Top Tips for Yoga at Home During Lockdown
This week, we’ve interviewed Breathe Yoga so you can make the most of your practice at home. Here are some top tips:
Consider which type of yoga works for you. Astanga Vinyasa Yoga is great if you want to be active, whereas Iyengar Yoga focuses on a more detailed exploration of the postures.
Decide which time of the day is best for you. Choose a more energising practice for the morning or a more relaxing practice for the evening.
Don’t practice immediately after meal times. Ideally your food should be digested before you start. Schedule your practice in your diary and stick to it as you would with any other appointment. Be realistic about your time commitment. If you think you can only spare 15 minutes, then just start with that. Be content with what you do, even 15 minutes will make a difference.
Choose your practice space carefully. Choose a quiet, clean and tidy space and make sure you turn off your phone, TV and radio.
Take the time to sit and be still at the beginning of your practice. Close your eyes for a few minutes and draw your awareness inwards to check in with your breathing, body and mind. Set an intention at the beginning. A general intention might be to ask that the yoga practice helps us find balance in our body and mind. Just choose what feels right for you. Simply chanting Om three times is also a lovely calm way to start.
Tune into what you need today. If you feel anxious, you may need to support your head in postures to help quieten your mind. Notice where your body feels relaxed, where it feels stiff, where you’re holding stress, and maintain that awareness throughout your practice.
Be kind to yourself. One of the main guidelines of yoga is ahimsa (non-violence), and this begins with oneself. Work hard and participate fully, but make sure to listen to your body.
Always finish with savasana (corpse pose). Even if it’s just for 5 minutes, set a timer, be warm and comfortable, and lie down and close your eyes. You will enjoy and benefit from your practice so much more if you do this. It helps your energy to settle, and allows you to absorb the benefits of the practice.
Be grateful. Allow few moments after savasana to thank yourself. You can also thank anyone else who has supported you in having this time on your mat.
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