For years I resisted practicing yoga at home because (1) I like to have someplace to go, (2) I like to be around people, and (3) I like to do yoga in a serene laundry-free, bill-free space. But now that I've started, I see there are some major perks to at-home workouts...
You're Already There A few times each week I walk 2 miles to a public pool, and though I just consider that hike part of my workout, sometimes it feel so, so far. SO FAR. Doing yoga at home right after work, without having to endure a long walk, hills, and rain to do it, has been such a joy.
But Nobody Else Is Perhaps it's because I work in the service industry, or perhaps it's a fact of city life, but sometimes I just want to be alone, please. Practicing yoga all by my lonesome has not been at all lonely, at least so far, and I love the solitude- just me, my breath, and the birthday mix my friend Michelle made me.
And It's Free! Yoga classes are a wonderful investment (a friend maintains that health insurance should cover them, since she hasn't gotten sick once in the years since she started practicing), but they are an investment. Since I'm not spending any money on classes, perhaps I can save up to buy the Transformer Yoga Mat I've always wanted. No, I'll probably just ask for it for Christmas.
A Clean Little Corner You don't need much space to practice yoga, only about 6-feet by 6-feet (or your height by your wingspan, approximately), but in order to not feel cramped, a 10-feet by 10-feet is nice. This is one-quarter of my apartment, so if I always keep it clean and clear, my apartment is always one-fourth clean! Since this space is becoming "Reserved For Yoga" in my mind, I find myself less likely to throw clothes or shoes on the floor there. Cleaning up in order to exercise is no fun (and it's not like I need any deterrent), so I'm trying to keep it clean, all the time.
A Shower When You Want It Most After a sweaty yoga session, you want to shower right away, not after a long walk or bus ride home. And even if your gym has showers, you'll probably want to shower again after that long walk or bus ride home. Your at-home yoga studio is probably just a few feet away from your shower. That's luxury.
(Please note: I highly, highly recommend studying yoga with a qualified instructor, especially if you're new to the practice. They can guide you, inspire you, and — most importantly — protect you from injury. At-home yoga is great once you feel confident, but even then refresher classes with an experienced teacher will keep you safe and on-track.)
Image: Flickr member stevedepolo licensed for use by Creative Commons
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for all the same reasons, i practice at home. i also stream www.yogaglo.com through my TV when i need direction and focus - their classes are topnotch.
I always do some yoga at home and find it really relaxing! I watch free videos from YogaToday.com on Youtube and stream it on my AppleTv. Just search YogaToday on Youtube for short and long sessions in beautiful mountain scenery! I like these videos. they are really well done and not cheesy!
I too use YogaToday.com at home and during my frequent traveling. I keep a area in my house for my mat and props. This way I can maintain a daily practice.
I know you'd have to post the "get qualified instruction" disclaimer, but unfortunately, my experience with [some] teachers is, you're more LIKELY to experience injury. Or maybe it's only me, since I have some weird muscular tensions that most people wouldn't realize need extra TLC.
Also, doing yoga with the intention of waking up energetic flows rather than seeing how far you can stretch is paramount, and in my experience, too many teachers either don't really get that themselves, or are maybe too proud of their own fliexibility and transmit that priority to the students.
Any yoga teachers reading this who are NOT like the ones I've described, please don't take offense. But surely you know how many people start "teaching" yoga with woefully little training themselves; or start teaching it without realizing not everybody has their natural physical abilities to begin with.
Sorry, I must be in a grouchy mood! Better go do some myself!
But yes, I LOVE the ideas set forth in this post; one great aspect of doing it at home is, it might encourage us to make our own spaces more affirming, more conducive to self-nourishment!
For me at least, there is also a drawback to the 'you're already there' thing, in that sometimes I'm more motivated to do something if I have to get there and I've paid for the class/membership, etc. If I'm feeling the slightest bit unmotivated, it can be hard to get going at home. As is the case now, actually. I guess now I can use this article as a push to practice this afternoon!
I second what Annie-O said. Not all yoga teachers are created equal. My most recent class was taught by a nice but clueless woman. When I asked about her training, she told me that it was by one of the big name gyms and "it took around 20 hours to be trained - I don't know why they needed to make it so long!" She lead us in a stretching class, that's all. I was very disappointed but the newbies in the class thought it was great.
P.S. And she chatted and giggled throughout the entire class.
I've been doing yoga for a while now and I found you have to try out different instructors to find a good one. ellabee: this was not a yoga instructor, normally they need more hours until they are certified (200h-500h at least here in Canada) 20h is a joke.
I am sticking to my studio for now, I found myself giving up halfway through if I am doing it at home.. but maybe I will try again.
Annie-O: you had bad luck with the instructor, try different ones until you find the right one. All my instructors asking at the beginning of the class if anyone has injuries (personally, not in front of everyone) and give different levels during challenging poses.
Oh yay! The guy pictured for the testimonial is my yoga instructor!!
Finding a good teacher is really important. Iyengar teacher training is very rigorous, and the teachers tend to be very knowledgeable and committed. And not very woo-woo....
Thanks for the tips on videos to stream for at home practice! Does anyone else have video recommendations? Either online or to purchase. Thanks!
I agree that yoga should be covered by insurance! I've had less migraines, virtually no neck and back pain, and have yet to get sick (knock on wood) since I started yoga. I look forward to it so much. I'd like to have a space at home to do yoga (I rent a room so not likely right now), but even if I did I think I'd still go to a weekly class just for the guidance and atmosphere.
I JUST started a yoga class this week! I do believe you get what you pay for. I put off taking yoga for years saying it was just too expensive. Then, I realized I was worth it. I went to a well known yoga studio where they have hundreds of different classes. With previous problems (pinched nerve in neck and arthritis in lower spine), I opted for the Gentle and Therapeutic yoga class. It was hard, but I'll be back! I've thought of just starting to do a couple of poses (stretches) at home since I'm only going once a week. Comcast On demand also has some beginning yoga videos for free. Also, check your insurance! Carefirst at BlueCross/BlueShield (my insurance), gives discounts for some yoga instruction. You need to check with them first (online and type in your zip code and they will give you a list of instructors that will give the discount).
I go back and forth about yoga at home. It's convenient and relatively simple as an at-home practice, but there's no hot option. For me, the biggest benefit of yoga studios is being able to do heated classes. There's something about the heat that makes me feel good during and after class, even when I stopped doing Crazy Bikram and started doing more flow/fusion classes. There's just no way to replicate 100 degrees and anything approaching the right humidity in my house.
.... for most ppl, their wingspan is their height. Just one of those ratios that tend to be true.
I love practicing in my home studio, but sometimes it's not in the cards. I also like to mix it up. I often practice my own flow, but if I'm looking for inspiration, I stream classes from www.yogavibes.com . There's a huge range of styles, excellent teachers, and I love that they're real classes, not staged and perfect like videos are.
@ terraaustralis I recommend Shiva Rea. I have one of her DVDs and I would buy another in a heartbeat. She explains things well, there are modifications shown by others, she's encouraging and most important of all I do not find her annoying.
That said I am currently doing a DVD workout at home and am enrolled in a class at a yoga studio. I prefer being at home.
I've been taking yoga for 6 years, and I found a really great instructor from my first try. While I do some yoga @ home, my place is small and yoga on carpet is not ideal. And my home/neighborhood are too noisy.
What I like about going to class is the unexpected things the teacher will suggest or say. He's incredibly witty and will often make parallels between our real lives and yoga and having. An instructor can show you alternate poses if you've injuries. And I've made a few friends there, so it's a nice place to spend time.
I'm just starting out but my practice is entirely at home right now; I'm doing a "novice" half-hour class (from youtube) every night, and on weekends I do a heavier, harder class. The class is an hour; so far I've made it 37 minutes before collapsing in an exhausted heap. ^_^
I'm the opposite of most; if I haven't gotten comfortable with something at home, I have a hard time doing it publicly in a class. I spend all my time wondering if I "got my money's worth" instead of thinking about the class.
I happened on this post today - I must put in my 2 cents... There are many ways to become a yoga teacher, but a 20-hour training? I would steer clear, and make a point to vote with your feet on that...sounds scary... I did complete a 500 hour, nearly 2 year program. We had anatomy, some physiology, presentations on various other body systems. We taught each other, we taught classes (under lots of supervision), we read books, we discussed. We wrote sequences - literally hundreds of them. We did more than 20 hours in one weekend... we had to do a home practice. We breathed it, lived it...I was immersed for over 2 years. It was wild.
I only suggest you find very qualified teachers and to always be looking for someone who resonates with you. Even if you don't 'like' a teacher, they can (and will) teach you a lot. Begin to look at the class, what it offers you, other than just the physical. I had many teachers, and I learned and "got" something very different from each. All beneficial. I started to see how a variety of teachers could help me grow. I admit, I was in a very special situation, and it allowed me the freedom (i.e. time) to take classes and explore. I wish everyone had the opportunity! I highly recommend taking classes. I enjoy the energy of a group. And being a trained teacher, it's nice to go somewhere and have someone "tell me what to do" :) Sometimes it's nice to just be, and enjoy class.
I've done yoga off and on since I was a teenager. I originally was interested in it for stress relief & fell in love with it. It's more than just stretching... well, it is if you are open to that. For me, it teaches me about becoming one with my self and all else. When I was younger and doing it, my mom would say she could always tell when I'd just done a session of yoga, because it seemed like I was walking on air. Most of the time I do it at home, alone, but some times with a great teacher, a class is a great way of connecting with others. I love knowing we are all generating positive energy.
My older sister has benefitted greatly from yoga at home for years. She took classes before starting solo at home. Yoga's not supposed to be painful. If a pose hurts, then don't do it, or modify it to suit your own condition.
Yoga is a great way to stay healthy both physically and mentally. I prefer yoga in studios because I feel that the space cultivated at a yoga studio is very powerful. However, if you can't afford it then yoga at home is nice. I do notice that I do not push myself as much when I practice at home. If you are new to yoga I highly recommend checking out http://yogatrainingguide.com and www.yogajournal.com
I've been doing yoga at home off and on since a running injury in the fall. My biggest benefit is being able to do it without finding childcare since my two girls just play nearby. It's not always perfect, but it's cheap (we're on one income right now) and I love that my kids are interested. We've tried some kid yoga DVD's and they love it. I know it's not as good as having an instructor, but it works for me right now. I like the Namaste videos, and the Jillian Michaels fitness yoga. For my kids, Yoga Pizza Party. thanks for the interesting post!
uh oh- transformer matt listed as discontinued.
It's reminded me of my desire to find a non-plasticy matt. I wonder- cork yoga matts?
I have the room and experience to practice at home - and while I waited awhile for those things to line up, nothing beats the fabulous yoga studio i attend in my city. I'll admit that it tool me a looong time trying out different studios to find the perfect one - but once you do... It's heated, beautiful, and gets me out of the house (important since I work at home). The space, people and teachers are energizing! And they offer tons of community classes that are heavily discounted - otherwise the classes are the same - but they usually schedule them for off-peak hours. Perfect for the person that sets their own hours! That said, ideally I'd love to do a short yoga practice daily, even if it was just sun salutations.
It works much better for me to do it at home. I took a class recently and life kept getting in the way of getting there (for one thing, both my parents were in the hospital!) I have The Firm Power Yoga DVD and do that at home.
The other advantage to doing it at home is that my boyfriend is increasingly curious about it; he comes in when I'm doing my DVD and comments about how this would be a good practice to complement his cycling. I'm hopeful I can get him doing it with me soon. ;)