It can be easy to think that our home yoga practice has to be a complete replication of what we practice in a public class. In reality, we can’t always expect that what we do at home is going to have the same feel, intensity, duration as when we practice yoga in a public space.
When I practise yoga from my home in Rugby, I use part of a bedroom or, if the weather is nice, the garden. Practising yoga at home can be very different to practising in a public class setting.
When you are at home, unless you have a completely separate yoga space, the reality is that you might have to move stuff, you might not have space to fully extend legs in all directions on the floor, the TV may be on, children may be walking around.
And you have to allow it to be that way. You don’t have to have the “perfect” set up. If you have your dedicated space, that’s great, but don’t fail to have a home practice because you think you need to have to recreate a mini yoga studio and have scented candles, crystals and inspirational “objets d’arts.”
Your practice is part of your life. It doesn’t even have to look like a traditional yoga practice; the pace, poses, how much time in standing postures and floor postures can be quite different.
You don’t have to think that you need to do a bit of everything: breathing, postures, relaxation… if you do, you will get overwhelmed.
Life can be busy. So maybe during your day, how about seeing if you can squeeze in some yoga poses: In the morning: try some side bends on the side of the bed, cat cows and neck rolls? If you are sitting on the sofa, could you sit in butterfly pose or half lotus? When you are waiting for kettle to boil or brushing your teeth, could you practise tree pose or eagle legs? If you playing with your child on the floor, could you sit in wide legged position, pigeon or hero pose?
It is completely normal for the first couple of times practicing yoga to feel awkward and strange; this will pass with time. It is essential to be kind and compassionate with yourself as you find your footing in the poses and the breathing. Most importantly, stay present with your experience and accept your current limitations.