How to Create a Daily Yoga Practice

If you've tried yoga, you've probably heard something about creating a daily practice at home. If you attend classes, the teacher may have mentioned that even a few minutes of yoga practice per day are more helpful than a couple of weekly classes. Many beginning students may feel, though, that creating a home routine would be too difficult or time-consuming.

Keep It Simple

Creating a home yoga practice doesn't have to be complicated. The most important factor is setting aside a few minutes each day, free from interruptions if possible. If you have trouble carving out the time, consider getting up early, or designing a relaxing routine to use just before bed. Any time will do, as long as it's not right after a meal. If you have a yoga mat, make space to roll it out. If not, practice on a carpet, or use a large towel.

Shop Around

Experiment with different styles of yoga. If you have access to classes, try a few and see which type you like best. If you're not able to take classes, check out at least a couple of yoga books or videos. This is important, because you have extremely diverse options within yoga, ranging from athletic Ashtanga to graceful Vinyasa and the deep, slow stretches of restorative yoga.

Balance Your Body

While it's tempting to just pick your favorite poses, it's important to include the exercises that challenge you most, too. Another factor to consider is which muscles each pose activates. Choose poses that strengthen and stretch each major muscle group, for the most balanced routine.

If you're new to yoga, consider starting with a routine from a book, video or class. Notice how the different poses flow together and work different parts of your body to create a sense of balance. As you practice your routine, adjust it to include any other poses you really enjoy, and leave out those that don't seem to do much for you.

Warm Up and Cool Down

While the asanas or poses are the meat (or maybe tofu) of your practice, meditation and relaxation are traditionally part of a yoga routine. Start your practice by sitting comfortably and focusing on your breathing for at least a minute or so, and finish by lying flat on your back in Savasana pose. Breathe deeply and focus on relaxing each part of your body in turn, bringing your mind and body into an extremely peaceful and comfortable state that you may carry with you as you continue with your day.