01 Mar How to Create a Home Practice Space

Practising every day can be a daunting task. But it’s important to remember that ‘practice’ doesn’t always have to involve being at a studio, or doing a strong flow for an hour. Practice can be a 10-minute meditation, a handful of yin poses, or a dynamic vinyasa practice. And everything in between.

The best way to get your mat every day (or as many days as you can and want) is to create a space for yourself at home. Therefore it’s there whenever you have the time and the mood strikes. Here are our tips for making a space that you’ll want to spend time in.

Make it a dedicated yoga and meditation space and make it feel like a studio

Find yourself a space (as big or as small as your house will allow) and try to keep it set up. All the time. Getting things organised is half the battle. When your yoga corner is always ready and waiting, you eliminate a lot of the hard work.

Have your mat there, ready and waiting. Plus add your own touches. You can add plants, flowers, salt lamps, blankets, meditation cushions, written mantras or even artwork. Add something that you really resonate with, making it feel comfortable and inviting.

When you walk into a studio, the scene is set. There is no mess or clutter. So as best you can keep this space free of anything that doesn’t need to be there. And only use this space for yoga and meditation. No computers or snacks in sight.

Make it smell like a studio

Scent is a very powerful sense. It can transport you in a moment. Does your favourite studio have a beautiful candle or incense? It can be really helpful to add that to your space. The moment you smell it, you know it’s time for yoga. If they don’t, try to find a scent of your own that makes you feel relaxed.

Make it sound like a studio

Sound is another powerful way to set the mood for your home studio. A slow and calming playlist can be that extra push you need to be able to switch off the mind. If you’re struggling to find the right kind of music, there are a lot of yoga playlists on Spotify and your regular studio will usually have a few they can share with you. We’ve created a calming playlist to get you started.

Make a habit of going to your mat, even when you think you don’t want to

The hardest part of this practice is making it to the mat. But once you’re there, you’ll never regret it. Go to your mat, sit, breathe, and listen to what the body wants to do. No rules on how long you have to stay. Just see what happens. You’ll thank yourself later. Here are some ideas if you get stuck.