Going to a yoga class is great because you have the opportunity to learn from a teacher and be in a community. But, some people simply can’t afford to do it several times a week.
According to Yoga Sutras, if you really want to reap the benefits of yoga, you must practice for a long time, without break, and with all earnestness.
Many people practice yoga at home. If you are thinking about starting a home practice, maybe you are worried about the accuracy of the moves that you are doing, or whether you should spend more time exercising than you already are.
Below are 5 principles that will help you get started:
- Make it short.
Can you commit for 15 to 20 minutes a day? Try doing it in different times of the day, until you find the right time that works for you. If you’re tired and hungry, have an apple or a juice, and then do it. Find the time that works for you, and stick with it. The routine will become self-reinforcing.
- Get yourself on your mat.
There are days when you don’t feel great, or you are tired, and don’t feel like exercising. But just get on the mat and stretch a bit. You will find that sometimes those days when you feel the worst will become better after a yoga practice.
- Keep it simple.
Find a sequence that works best for you and stick to it. Also, find a sequence that corresponds to your level. The general order should be:
- sun salutations
- standing poses
- standing balances /or arm balances
- inversions
- twists
- forward bends
When you get more experienced, you’ll feel comfortable deviating from the routine. Then you could perhaps focus on different family of poses each day of the week for a well-rounded practice.
- Make it fun!
The ultimate goal of yoga practice is pratyahara (withdrawal of the mind from the senses). But, in the meantime, we are physical beings and this is a physical practice. Make yoga enjoyable to your senses. Create an atmosphere (play music, light candles) that will give you pleasure in those 20 minutes. This way, it might become one of your favourite parts of the day.
- Have a few props handy.
You can buy a couple of foam yoga blocks at your studio, on the internet, or maybe where you shop for groceries! Add a yoga belt or two. Use whatever you might have at home if you need to create height or support for certain poses.
Anyone can practice yoga at home. However, in order to be safe and achieve the best results, having some basic knowledge of the poses you will be practicing helps a lot. Maybe you already have this knowledge from a class, from a video, or from a teacher. Find the time, choose the routine that is best for you, and start. You will soon reap the benefits of a daily yoga practice.
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