a not-so-basic approach to creating a magical home practice

If you’re anything like me, and you’re missing spending time immersed in the community and magic of a yoga studio, this guide may be just the thing for you. I’m sure we all have an idea of what we need in order to create a home practice space.

A clear spot. Maybe light a candle or two. Turn the lights down. Roll out your mat. Settle in.

And while those are all good suggestions, there is so much more that you can do to create the magical studio-like space in your home. Here are some simple + effective little hacks to take your home practice experience from mundane, to sacred.

1. Welcome yourself into new energy.

Simply just leave your space before you start practicing. This might look like going for a walk around the block, or even getting in your car to replicate the experience of “driving to the studio.” It might even just be going to stand on your front stoop for a couple of minutes.

What this does is creates a separation of energetic space. It creates a refreshed perspective of entering into your practice.

Especially when we are spending so many more hours in our homes these days. Our homes, our spaces of sleeping and living and eating and practicing yoga, all become a little bit more mundane. They lack interest and excitement. They start to seem more dull and profane. The space is fully associated with moving through the motions of our day-to-day needs and norms.

Break that up. Create the energetic space for your practice. Invite in the sacred, the intentional, the magical.

2. Invite negative ions into your space.

This might seem counter-intuitive. Don’t we want to eliminate negative energy in our spaces?!!?!? Don’t we have enough negative energy?

Contrary to what we first might think, negative ions bring us the best feeling energy.

It is so easy to bring negative ions into your space. Things that emit negative ions include: salt lamps (although this is debated… perhaps tourmaline ($$!) would be better), essential oil diffusers, beeswax candles, plants (different plants have different abilities to emit negative ions), and you can simply just find ionic air purifiers.

Essentially what these negative ions provide are the feelings you get after the rain, in a thunderstorm or near a waterfall. It’s the feeling of sunlight on your skin. It’s so calming and makes you feel at ease. Comforted. Content.

Air ions are electrically changed molecules or atoms in the atmosphere. Negative ions gain electrons, while positive ions lose an electron. Negative ions attract and bind with positive air ions causing charge neutralization of air ions. The same thing happens with airborne pollutions, which results in them settling down to the ground rather than being inhaled.

There are studies done that demonstrate that the introduction of negative-ions into the space around you increase relaxation and mental alertness, decrease irritability and tension, enhance motor performance and energy level, and alleviates depressed mood. It also lower psychological stress, levels of anxiety, and enhances sense of well-being. And the opposite is true, too! Concentrations of positive ions produce tension, irritability, depression, insomnia, social withdrawal, and reduce motor performance. The levels of negative and positive ions in the air are also thought to be linked to our levels of serotonin (one of the neurohormones responsible for our mood regulators). There is research done that supports that negative air ions may help relieve allergies to dust, mold spores and other allergens. Also, there is research supporting the boost of immune system functioning. Who woulda thunk!?

Personally, my practice space is right in between my kitchen and my living room in a one bedroom apartment and it makes all the difference making it feel so special.

3. Practice with your eyes closed.

We all miss the space of our studios. We all miss practicing in a room filled with people, and collective energy. The magic that happens when we are all together. There are certain things that we long for. We have certain ideas of what the space looks like, what it feels like, the regular students that pop in to classes, what the hallway looked like, what the smell of the place was. What would happen if simply just closed your eyes, allowed yourself to remember it all, and imagined yourself within that space, within your mind, as you practiced? You imagine it, and through your memory of it, you immerse yourself in it. Allow yourself to tune into that world. There is so much power in our thoughts and in our minds, and that can go a really long way.

Now, of course if you are practicing with your eyes closed, and if it is a guided class that you’re following along, it can be helpful to find teachers that are very clear and specific with their instructions. Especially if you’re newer to yoga, or you’re not so familiar with the postures. Instead of constantly checking in visually with the class that’s playing, find the instructors that you’re familiar with or that provide very clear cueing.
This way you can really let yourself tune in, focus in, and be with yourself.

4. Use wireless Bluetooth headphones.

So much of our experiences are about sound. And when the sound, the instruction and the music of a class is distanced, it makes us feel separate from it. When we put the sound right in our ears, we bring that experience so much closer. It removes more of the sounds from our house, our outside environment, our families, our pets, etc. and gives us an undisturbed focus on what we are hearing. The sound, the practice, the music, the instruction, is right there in your head. It allows you to really zone in and feel the shared sense of community with the classes you’re taking. And bluetooth is great because then there aren’t any cords.

5. Find creative ways to bring in what you’re nostalgic for.

Replicate the things that you can that the studio had. Diffuse the essential oils that they diffused, get the props that they had, use the playlists that they did. Find a familiar instructor that taught at the studio and is now teaching online. Investing in the actual props of a yoga props. Make the space that you desire. It’s much more simple than you think, and much more important than you may think. This practice of yoga, and this community - even virtual - is so important. Find your ways to embrace it.

What are your favourite ways to create a special space to practice in?

(Even if you’re space isn’t really all that special... or it’s really small.... or next to the litter box.... or a giant pile of lego.)