A Basic Practice Is Best
When first starting a home practice, keep it short and sweet. As Yoga Journal’s Andrea Ferretti states, “When it comes to developing a home practice, consistency—not the length of your sessions—is key.”
Many students are scared off practicing at home because they don’t remember a whole class. And many people simply don’t have a spare 90 minutes each day.
Aim for around 20 minutes per day and, at least initially, stick to simple poses that you feel confident with.
Find The Right Time To Practice Yoga
It’s important to find a time when you can be free of distractions; ideally, when you have the house to yourself. Take the phone off the hook and turn your mobile off.
Practicing at the same time each day will help you settle into a routine – and bear in mind that the time of day will influence the way you practice. A strong, energetic practice at night will leave you unable to sleep and is more appropriate for early morning, while a gentle, restorative practice will calm your mind in preparation for a good night’s sleep.
Create a Yoga Space
In a perfect world, you would have a room you can devote entirely to yoga: a quiet, peaceful space, perhaps with a small altar and some candles or an oil burner. A space where your yoga mat is always laid out and ready to go.
If you don’t live in that perfect world, that’s okay too. But do find a quiet place. And always use the same space – again, consistency reduces distractions.
Before you begin, you may need to rearrange furniture so you don’t have to be conscious of space when you begin to move. Have any props you may need, such as a blanket, strap or block nearby.
Plan your Yoga Routine
Know what your practice is going to entail before you begin. Try to include some form of warm-up, standing postures, back bends, forward bends and twists.
For example, a simple practice could consist of two or three Sun Salutations, followed by Warrior I, Warrior II, Triangle pose, and a standing wide-legged forward bend. Then moving down to the floor, practise Bridge pose two to three times, then a seated forward bend such as head-to-knee pose. Finish with a simple cross-legged twist, and then lie down in corpse pose for a few minutes of relaxation.
