Practical ways to make your home yoga practice really happen

Everyone struggles with achieving a home yoga practice consistently and everyone beats themselves up about not achieving it, at some point. 


Whether you are trying to do this for the first time, or if you previously had a regular home practice and can’t understand why it’s so difficult to re-establish it, we all love making ourselves our own judge, jury and executioner.


(Surely, the phrase should put the jury first? I’ve always wondered about that.)


Here are some practical ways recommended by teachers way more experienced than me – I hope some of them help:

Plan it. The boring task of simply blocking out a period of time on a day and time is the first step in making sure practice happens. Write your practice times in your diaries and hold yourself to them, just as you would a professional appointment or a lunch date with a friend.

Write down your Why-Power. Decide why you want to do this (and if you can’t think of a good enough reason to do a home yoga practice just don’t do it.) Write down the benefits somewhere to remind yourself of why it’s better for you to do it than avoid it. Phone alerts, post-it notes, and text messages to yourself are all good!

Start small. Set yourself up for success by making your practice plan highly realistic and utterly doable for you given everything else you’ve got going on in your life. Remember, you can always do more. Be willing to do less if needed too; even 15 minutes is better than nothing!

Consistent doesn’t mean every day. Think ‘regular’ – you can always add if you want to make practice more regular.

Have your equipment out and visible. Leaving the mat in a place you will always see it makes it more likely that you’ll use it.

Practice as early in the day as you can. Although everyone’s body clock and home commitments are different, it is generally accepted that getting your practice in before anything else can get in the way not only makes it more likely for your practice to happen, it also allows you to enjoy the benefits of your practice all day long.

Welcome yourself to practice with complete and utter self-acceptance. Start by acknowledging that you are exactly where you are. Take a moment to sit before you begin or while you are rolling your mat out, to consciously acknowledge yourself with appreciation for coming to your mat. Welcome yourself, as you are, to your practice. No judgment or self-criticism allowed. If either of those unwanted guests arrive, once you notice them, release them with your breath and come back to the feeling of acceptance and allowing.

Start with something you love that feels great in your body. It might simply be lying down on your back with your knees bent into your chest and rolling around. It might be stretching your legs up the nearest wall for a few minutes. A few rolls of your shoulders or your wrists. Anything you remember or anything you love to do is a great place to start.

Observe the effects of your practice. Have a small notebook near you, and at the end of practice take a couple of minutes to write down how you feel, the effects of your practice, any insights, or questions. Or, simply notice and comment on the effects of your practice inwardly at the end of practice.

Thank yourself for showing up. Whatever your practice was like, even when it falls short of your expectations, be grateful that you did it. Some simple ways to do this are by bringing your hands together in the centre of your chest, bowing your head toward your heart, or spending a moment of conscious breathing and self-connection as you conclude your practice for the day. Inwardly expressing appreciation to yourself for your efforts makes it easier for you to come back next time.

Enjoy!