How to Practice Yoga at Home

For whatever reason, you may decide to practice yoga at home instead of at a studio. With strong ties to meditation, yoga is perfectly suited for solo practice. Read on to learn how to practice yoga at home.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Yoga Mat
• Instructional Yoga Video
• Yoga Flash Cards

1. Buy a few DVDs or yoga flash cards to provide you with an organized routine. You may want more than one video to keep your home practice fresh each session.

2. Find a suitable place to practice yoga in your home. You will need a quiet, open space to spread your mat. You should try to practice on hardwood floors, but if your house is carpeted, then you should the hardest surface available. The softer the surface, the more likely you are to injure your joints.

3. Pick a time to practice yoga when no one else is home, or at least at a time when you will not be bothered. Finding the time for yoga seems to be the biggest challenge and a main reason people choose to practice at home. Just be sure that you choose a time when you will not be distracted.

4. Set up your yoga space. You may want to light candles or dim the lighting to set the mood. Lay out your yoga mat and assemble any props you will use during the session.

5. Keep a bottle or glass of water near your yoga mat, along with a towel. A towel can used to wipe off any sweat, as well as to soften the mat during certain positions.

6. Follow a regular yoga routine. Most yoga classes start out with stretching before moving to positions requiring more strength. Each position is also followed by an opposite pose in order to keep the body in balance. Your home practice should follow the same basic pattern.

7. Make a commitment to your home practice by making it part of your daily routine. Try to set up a regular schedule for your yoga practice. If you are doing one long session a week, you can supplement it with 15 minutes of yoga every day.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not attempt moves that are out of your skill range or dangerous without someone around to support you. Some positions put pressure on the neck or back. One wrong pose can cause serious pain.

• Consider attending a few yoga classes before you start practicing at home. You should learn the fundamentals of breathing and technique before you attempt to learn on your own.