It is only recently that I discovered how wonderful it is to do a short daily (yes: daily!) yoga practice. Because the practice is short (15 - 20 minutes), it fits more easily into a busy day without losing any of the benefits. If you have done yoga before you know already that the benefits are indeed manifold:
Yoga is Me-time away from chores
It's an opportunity to relax
It's an opportunity to recharge your batteries
The body simply feels great after practicing
You become stronger and more flexible
You leave with a feeling of general wellbeing.
I am so convinced by this format now that I would like to invite you to try it out for yourself.
I have done yoga at home before, more or less regularly. Usually this is a long practice of 45 - 90 minutes, once a week. I also prepare the classes I am planning to teach by running through them at home. When the first lockdown happened in March of this year, I suddenly found myself in a situation where I had a lot of work (trying to move my classes online and looking after my family amongst other things) and limited time. I realised very quickly that I had to find a way of looking after my own wellbeing if I was to cope with the sudden changes and challenges.
That's when I decided to do two things:
A daily short yoga practice
And a daily walk.
These two activities complement each other perfectly, at least for me. And while going for a walk is pretty straight forward, let me tell you a bit about how to go about a short yoga practice.
Set a time
It's easiest to establish a new habit when you do things at a regular time. For example, you could do yoga first thing in the morning, after lunch, when finishing work, before going to bed. Remember that regular doesn't mean rigid. If your lunch break is a bit later than usual occasionally, then do your yoga practice a little bit later than usual - but keep doing it.
Create a space
Having a dedicated space for your home yoga practice can help get into the swing of things, too. Maybe you have the luxury of converting a spare bedroom into your yoga room. If not, a clutter-free corner in the living room or bedroom where you can roll out your mat is all you need. Make sure any props you may want to use are at hand: a yoga block, one or two bricks, a blanket, a belt. Music and incence can help create a special atmosphere but are by no means essential.
Be mindful
Always listen to your body and be mindful of the fact that your body feels differently each day. Be conscious of what you need TODAY. Is it something relaxing, energising, stretchy, active, restorative, gentle, powerful? Adapt your home yoga practice accordingly so that you feel good and satisfied afterwards.
Chose a sequence
If are used to go to yoga classes that offer a huge variety of poses and sequences, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure what to do. Keep it simple: A few rounds of sun salutation will be enough and perfectly fine and to do each day. The Five Tibetean Rituals is another example of a simple beneficial sequence. And then you can of course simply follow my videos on Youtube and let me guide you through your practice.
Staying well when working from home
Home yoga is also extremely useful to balance long hours of working at the computer. Read more about this topic in this free guide on How to Stay Well When Working from Home.
“You will never change your life until you change something daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”
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