Yoga at Home: Yoga Home Practice Basics-Guest Post by Shar Ray

Doing the Half-Locust in my home studio

Below is a guest blog post by Shar Ray of Dahn Yoga.  Thank you, Shar, for sharing a helpful overview of the basics of doing a home practice!  You can use this article as a checklist.

For more details on each of individual suggestions, check the archives of this blog.  One point I would like to make- I personally do not use any props such as blocks. I just stretched as far as I could with the poses when I began yoga and allowed my body to gradually acclimate to certain poses over time. However, many people these days may find props useful - just do what is comfortable and enjoyable for you!  

Also, probably many people would benefit by first attending classes before doing a practice on their own. I just didn't do this myself.  Although I have attended classes off and on (much more "off than on") and incorporated some tips and techniques I learned from the class into my home practice,  I am 95% self-taught. But, classes are wonderful for people who enjoy the camaraderie of practicing with others.I am just too much of a klutz to keep up with a class!  Because I have practiced yoga carefully and slowly, I have not had an injury from  yoga in over 40 years.

Creating your own home yoga studio will inspire you to practice often - by Shar Ray of Dahn Yoga

Do you love the relaxed, serene yet energized feeling you have at the end of a yoga practice, but sometimes miss your favorite class or don't want to spend the money on a pricey studio package? Perhaps it's time to adjust your mindset, because you can practice yoga right in your own home.

Remember that it's a good idea for beginners to attend some sessions with trained instructors before trying yoga at home. These experts can give you important guidance on how to properly perform poses, thereby helping prevent injury and ensuring that you get the most physical benefits from the positions. But once you feel like you have a solid base of knowledge about yoga, you can begin to practice on your own. Better yet, consider inviting a friend or two over to join you, as this is a great way to form common bonds. Additionally, you and your workout partner can teach each other things and watch to see if it looks like one is straining during a pose.

Perhaps the one thing holding you back from trying this at home is the lack of a calming space in which to exercise. It might take a little bit of work, but most people can create relaxing areas in their home. Take a moment to assess all of the potential spaces around you, looking for one that is relatively free of distraction, noise and has plenty of room for you to stretch and move around. Also, take into consideration whether you plan to use candles or incense in this area. If so, it should be well-ventilated and not have curtains or other things that might catch on fire. It's a good idea, especially for people who are elderly or have certain conditions, to keep a phone nearby when practicing yoga, whether it is landline or cellular.

Next, make sure that you have a good-quality mat. This will not only cushion your wrists, feet, knees and hips while doing yoga, but the non-slip surface will provide stability. Moreover, it's helpful to use the shape of the mat as a gauge with which to align yourself. Blocks are a great prop, especially for people with limited flexibility. For instance, bending poses that require the practitioner to stabilize themselves with their hands on the ground may be difficult for people who don't have this kind of flexibility. In these instances, a block comes in handy.

Even though it has a reputation for being more calming than anything, yoga can make you sweat. As such, you should always have a bottle of water and a towel near you while practicing, and it may also be a good idea to have a fan in your yoga space so that you can cool down easily if things get too hot. Dahn Yoga is one of the largest yoga and tai chi companies in the world with its own unique style and brand of yoga. Dahn Yoga is rooted in the rich history of an ancient Asian mind-body practice, Sun Do, and in the wisdom of the Chun Bu Kyung."  - Guest post submitted by Shar Ray of Dahn Yoga

Yours for a joyful home yoga practice,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, The Beginners Home Yoga Mentor

 

Comments

[Laura Rodriguez]

You are welcome, Helen!

[orlando home insurance]

Very inspiring story. I love Yoga and relaxing sometimes. And now it can be possible to do this at home. :) Thanks for some tips.