I read Moving Toward Balance, the book shown above (which I recommend...) a few years ago as part of the research for my own book, Yoga at Home: Gain Energy, Flexibility, & Serenity in 20-30 Minutes a Day (published in May 2011 and available on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1453898360). Rodney Yee is a well-known yoga instructor with dozens of DVDS and yoga classes. I was pleasantly surprised to read Yee's following statement:
"Home practice trains people to focus their minds on their bodies in a way that no amount of time in the classroom could."
Now before droves of devoted yoga class attendess and fans start protesting, I would like to offer several reasons why I agree with Yee on why home yoga practice may be superior to yoga in the classroom- even with a top notch instructor. And, I want to point out that I am NOT discouraging people from taking yoga classes! Not in the least! I feel, however, that it IS invaluable to become acquainted with the benefits of a home practice because it can make yoga accessible to people who simply don't have the time, money, or confidence to attend a class. They are as follows:
1) In a home practice, you determine your pace - not the instructor. Granted, some instructors offers suggestions for yoga newbies on how to adapt their practice or how much they may want to limit themselves when they begin - but, there still tends to be some at least subconscious pressure to keep up with the instructor.
2) At home you can spend more time on a given pose as you learn it or you can repeat poses as needed. How often or readily can you do this in a class? Not often - normally you have to follow the instructor's movements and timing.
3) Assuming you can create your own dedicated and solitary practice space at home, you have fewer distractions when you practice yoga at home. You don't have people on either side of you inches away on their mats.
4) You compete only with yourself. There are no super flexible and "bendy" yoga jocks around you to make you feel "less than...!"
5) You usually can better control the ambiance and your surroundings in your home studio and with greater focus and relfection. you have more opportunities to listen to your body as you are not distracted by other bodies all around you.
6) You choose your music (or lack thereof) or silence - you can customize and change your home practice every single day to fit your moods and needs.
All of these benefits and factors are what have motivated me to practice yoga at home for more than 4 decades. Check them out for yourself and report back to me - soon!
Yours for doing yoga at home,
Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the beginners' yoga at thome coach
Thank you!
Posted by: Laura Rodriguez | August 15, 2012 at 11:43 AM
I appreciate your positive feedback!
Posted by: Laura Rodriguez | August 08, 2012 at 07:52 PM
Very informative blog. Yoga is a best practice for given relaxation of body and complete peace of mind. And this manage the entire body and soul.
Posted by: Yoga Clothes For Women | August 08, 2012 at 01:57 AM
Yes, Kaitlyn - I could not agree more!
Posted by: Laura Rodriguez | April 28, 2012 at 12:41 PM
The advantage of performing yoga is that,
it can be done almost everywhere even
in the comfort of your own room. You
only need to have a quite place for
you do this. You can do the exercise
as often and as private as you want.
Yoga helps us in dealing stress on
our day to day living. It keeps us sane
and prevents us from visiting a professional
that will surely cost us money and
yoga is the cheaper option.
http://www.yogainformer.com
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/
Posted by: Kaitlyn Mackey | April 28, 2012 at 03:56 AM