5 tips for building a home yoga practice

After 23 years of practice and 10 years of teaching, what’s my best advice on having a home yoga practice and keeping it going?

HOME YOGA TIPS

1. Do the standing poses.

They make you strong. Whenever you’ve been away from practice, and in the beginning that’s going to happen more often than not, start back with the standing poses.

HOME YOGA TIPS

2. Aim for a short practice every day, and make it a habit.

Find a spot in your day for 15 minutes and make it as automatic as brushing your teeth.

HOME YOGA TIPS

3. Start by centering.

Sit still, close your eyes, connect with your body. Drop your sitting bones, lift your spine, relax your face. Then do some standing poses.

HOME YOGA TIPS

4. Move in slowly, move out slowly.

You’ll be amazed at how much you learn by slowing down. You can only hold your alignment on the way into a pose if you’re slow.

HOME YOGA TIPS

5. If you’re not completely sure of a pose, do it anyway.

Figure out where your confusion is and ask your teacher at the next class. If you don’t practice it, you won’t remember to ask.

HOME YOGA TIPS