A yoga practice is very individual and requires of constancy. So once you get started, own it and make it your practice! whatever works for you… If it is only 5 minutes that you can dedicate, that is fine but make it a daily practice. Constancy is key!
Why having a home practice?
A regular yoga practice has many benefits, here is a list of some of them from the book of Yoga as a medicine:
- Improves immune function
- Improves lung function
- Increases oxygenation of the tissues
- Improves joint health
- Increases circulation of the lymph
- Increases control of bodily functions
- Strengthens bones
- Promotes weight loss
- Relaxes and improves the function of the nervous system
- Improves brain function
- Lowers cortisol levels (stress hormone)
- Lowers blood sugar and blood pressure
- Improves levels of cholesterol and tryglycerides
- Improves bowel function
- Relieves pain
- Fosters spiritual growth
Don’t take just my word for it! search on scholar.google.ca and you will find thousands studies done on yoga and its therapeutic benefits. If this does not convince you to have a home practice, just try it for a couple of weeks… once you experience the benefits, it will be motivation enough to keep you going. In the words of B.K.S. Iyengar:
Words fail to convey the total value of yoga.
It has to be experienced.
How do we start a home practice?
Making new habits is hard! what help me is to make a practice that flows from my heart and not get attached to either duration or form. I struggled to make time to do qigong, yoga, meditate, and practice sequences for my classes! yes, the day does not seem to have enough hours for all that. So I let go of all the expectations and I get up and just do my practice… a bit of qigong, some yoga poses, and meditating while I practice. What ever flows! and voila just like magic, I have been able to practice every morning and I surprised myself when all that happens before 9 am.
What helps with a home practice?
- Make time! the benefits are worth spending time on your home practice
- Make your home practice as regular as you can. Daily if possible. Remember duration does not matter.
- Keep a diary. There are many fee apps like endomondo that helps you keep track of your practice and stay true to your goals.
- Taking regular yoga classes where you can draw for inspiration for your home practice.
- Get some videos from the library. There are many wonderful 20 min sessions that you can try to fit into your daily routine. I have a few that you can borrow.
- Ask your yoga teacher for poses that will help address your own issues.
- Do a private session with your favorite yoga teacher to help you develop a sequence of your own that you can practice at home.
Let me know if you start a home practice and share your findings to help others with their home practice.