Technology Meets Style
Too busy to make it to the studio? Here are a few creative tips to namastay at home.
Between work, school & play, taking a yoga class is oftentimes out of the question. As a dedicated yogi, I've had to find crafty ways to squeeze in a daily practice in the hectic, hustle and bustle of my life. After all, a healthy life is a happy life.
First, find a space in your home that is free of congestion and clutter. This could be a living room, an open space on the floor in your bedroom, or even somewhere in your backyard. It's important that this space has natural or soft lighting- try to avoid fluorescent lighting. Most importantly, the space MUST be warm. Aim for 70-75 degrees so that the muscles can be sufficiently warm before they stretch.
The Practice
- Begin with some type of intention setting. What brings you to your yoga mat? What do you aim to get out of the practice? This preps the mind to be present in the following movements. Deep and conscious breathing is important here.
- Start with a warm up by introducing soft yogic movements to the body. This includes doing cat/cows on the hands and knees, stretching out your down dog, low lunges and moving into sun salutations.
- When the body is warm, move into your heat sequence. This could include any variation of Sun B (Namaskar B), warrior poses, balancing poses and inversions.
- Once you've worked up a good sweat, you're ready for a cool down. If you've gone upside down, it's important to do a series of backbends to reverse the tension on the spine. Other cool down postures include deep hip openers and seated folds.
- After a strong custom home workout, let the body relax in savasana, the final pose. Breathe freely and rest.
Let the walls of your home become a space of creativity, spirituality and growth. Let your practice shine through every aspect of your life. Namaste, yogis.
“Yoga allows you to rediscover a sense of wholeness in your life, where you do not feel like you are constantly trying to fit broken pieces together.” B.K.S. Iyengar