Yoga is a wonderful way to de-stress and detoxify your body. If you’re looking for a form of exercise that will help you build and tone lean muscle, while increasing your flexibility and mental clarity through regular, meditative practice, you may want to consider yoga.
However, studio sessions can be quite expensive. If you’re on a budget, an at-home yoga practice might be your best option. Whether you’re new to yoga or a seasoned veteran, starting an in-home regimen is not very difficult, and you can definitely do it on a tight budget! Here are some tips for starting a yoga practice at home.
#1: First, get all of your gear in order. At the very least, you need a good yoga mat. You may also want to invest in a strap, a bolster, and a pair of yoga blocks. (Those will be extremely helpful if you are not very flexible and just starting out.)
#2: Designate a space in your home to practice on a regular basis. It is best if you lay your mat on a hard surface so that it won’t slip, and make sure you have plenty of room to move and stretch.
#3: Decide how often and when you will practice. And don’t stop there! Put it on your calendar. Making it a task on your to-do list will help you stick to it. There will be days when you’ll wake up and won’t feel like exercising, but try to get in the habit of doing it anyway (unless you’re sick or injured.) Morning yoga is a great way to start your day and get your mind in gear for maximum productivity. Evening yoga is fantastic for winding down after a hard day’s work. You may want to consider your work schedule when deciding whether to practice at sun-up or sun-down, and vary the time according to your expectations for the rest of your day.
#4: Download a program from doyogawithme.com, and use it to guide you through your practice. Do Yoga With Me is a website full of free resources for aspiring yogis! There are tons of tutorials, videos, and programs you can do right in the comfort of your home without spending a dime. However, if you use it regularly and enjoy the videos, we recommend that you make a donation to support the creators and keep the site alive!
#5: Attend a yoga class in person once a month. This is optional, but I highly recommend it, simply because doing yoga in the presence of a professional, certified instructor can be extremely helpful. An instructor can assist you by assessing whether you’re performing certain stretches correctly, thereby helping you achieve more difficult poses with minimal risk for injury.
We occasionally hold a yoga class in our Charlotte chiropractic office for just $5! Call us at (980) 422-2000, or check out our events calendar to find out when the next session will be held and reserve your spot!