Creating a Home Yoga Space
Finding a moment of zen sounds delightful, doesn’t it? While in our minds, the perfect place to practice yoga may be a large, open, airy, serene spot…let’s be realistic, many of us don’t have a spare studio just waiting to be transformed into an oasis. So what can we do instead? With just a few intentional items, you can carve out a restorative space to call your own.
Gather the Essentials
Good news! There aren’t many essentials. Unlike many other sports that require a ton of expensive equipment (hello, $10,000 road bike!), the only gear you really need is a mat. We love the feel of a cork mat, or the luxe cushion of the Laguna Yoga Mat from retrospec.com.
Head to your local home store to find a tall basket to hold your mat and equipment. We’ve actually had great luck finding baskets on Facebook Marketplace and at local thrift stores. To disinfect, simply leave the basket out in the sun for a few days to naturally sun bleach, then spray with an environmentally friendly cleansing solution, adding in a few drops of your favorite essential oil (try lavender or tea tree).
For the rest of the equipment? Don’t rush to order a bunch of things you may not need. As you start attending online classes, you’ll quickly learn what could make your practice more enjoyable, like cork blocks, bands, a bolster, or an anti-slip towel to place over your mat.
Set Yourself Up for Success
To make yoga a daily practice takes dedication and intention. There are some things that you can do to better your chances of really committing to and enjoying your daily moment of zen. Figure out what time of day works best for you. Start by trying the first thing in the morning while the house is still quiet. Set your alarm for 45 minutes earlier than usual, and get to your mat as quickly as possible to avoid distractions (don’t look at your phone!). To save precious minutes of brain power in the morning, choose your video the night before, and have your computer or tablet queued up and ready to go, along with your filled-up water bottle.
Use a singing bowl to signal to your brain that it’s time to tune in, then tune out all other distractions. Take some deep cleansing breaths and congratulate yourself on showing up. This is your time—revel in it.
Once you’ve finished your class, prepare your space for tomorrow. Clean your mat with an all natural biodegradable cleaner—we like the calming citrus yoga mat cleanser from astura.com. Give your mat a spritz, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth, then loosely roll it up and place it into your basket
Up Your Ambiance
To really elevate your experience, focus on your senses.
SIGHT If possible, set up your zen zone near a window so you can take in the view. If that won’t work, hang up a meaningful piece of artwork instead; even a bundle of fresh greenery like eucalyptus can be a beautiful place to rest your gaze. (Bonus points for the amazing aroma eucalyptus will bring to the entire room!)
SOUND To begin your practice, we love using a small metal singing bowl, said to induce states of relaxation and well-being. You can choose to either ring the bowl once with the provided mallet, signaling the start of your practice. Or to produce a continuous melodic sound, place the mallet at the lip of the bowl and slowly circle around the rim for as long as desired. Two to three minutes is a nice start to focus your attention inward and set your intentions for your yoga practice.
SMELL Lighting a candle can be another great ceremonial start to your practice…the sound of striking the match, the flare of the wick igniting, the low crackle of the candle burning. All that before we even get to the delicious smells! We adore usucompany.com, based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. Our current favorite candle is Usu’s “Nepa” candle—a custom blend of smoky, sweet haze with honey, amber, tobacco leaves, and bergamot. Incense sticks, incense points, and responsibly sourced palo santo sticks are all wonderful aromatic options as well.
TASTE Treat your tastebuds to a slice of fresh lemon in your water. It’s been hailed for various health benefits (which may or may not be true), but adding lemon sure helps us consume more water and stay hydrated.
TOUCH After your yoga session, grab a soft blanket and enjoy your well-earned Savasana (the five to 10 minute relaxation pose that works powerfully on many levels, allowing you to release and rejuvenate). We’re big fans of the cozy Desert Collection from tribetrue.com.
ONLINE CLASSES WE LOVE
Subscription-Based Websites
While the collective energy of an in-person yoga class is hard to replicate in your home, there is something sacred and special about your own private yoga space. You can let go of any self consciousness or competitiveness that may creep in. So go on, let go and lean into your practice…you made this happen, now enjoy. Namaste.
Instructor: Yogi Shavaun
Focus: Beginner-friendly Yin yoga videos, and live virtual Hatha Flow classes.
Website: yogishavaun.com
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Instructor: Kady Lafferty
Focus: Size accessible yoga. “Breaking the yoga stereotype one chubby Chaturanga at a time.”
Website: studiobigbootyyoga.com
Location: Radford, Virginia
Instructor: Simon Park
Focus: On-demand yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes filmed in stunning national parks and on public lands
Website: yogatoday.com
Location: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Free YouTube Channels
There are many wonderful yogis on YouTube who are creating amazing, free content. Here are some of our favorites:
YOGA WITH ADRIENE
“Find what feels good. All levels, all bodies, all genders, all souls!” We love instructor Adriene Mishler’s warm and inviting demeanor—she’s easy to follow along with, and you can sort by focus area (neck tension, breath work), or by class length (five-minute to 60-minute sessions).
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
RACHEL MEYER YOGA
Instructor Rachel Meyer is an American writer and yoga teacher based in Switzerland who offers some lovely advanced classes. We enjoyed her athletic 60-minute January Vinyasa.
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/c/RachelMeyerYoga
YOGA BY BIOLA
Instructor Abiola Akanni is a Nigerian American yogi who aims to bring accessible yoga and enlightenment practices to underserved “othered” communities. “This platform is here to guide you in your personal yoga journey and overall well-being. We’ll explore yoga, chakra studies, emotional discernment, spiritual ascension, self care, and more.”
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UC9W80oIe7cLOF_UYgDk7q6w
YOGA WITH TIM
We dig that in Tim’s videos, he helps explain the movements and postures, so you can safely practice while getting a great total body workout at the same time. Check out his January 30-day challenge that you can repeat anytime of the year.
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/c/yogawithtim
Ready to get started? Head to nestrealty.com/zen for our yoga product recommendations.
We shared this Home Yoga Space article with you in the Spring/Summer 2021 Issue of NEST Magazine. To view the full issue, click here.