5 Myths of a Home Yoga Practice
/5 Myths of a Home Yoga Practice
Do you remember your last yoga class at the studio? If you’re like me, your last studio class was the beginning of 2020 in pre-pandemic days. Sigh…I miss the studio. I miss it a lot. You, too?
I miss being around people, and the studio’s calming energy. I miss connecting with my favorite teachers, and I miss having opportunities to be adjusted. I have sweet and visceral memories of feeling safe and supported in a caring and nurturing environment.
Until then, my friend, let’s revisit another caring and nurturing environment for yoga: your home. Yes, your home.
But, Melissa, you may say, starting a home yoga practice is daunting. It’s just me, myself, and I. Yup, I get it. Shifting the mindset away from the studio and to your home is not easy. But, as we know, yoga is truly about the flexibility of the mind, so let’s get started.
Here are 5 of the myths of starting a beautiful home yoga practice.
1. You Need a Mat
Hmm…let’s see. Do you have carpet at home? That might be soft and supportive enough as you move though one asana to the next. I’ve also seen people put a towel on top of their carpet if they want more traction or if they don’t want to touch the carpet directly.
For me, I love practicing directly on the hard wood floor and using a blanket or two to soften and support my knees, my head or my hip bones when needed. I love my hands and feet don’t slip when they are directly placed on a wood floor.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy having a yoga mat, but it’s not a necessity. Vacuum or sweep before your area before you begin your practice, and you should be good to go.
2. I Don’t Have Enough Space
Let’s get creative. The average size of a yoga mat is is 24 inches wide and 68 inches long, approximately 2” x 6”. It’s not that big.
Can you safely rearrange some furniture in your bedroom or living room? Perhaps there’s a hallway that could accommodate. Take a scan of your home. Is there a space that could be rearranged and perhaps easily be set back when you’re finished? Maybe there’s outside space rather than an inside area that is more suitable. What did you discover?
Fun Fact: In a yoga pinch, I’ve practiced in a public bathroom stall. Yup, I was that girl in uttanasana (forward fold).
3. I Don’t Have Time to Practice
My favorite part of a home yoga practice is that we have the opportunity to never miss a class. You get to set the best time. Yes, you! Is it before work? After work? Mid-day? You decide.
And guess what, my friend, if you aren’t able to start when you anticipated, that’s okay. Nobody is going to ding you $20 for not showing up, and you’re definitely not going to offend anyone by rolling out your mat 5 minutes late. You do you, boo.
4. My Practice Should Be More Than 5 Minutes
I respectfully disagree. Taking five minutes for a couple sun salutations feels much better than not doing any sun salutations at all. Even 5 minutes of half-sun salutations feels pretty spectacular.
I get it. Our lives are busy. Between work, family, friends, pets, neighbors and NetFlix binges, our plates are full.
However, let me know how a five-minute savasana feels. Not bad, eh?
5. I Can’t Do Yoga
Did you know the purest form of yoga is taking big, beautiful sips of air? Yes, that’s it. You’re doing yoga. During the day, we often breathe shallow and aren’t truly experiencing the expanse of the diaphragm and lungs. What do you notice when you breathe more deeply and fully?
Yoga is not just the physical postures. Yoga is also just taking moments to truly enjoy the beautiful inhales and exhales. Sometimes, if you close your eyes and just notice your breath, you feel super grounded and restored. Yup, that is what meditation is all about. But, I’ll save that for another post.
Until then, enjoy exploring movement at home. Be safe.
As Jason Crandall explains:
“The nature of yoga is to shine the light of awareness into the darkest corners of the body.”
Sometimes our home practice can shine the light more than if we were in the studio.
I can’t wait to see what you discover. Let me know!
Come join me for free Wellness Wednesday class on Zoom to learn more. If Wednesdays are hectic, check out my free 10-page Home Yoga Practice Guide.
Namaste
