Make your home yoga practice a priority

It’s an understatement to say that this last year has been a challenge for most people. From cancelled flights to business closures, not being able to see loved ones, postponed weddings, and yoga and fitness studios shutting down, the list is endless. The impact that COVID-19 has had on our small businesses, tourism, and mental health requires a lot of love and support as a community to be mended back together. Due to our current circumstances with the pandemic, the majority of people have shifted to the use of virtual technology in order to stay connected during times when we need it most.

If this isolation period has left you with a stiff neck, troubles sleeping, or anxiety and stress, then it’s time to think about rolling your mat out in the comfort of your own home. Movement is medicine, especially on days when you don’t feel like moving at all. Yoga has been shown to improve your quality of sleep, boost your immune system, relax your mind, and stretch out those tight areas in your body where you’ve been holding your stress. With studio closures, the online world has given us unlimited access to virtual yoga and meditation classes guided by your favourite instructors, providing you with the correct tools to achieve better mental and physical health.

If these unpredictable times have left you feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and stress, then try introducing these 10 postures into your daily yoga practice to help ameliorate any unpleasant feelings being provoked by fear and apprehension.

Your body is your home: just like we keep our houses clean and repair things when they’re broken, we must do the same with our bodies and minds. Here are 7 tips to make your home yoga practice the perfect balance between productive and sensational. 

 1) Make space for your mat
Many people think that you need to have a separate workout room in order to practice yoga at home, but in fact, all you really need is a yoga mat. If you already have one, then you’re one step ahead. It’s guaranteed that you will feel more motivated and inclined to practice more often if you provide a home for your mat.

2) Make your space inviting
Spice up your yoga space by decorating it with some candles, incense, calm lighting, pillows, a diffuser, or plants. Make your sanctuary a safe space where you get excited to spend your spare time, and most importantly, a space where you can be vulnerable and take time to heal.

3) Choose a spot that is peaceful
Pick a quiet place in your home to practice. Try selecting a place away from background noises such as cars, TV, pets, or people. Doing this can help limit any built-up agitation from your day so you can fully commit to your practice.

4) Keep your space tidy
Make your yoga space inviting. Sometimes visual clutter can lead to mental clutter, and your stress levels can be linked to your environment. So it helps to keep your yoga area tidy. After a busy day at work, the last thing you want to do when you get home is clean.

5) Make time
One of the positive things about practicing yoga at home is that you have the luxury to create your own schedule. You don’t always have to devote an hour or more to it. Start small, choosing an achievable daily goal to fit in your yoga practice. Dedicating 5-10 minutes to your body is better than nothing.

6) Choose a style that works for you
When practicing yoga at home, it’s important to know your limits. Choose a sequence that challenges you, because growth doesn’t happen comfortably. Start your practice off slowly to allow your body to warm up before moving into more advanced postures. Be mindful as you enter each pose to prevent injuries; move and breathe with purpose.

7) Turn up the music
A study published by the Journal of Affective Disorders indicates that “when used in combination with others forms of treatment, music therapy may help reduce obsessive thoughts, depression, and anxiety in people with obsessive compulsive disorder.” Music allows us to escape from our current reality, making us feel more uplifted. Linking your breath and movement to the beat of a juicy song makes those challenging postures more inviting. So the next time you step onto your yoga mat, put on your favourite playlist, allow yourself to be in the present moment, and stop thinking about your to-do lists.

It begins with holding yourself accountable. Our emotions seek to move and to be released; when we hold onto our emotional energies and prevent them from being released, they will eventually turn into physical pain. The more ignorant we are to ourselves, the more pain we will eventually endure. The greater awareness we shed on ourselves, the less pain we will experience. If we want to feel happiness and abundance, we must stop searching for it as it is not a destination, it is a state of mind. In order to mend what’s been broken, we must accept in order to let go. Breathe deeply and move slowly.