Here is a list of the basic tips you should follow if you are going to practice yoga at home.
Start gradually
If you have never practiced yoga before or want to combine this practice with other physical activities, committing to practice three days a week is enough and then, little by little, increase.
Establish a schedule, and follow it
If someday you are tired, carry out a more meditative or restorative practice, but do not skip the session, especially at the beginning of the program.
Set a realistic goal or intention
Determine what you want to get, write it down and leave that note somewhere you can see it every day (in the fridge, on the bedside table, on the wall in front of your bed ...). Reaffirm that intention at the beginning of each session.
Determine a space
If you practice at home, look for a place with some privacy where you feel safe and where you have enough space to practice. All you need is a yoga mat, although I also recommend that you have a couple of blocks.
Get dressed in comfortable clothes
Use elastic garments and without zippers and / or embellishments that you can nail. If you are a woman, use a sports bra.
Practice barefoot
Make the session barefoot so that your feet can connect more stable and find a better base for a good balance.
Heats up
Always start the session with simple exercises that allow you to get warm.
Breathe
Combine each movement with the breath your instructor recommends. As a general rule, we inhale when we expand and exhale when we contract. If at any time you feel short of breath, it means that you have gone beyond what you should, so back off a bit until you find the area that suits you.
Stay present
Be aware of every movement and every feeling you experience in your being and allow your body to guide your practice.
Find the balance between effort and relaxation
In order for you to progress, you must go a little beyond your comfort zone, but without pressing beyond your limits. For this it is good that at the beginning you focus on a safe practice until you identify what your limits are.
Includes restorative poses at the end of each session
Taking advantage of the fact that the muscles are hot, it is good to maintain static postures of flexibility that will also allow the pulses of your heart to gradually decrease.
Do not skip Savasana
At first it may seem that it is more important to use 10 minutes of your time to execute more demanding asanas, but the truth is that it is during Savasana when we integrate all the benefits of the session. So lie on your back, close your eyes and enjoy these last minutes of the session.
Gratitude
End the session with gratitude and love towards yourself for the effort you put into the session.
Love and gratitude
