Customize your Yoga practice with your home studio!
Yoga Mad
There are numerous reasons to set up a home Yoga studio.For some, they may not like certain studios, may not have time, or may simply like being at home. For others, it reduces the embarrassment of having the Yoga instructor tell you to do Gordian knot pose and finding that everyone else in the room looks like an entry in the Book of Kells and you just fell on your head.
In truth, I think the practicalities are much less important than the intangible benefits. At home, your studio can be customized to you desires. It can look how you want, be equipped you want, and grow with you. A professional studio will have their own schedule and register of styles. I do not intend to say anything negative about Yoga studios. I simply want to present another option- a well-constructed home Yoga studio. Having a studio in your own home becomes more than just a way around difficulty practical issues but a means of tailoring your practice to your specific desires. If you are usually a meditative practitioner, but want something more physical, you can grab a different DVD. Or if you prefer power Yoga, but are just too tired, you can practice any number of less physically demanding styles.
With these benefits, I would think all people who love Yoga would have their own studio. However, setting up a home Yoga studio at home seems like it would be a no brainer, but it can be more difficult to make it work than many realize. The trouble is simple. The reason to set up your studio is exactly what makes it difficult: namely, life is distracting.
- Image by naan via Flickr
I found a few things to be useful when creating a home studio.
- First, the space should always be peaceful and separated from the goings on of the rest of the house. This is not to say that you have to build an extra room, but simply separate some space within a room from the rest of it. That space can be made to appear in a way that most suits your desires. That may be through complete quiet and no decoration or it may be through music and a lavishly decorated space. Either way is fine, but separating a space helps make it your own sacred space for meditation and practice.
- Make a schedule for doing Yoga. This is your time to enjoy your Yoga training or meditation. Remove outside distractions (i.e. turn off your cell phone, don’t have any other projects going, etc.) and people in your house know not to disturb you. There remains one problem to be dealt with, though. Settinggoal is great, but the key to any goal is It remains a common wisdom that it is easier to set goals than follow them. Consider starting with smaller goals like practicing once a week and working up.
- The ideal studio will haveYoga quality equipment that fits your needs. I recommend a Yoga mat that is at least 5 cm thick. I also recommend at least getting a Yoga block. They cost very little and can assist you in holding more difficult poses. Even people practicing Fitness Yoga can sometimes make use of a Yoga block or strap.
- Find the right Yoga DVD’s and instruction. I will briefly say that you should check into reviews and ensure that you find DVD’s that are the style you want and at your level, that’s a good start. Mostly, however, this is a big enough topic for another post.
Finally, remember one thing. Setting up the studio, making the schedule, and following through is all well and good, but there is one key element remaining- enjoy the experience! Having a home Yoga studio allows you to improve your health, relax, and set up the space just how you like it. It is a wonderful thing to have, so enjoy it! Best of luck with setting it up!
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