls such as the Sanoxy Remote Control allow you to control YouTube and other online video just as you would your TV or DVD. They are super cheap and can really enhance the home yoga experience. You can adjust the volume, rewind and fast forward. It can pause the video so you can take a break, or focus on achieving a posture before moving on to the next one. It even has a button that functions like a mouse. For such a cheap device it’s really awesome!
For safety and comfort, we recommend getting a yoga mat. You might also want a towel to absorb sweat, and/or a light blanket to keep warm in relaxing moments. You can easily find an amazing variety of styles/materials/thicknesses/costs available online and in local stores. Yoga wear is also an important consideration as comfort and flexibility are key. Loose and comfy is the way to go!
Amount of time
What feels right to you? Whatever time you have available and want to put into it, you will get something out of it. Also feel free to pause and take breaks when you want to, that’s one of the additional advantages of doing yoga at home.
Getting started is always the hardest part, so no matter how long you do it, just doing anything is an achievement. Choose a time when you won’t be disturbed. Turn off your phones, and arrange with members of your household not to disturb you.
Goals
Some people might want to set goals for themselves. Especially if you’re trying to heal an injury, lose weight, reduce stress, or want to work on strength, flexibility, stamina, setting realistic achievable goals for yourself is a good idea. Make your goals are achievable yet meaningful, and you can do it!
Set the mood
For many, the right music helps them find the groove doing yoga at home. Other things like a short stretching routine may create the right mindset. If it’s not already part of your routine, you may want to start with meditation or a breathing exercise to calm your mind and focus your thoughts.
Try different styles
In addition to the wide variety of yoga styles, there are many video/viewing options available. From DVD’s to website subscriptions to YouTube, there are endless choices for doing yoga at home. There’s nothing like being in the comfort of your own home (or studio apartment!) doing your own personal yoga routine.
Go for it
Doing anything at all is better than doing nothing. Just doing yoga at home for five minutes can bring some stress relief, and once you get to the five-minute mark you might find yourself holding on for another few minutes. Any time spent at all is good time, there is no minimum required to get some benefit.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
Listen to your body. If you notice any pain at all pay attention to it and make sure not to injure yourself. Start slowly, warm up, build steadily and gently. Never force a posture.
If you’re feeling more energetic, do a longer or more challenging routine. If not, then go for something routine that’s more focused on slow stretching. When you’re up for it, it’s good to apply yourself, but know your limits and be very careful not to push too far.
If you’re energy is low, meditation or yin yoga is an option. If you have no energy at all, you can practice savasana, also known as the resting pose. This can help you gather and focus your energy for a future session.
Always be careful. Practicing yoga at home is a physical activity that can cause pain and/or injury if you push yourself too hard. Stay aware of your limits at all times, and never try to exceed them. Remember that the point of doing any of this is health and wellness. There’s no rush, so when in doubt err on the side of caution. Time is on your side!