Yes, I know that encouraging you to create a home practice may seem like I’m talking myself out of a job. It’s really not though. There is no replacement for a yoga teacher, or for a yoga community. But the other side of that particular sword is that there is no replacement for a regular home practice. It took me so long to get myself to a place of regular practice at home. If I didn’t make it to the studio I didn’t practice. And I know the horror of a rolled up yoga mat in the corner while Netflix rudely asks if I “am still watching”. Or another horror- the unrolled mat in the corner surrounded by dust bunnies as I convince myself there’s just No Time! Every yogi has been there, most of us multiple times. I just can’t state strongly enough how much a regular yoga practice will change your life. How much it is worth the work. In my latest newsletter I wrote about how to create a home practice. (Click here to sign up!). Here I will talk about why it’s so important.
Like everything in the physical practice of yoga, what matters most is taking these lessons off the mat and into your everyday life. This idea leads us to the first reason a home practice matter so much- discipline. Known in the Eight Limbed Path set down by Pantanjali as Tapas, discipline is crucial to achieving not only your physical goals, but the ultimate goal of true inner peace. With regular practice you will soon notice your body changing, you will learn to balance where you were once unable. You will learn to breathe through challenging postures. You will find strength where once there was weakness. It’s’ not hard to see how the physical lessons can be taken off the mat. With a disciplined, consistent home practice you may soon find that you find your mind and heart change as well. You may find you balance your life better, instead of becoming angry you take deep breaths and make mindful choices in the expression of your emotions, you may find the strength to say ‘no’ more often.
Another reason to practice at home is freedom. At home there is nobody to feel competitive with, no teacher to please. It’s just you moving your body through space timed to your breaths in your own way and time. Practicing all alone in your room can be a truly joyful experience, without the constraints of self-consciosness or time. Studio classes are usually limited to a 60 minute practice led by a teacher and surrounded by other students, with all their energy buzzing around. At home you can do anything you like for as long or short as you like and with only your own vibes to manage. In short, the freedom to practice in any way your body desires brings joy and contentment. Contentment is known as Santosha on the Eight Limbed Path. And it’s yet another lesson we can take right off the mat into everyday life. We often strive so hard to be perfect; The perfect partner, the perfect parent, the perfect employee- all that striving for perfection is exhausting and can beat us down. But if we can practice Santosha on the mat and find joy in our imperfect downward facing dog, maybe we can also find contentment in our other imperfections as well.
I believe the best reason for creating a disciplined home practice is Svadhyaya, self-study. When you practice on your own you can turn deeply inward. Without friends and classmates around you are able to relax and soften enough to really get in touch with yourself. This time alone with yourself allows you to explore. Are old wounds healing? Are you being as kind to yourself as you are to others? How can you grow, evolve into your best self? When you practice alone in the security and safety of your own home you can explore these types of issues and elevate your consciousness. And that is what the practice of yoga is really about.
I hope you enjoyed this post and begin your own home practice today. Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get ideas on how to begin!
