Commit to Calm Day 13
Make yoga at home easier by creating a space for your practice. Read about the small changes I made to my space and my five essential supplies.
With my Commitment to Calm, I promised myself I would incorporate more stretching and yoga into my routine. I’ve started and stopped a yoga routine numerous times in the past, so I already had the necessary supplies to get started. With all things, it’s about practice, not perfection. But in order to set myself up for success, I needed to create a calm space and gather my essential supplies.
In the past, my focus was an burning calories. When it comes to calorie burn, yoga would lose to cardio and weights every time. But my goal shifted. Instead of focusing on intensity, I want to be healthy, mind and body. Enter: yoga.
Last week, I listened to my body, doing yoga instead of weights. It was a step towards self-compassion, being kinder and gentler towards my body. Instead of pushing the body to its limits or trying to mold it into a different shape, yoga teaches you to accept the practice as an individual journey, respect your body’s limits, and above all else, breathe. This is drastically different than cardio or weights.
I tried an online yoga class. At the beginning, the instructor took a moment to encourage participants to create a space for yoga practice. Her point was well-taken as I ran out to the garage to wipe down my old, dusty yoga mat, searched under the bed for Andrew’s yoga block, and dug through the linen closet for a yoga blanket substitute.
I hadn’t set myself up for success. As I mentioned before, if a new habit is going to stick, I need to make it easy. Since then, I made an effort to establish a small space in my bedroom for yoga. It’s not perfect, but again, this is about practice over perfection.
A calm(er) space for yoga
To create a calm space for yoga, consider the where, when, how, and what of your practice.
Where can you practice?
Consider the best places in your home to practice, and designate one as your yoga space. Your space will most likely be multi-purpose, since most of us aren’t lucky enough to have a yoga studio in our house. Again, it’s about practice over perfection. You just need to have enough room to spread out a yoga mat with at least a little bit of clearance on all edges. We don’t have a huge house, so there were only a few spaces for me to choose from.
When will you practice?
Time of day may dictate where you designate as your yoga space. Choose a place in which you can minimize interference with the schedules of those who live with you. For example, I tend to practice in the early morning after Andrew is already awake. So, my bedroom is a better option because I can shut the door and not wake the kids.
You might want to consider not only time of day, but time of year as well. The garage and patio are not options for Arizona summers, but you might live where the weather permits you to be outdoors for your practice. As long as you will be comfortable most of the time, it’s a good option.
How will you practice yoga?
It’s important to consider how you will stream your yoga classes. If you stream on a TV in the room, make sure you can see it from all angles on your mat. A laptop will need to sit somewhere that’s convenient to see and able to be plugged in if not charged. Last week, I streamed a class on my cell phone only to find the screen was just too small. So, I got my old iPad mini out of the electronics drawer and now keep it in my bedroom. I decided to use my Dad’s old chest to store all my yoga gear, including the iPad. The chest has a cabinet that opens up at the perfect height for viewing the iPad from standing, sitting, and laying on the mat.
What do you need to practice?
Once you have your location, gather your supplies and keep them together in an easily accessible way. My Dad’s old chest was already in my bedroom, which I determined to be the best space for my yoga practice. The chest was previously filled with memorabilia and his old books. There were a few empty drawers in the chest, which now contain blankets to help with yoga postures. I stored our yoga mats in a cute, inexpensive basket I found on Amazon. Now, everything is in one spot, ready when I want to practice yoga. No more running around the house or making excuses!
Five essential yoga supplies
You don’t need a lot of supplies to start practicing yoga. Honestly, you can start today as long as you have some open space to practice. If you plan to make yoga a part of your routine, here are a few essentials I recommend:
- Mat: For years I got by with a perfectly good, inexpensive mat by Gaiam. I probably bought it at Target or Ross. As a birthday present, Andrew gifted me a fancier Manduka mat, which I love. It’s a larger, thicker mat, which is studier in my carpeted bedroom. But be warned, it’s much bulkier and heavier to carry around.
- Block: It’s nice to have a block to assist with certain poses. I bought a fancy cork block for Andrew when he became interested in starting a yoga practice. He’s really inflexible, so the block was a must! I will warn you it is a bit heavier than the foam blocks I used at the gym. Sometimes, it’s better to have two blocks, so I just ordered a pair of less expensive blocks and will let you know how it goes.
- Blanket: It’s helpful to have a folded blanket to sit on or slip under your back. My gym provided a traditional Mexican blanket. Since I practice at home now, I just use a weighted blanket we received as gift.
- Towel: I started using a yoga towel when I was in a hot yoga phase, for obvious reasons. My sister-in-law gave it to me as a gift, and I’ve never gone back. Now, I’m somewhat spoiled by having one. They certainly aren’t necessary, and you can simply use a bath towel. However, I find a yoga towel is the perfect texture and size for a yoga mat. It keeps my hands and feet from slipping on the mat during practice. Andrew gave me a Manduka yogitoes towel when he bought me the new mat, but there are less expensive options for getting started. Or just try a bath towel to see if it’s worth the splurge.
- Storage: It’s best to keep everything in one, convenient spot. I found a new purpose for my Dad’s old chest, which now houses my yoga supplies right where I practice. But it couldn’t fit our yoga mats. Instead, I found a cute basket and it matched our colors and style, so it was worth the investment. Keeping the mats corralled also seems to keep the kids from picking them up and throwing them around the room (Why, boys? Why!).
A calmer yoga practice today
Today I completed another at-home yoga class and it went smoothly. I didn’t have to dig through the home gym or a closet, and no looking under the bed! The instructor also cautioned the space doesn’t have to be perfect. No need to dust the floor before practicing yoga. Again, very appropriate considering my storage chest needs a wipe-down and Andrew’s clothes are piled on the nearby chair (the OHIO principle is a work in progress here!). She suggested lighting a candle or using other objects to induce relaxation in your space. Today I lit my favorite candle and enjoyed the scent throughout the class. I would call it a yoga success!
How about you? Do you have a designated yoga space? What supplies do you find essential? Leave me a comment!
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