We know how tricky it can be to keep up a consistent yoga practice at home, especially when you’re used to practicing in a beautiful, fragrant, warm, cosy, perfect cocoon. To help make things a little easier, we’ve put together a list of ways to make the most of your home practice.
Stick to a schedule.
One of the challenges of practicing yoga at home is keeping up a routine, since nobody will actually know if you skip your class to watch TV or just have a lie in. The best way to overcome this is by setting a schedule for yourself and sticking to it, like you would if you were booking classes at a studio. Live online yoga classes are also a great way to stay motivated and try a variety of teachers and timetable options. You can book live online Hotpod classes via our website or app.
Dim the lights.
One of the great things about practicing in a darker space is that you’re not distracted by your surroundings. So we recommend turning down the lights as much as possible, and covering any mirrors so you can really tune into how you’re feeling rather than what the poses look like.
Set the soundtrack.
Music is an integral part of HPY classes, so why not make it a part of your home practice too? If you head to our Spotify page, you’ll see we’ve put together loads of great playlists to accompany your flows. We even have special playlists for Nurturing and Dynamic classes.
Find your fragrance.
Scent is one part of a Hotpod class that’s super simple to recreate at home. Just add a few drops of essential oil to any diffuser and you’ll transform your savasana into a multi-sensory experience. We love our signature blend of lavender, orange and bergamot because it’s the perfect combination of calming and energising, but you can also play around with other essential oils to suit your own practice.
Get warm and cosy.
To be clear, we don’t recommend setting your home heating to 37 degrees. However, practicing in a warm and cosy space will help your muscles relax, so turning the heat up slightly might be a good idea. If you are in a chilly room, you might find that you aren’t able to go as deep into postures as you normally would, so be sure to take your flow at a slower pace to avoid injury.
Flow with a friend.
Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean that your home yoga practice needs to be a solitary one. Making plans to practice with a member of your household, or remotely with a friend or family member can be a great way to stick to a routine and also replicate the social experience of attending group class. You might be able to persuade that stubborn friend or family member to finally try yoga for the first time.
Practice with props.
When practicing yoga at home without a teacher present, it’s especially important to be safe. Using props such as straps and blocks can help you get into poses safely and avoid injury. If you don’t have any yoga props at home, you could use books as blocks and a belt or scarf as a strap.
To purchase Hotpod Yoga products, contact your local studio or have a browse of our online store.