A home practice is the heart of Yoga. That being said, it took me years to get in the groove of practicing at home. It’s daunting, and, at least for me, I felt that if I couldn’t devote an hour, it wasn’t worth it. If this line of reasoning sounds familiar, please, learn from me and take this to heart: If you have 10 minutes, practice 10 minutes and bask in your 10 minute home practice. Even 10 minutes (heck, even 5 minutes) per day can be transformative!
When we come to Yoga or Meditation, we do so for a number of reasons. Knowing our reasons can help us stay the course with our practice. Some of the reasons that people choose to practice are:
- A healthier body
- To quiet the mind
- To be more present, mindful
- To strengthen the qualities that asanas embody
- To see (and transform) how we “do” life
No matter why we begin a practice, eventually, a steady practice leads us to perspective, a clear(er) mind, and a greater ability to respond instead of react.
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A home practice requires very little of us. An open mind, an empty stomach and bare feet are all that we really need. A sticky mat is helpful, but certainly not necessary (as proven by Lia). The most important thing is to know what is essential for YOU to be able to create a home practice. Do you need a video, or a podcast? Are books enough for you? Give yourself the gift of creating circumstances for success, and then, set reasonable time commitments for your practice.
Hint: I NEVER say to myself, “I am going to practice for an hour every day.” Honestly, I would never practice!! Typically I commit to 15 – 20 minutes of daily practice, and often, more time appears. It’s a recipe for success.
Here are some questions that can help you get started with a home practice:
Why do you practice? What are you seeking?
What do you feel you need to do at home to create practice time? (ie; “the house has to be spotless before I can practice.”) Is it really true? Or realistic?
Can you make (or find) 10 minutes per day for your practice?
If you don’t practice at home (and you want to), what stops you?
If you had 10 minutes per day set aside for practice, what would you fill it with? (ie; “3 asanas and 5 minutes of meditation”)
Got questions about creating a home practice? You can
Ask the Yogini, or, if you have a successful home practice, tell us how you’ve done it!
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Hi Nona! I’ve only recently found your blog, and started reading. So hi
I have taken classes at a studio in the past, but due to time and money issues–mostly time, as I live a distance from any yoga studio–I have practiced entirely at home for years. I was never very consistent about it, though, until this past year. I’ve kept a consistent home practice for a year, averaging about 5 days a week.
I’m so glad I have! I have begun to get symptoms of osteoarthritis this year, and I’ve had to take my practice slowly as I’ve learned that I have to favor an inflamed joint. I’m sure, if I had been taking classes at a studio, that I would have pushed myself too hard to keep up with the class, and ended up injuring myself. Learning how to pace myself has been a huge help to keeping a consistent practice this past year. Having a home practice, I’m able to more easily tune into my own needs each day.
I’ve been meaning to tell you…. I finally got my husband doing yoga!
I’ve never practiced Yoga Nona. I won’t count those few classes I took once. But, should there ever come a time, you and a guy named Jay (yogaforcynics.blogspot.com) will probably get me there. He’s very different from you by the way (just in case you decide to check his blog out).
Big hugs for you,
Milena
Hi there
I have just come across your blog and really have enjoyed reading some of your posts. I am forever trying to get back into yoga and never seem to find the time to do it regularly.
I truly believe that there are many health benefits with yoga and I need to start making the effort to practise it more often.
Thanks for the blog I really enjoyed reading
Sheryl
http://yojo-yoga.com
Great post. The phrase “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly” comes to mind. It’s easier to establish good habits if you’re not too hard on yourself at first. Most of us would be better off committing to doing meditation or yoga at home for 10 minutes, 3-5 times a week at first. Do it consistently for a month or so to get the habit established, then expand the practice from there.
Love this, I just posted about Home practice today!! Just found your
blog, thanks.
Hi, I stumbled on your blog, and I really like it. I’ve been thinking about doing yoga but hesitated b/c I didn’t have a class to go to. I’m relieved to hear that even 10 mins a day at home is good. Would you recommend soft music in the background or does that take away from the yoga experience?
Also, I saw a book with yoga moves. Do ppl typically do that or is impractical?
Thanks a lot!
Chaya
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