"Can I practice yoga at home?" is a question I am often asked by yoga beginners. When you first start yoga it can feel quite daunting to practice yoga by yourself at home. However, as we all know "practice makes perfect" and, while the goal of yoga is not "perfection per se", the more you practice, the easier it becomes for you to achieve your personal health and wellness goals.
Seven Golden Tips To Remember When You Practice Yoga at Home
1. Like any other discipline, it is essential you first gain a thorough introduction into yoga postures before attempting to practice by yourself at home. There are lots of very good yoga for beginners DVDs on the market and most book stores sell a selection of yoga books which cover the essential poses.
2. If possible, enroll on a yoga for beginners course or attend a drop-in class at your local yoga studio. This will give you first hand experience under the watchful eye of a yoga instructor. This is the ideal place to learn yoga and then at home you can practice one or two of your favourite poses.
3. It is better to practice little and often. If you can, spend 5 - 20 minutes every day practicing yoga. Your home practice can consist of a variety of yoga asanas, maybe a sequence which you learnt at class; a few minutes breathing or meditation. The key is to get into the routine of practicing on a regular basis.
4. Be gentle with yourself. Sometimes, life gets in the way and it is not possible to practice as much as you would like. Maybe you have recently given birth, or suffered a loss in the family. In these cases, a few gentle poses or just resting in savasana (the Corpse Pose) can quietly restore and re-balance your emotions. At all times, remember to listen to your body and treat yourself with respect and care.
5. Remember, yoga is a lifestyle style, not just a series of physical exercises or poses you mindless do. Traditionally, yoga also consists of paying attention to the foods you eat, having positive and uplifting thoughts, breathing correctly, and relaxing on a deep emotional and spiritual level. Therefore, wherever possible keep these principles in mind when you are at home or at work. That way, your "yoga practice" becomes integrated into your life as opposed to something you do at a particular point of the day.
6. When you practice at home, recreate the ambiance you desire by setting aside a special corner of your home, light a few scented candles, burn incense, play music. Although not essential to your practice, these aids consciously help you get in the mood to practice and if time pressed can form part of your practice.
7. Be mindful and present. A few minutes at the start and end of your home practice sitting in silence or quiet reflection adds more depth and meaning to your practice. During this period, you can set your intention for your practice, say a prayer or send a message of peace and good will to friends and family.
To conclude, yes you can practice yoga at home. Ideally attend a few yoga classes or purchase a yoga DVD to gain an insight into the practice. When you practice, be gentle and patient with yourself, work within your own limits, be respectfully and loving towards yourself and above all aim to include yoga in all parts of your life.
Ready to discover more yoga tips to help you rest and take care of yourself? Then I invite you to claim your Free Special Report "Energize Your Day - Top Ten Yoga Exercises To Jump-Start Your Day" when you visit http://www.yogainspires.co.uk
Peace and Blessings, Ntathu Allen, Yoga Teacher
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