Limber Llama Yoga
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Schedule
    • Classes
    • Workshops
  • Programs
    • Private Sessions
    • Corporate Yoga
    • Kids + Teens Yoga
    • Pre + Post Natal Yoga
  • Free for You
  • Blog
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Schedule
    • Classes
    • Workshops
  • Programs
    • Private Sessions
    • Corporate Yoga
    • Kids + Teens Yoga
    • Pre + Post Natal Yoga
  • Free for You
  • Blog

the llama blog

practicing yoga off the mat.

Building a Home Practice

3/21/2016

0 Comments

 
​“How often should I practice yoga?”  This is a question I regularly receive as a yoga teacher.  My answer is always, “every day or as often as you’re able.”  Yoga (both its physical and spiritual aspects) take practice to master.  The more time you devote to it, the easier the poses will seem, the deeper your meditations will feel, and the stronger your self-relationship will be.
 
What will you gain from a home yoga practice?  You develop confidence. You become more knowledgeable about your body and how it functions.  You grow exponentially between classes.  You deepen your love for yourself, and to top it off, your practice becomes a self-indulgent treat you can do any day for free.
 
Getting Started:
 
Pick a consistent time of day that works for you.  Are you a morning person or night owl?  Are you able to break for lunch for a practice?  Schedule your practice and set up a calendar reminder for your time.  If you treat it like you would a doctor’s appointment or important meeting, it will happen.
 
Choose a quiet location.  Sure, we live in a world of constant noise, but to begin a practice, it’s best to find a space where you won’t be distracted by the TV, washing machine or family.  Unroll your mat, and leave it in that quiet space to help motivate you to practice.
 
Determine how long you will practice.  It’s better to do a little movement everyday than 90 minutes once a month.  Aim to practice 5 to 20 minutes in the beginning adding and subtracting to what your schedule allows.  Does your mind think endlessly about your to-do list?  Set an alarm on your phone so you can allow your mind to rest, and enjoy your practice.
 
Listen to your body.  What do you need today, and how much time do you have?  If you’re feeling tired, you may choose a gentler practice or even move slower.  If you need energizing, you may move vigorously through a few sun salutations or attempt a challenging pose.
 
Choose 3-5 poses that you enjoy so you are excited to roll out your mat each day.  Notice how your body responds differently to these poses each time you practice.  Today’s down dog may feel stiff and achy while tomorrow’s feels open and expanding. 
 
Move in all directions. Here’s a little secret about my own sequencing for classes – while I sequence to a theme like hip opening, I aim to move students forward, backward, side-to-side and even twist.  All of these movements release tension and give you that “yoga high” you enjoy after a class.
 
End every practice with savasana and/or meditation.  One of the hardest, but most important pieces to a yoga practice is uniting the mind, body and breath.  We are constantly on-the-go, and our bodies need stillness.  Practice any breathing exercise or meditation you enjoy.
 
Let’s do it together.  Yoga every day starting today.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Limber Llama Yoga                                                         240.818.1682
Proudly powered by Weebly