YOGA
Photo by
Rawpixel
Perfect Your
Practice: Options for At-Home Yogis
Whether you're interested in trying
yoga for the first time or you've been practicing but aren't sure what
to do next, there are a variety of resources you can use to maintain
your yoga practice amid pandemic restrictions. From technology to
equipment, set yourself up for success by incorporating some of these
tips for an effective at-home yoga practice.
Find an
Experienced Teacher You Love
Just because you don't like a
particular teacher doesn't mean you don't like yoga! You can't expect to
love every yoga teacher any more than you loved every high school
teacher you had;
finding a teacher you
love means giving yourself time to try classes with different teachers.
Make sure they're trained and certified.
While one of the benefits of
attending an in-person class is that you can get real-time feedback from
the teacher, there are also many qualified teachers offering classes
online via YouTube,
Gaia, and
Yoga Download.
Get the
Right Equipment
You may have doubts about whether
to invest in a new hobby or exercise routine at first because you're not
sure you're going to stick with it, but getting the right equipment can
actually help you stay the course. For example, if you're not using a
yoga mat, the floor may be too hard and uncomfortable, and you're not
going to want to sit or kneel on it. It may also be too slippery, which
makes it hard to hold certain poses.
A high-quality mat lasts a long
time, and you can make your practice even more accessible by
using props like blocks,
straps, and bolsters. You'll
find you keep using them long after you stop calling yourself a
beginner.
Practice in a Calming Space
When setting up your home yoga
space, it should be a sanctuary of relaxation. Paint the room in a muted
color, install dim lighting, and light some scented candles.
Keep the mood positive and free
of anxiety by removing any clutter from the space and burning some sage
to clear out any lingering negative energy.
Give
Yourself Permission to Have a Short Practice
Yoga isn't all or nothing; the
moments add up. That's why it's worth getting on your mat even for as
little as seven minutes. You might not have time for an hour, and that's
okay. Get on the mat, use the time you have, and know your body and mind
are benefiting from that. Seven minutes is better than zero minutes!
Don't
Compare Yourself to Others
In yoga, everybody wins, so if
you're on the mat, you're benefiting. Sure, you might see people on
Instagram who practice every day (or claim to), but comparing yourself to others can
lead to discouragement and frustration.
Do what you can do, and go at your
own pace. All poses can be beneficial, so no matter how far you progress
physically, you can always return home to poses like child's pose,
cat/cow, and downward dog.
Every expert yogi was once a
beginner. They learned and grew, and you will, too. Enjoy the process.
Set a Goal
or Intention
You can set goals and intentions on
both large and small scales. You can set an intention every time you
step on the mat, such as staying patient, breathing mindfully, staying
present, being grateful, avoiding checking your phone notifications, or
trying a new pose.
Set larger goals to help guide your
practice over the long term. This might be as simple as practicing a
certain number of times each week or month. There are apps you can use
to help you track your progress. Apps like
Yoga Studio,
Daily Yoga,
Find What Feels Good, and
Down Dog will also help
you create your routine, so you never sit down and think, "I don't know
what poses to do next!"
Yoga is a journey, and even after
years of practice, you may find yourself unmotivated or disinterested,
especially when you’re distracted and consumed by COVID-19 stress and
uncertainty. Step outside your comfort zone and try a new yoga style
with a new teacher, and carefully consider your goals and intentions. Do
what you can to get back on track, and adapt your at-home practice to
your needs.
https://www.yogaalliance.org/LearnAboutYoga/AboutYoga/Findingtherightyogateacher
https://www.gaia.com/yoga/practices
https://www.yogajournal.com/practice-section/10-creative-ways-use-yoga-props-practice
https://www.manduka.com/collections/yoga-straps
https://www.redfin.com/blog/clearing-bad-energy-from-your-home/
https://www.yogastudioapp.com/
©
by Franny Armstrong
All Rights Reserved