Buzz
While I only practice yoga occasionally, I’ve noticed that dedicated yogis often emphasize the importance of their 'practice.' Essentially, if you’re truly passionate about yoga, you don’t need to rely on scheduled classes or YouTube videos. You can focus on what you need, wherever and whenever it suits you. If you’re participating in our December yoga challenge, this is an excellent opportunity to establish your personal home practice.
Choose a Specific Time and Location
Like any routine, setting a specific time and place for your yoga sessions increases the likelihood of sticking to it. Do you have a yoga mat, props, and a dedicated space? Do you prefer starting your day with yoga to feel energized, or winding down with it in the evening?
To incorporate yoga into your daily or weekly schedule consistently, carve out a dedicated time slot. For example, you could always reserve 20 minutes before breakfast to focus on your practice.
Create a Plan and Establish Structure
Begin by reflecting on what you enjoy most about the yoga classes you’ve attended. Are you a fan of sun salutation sequences, where you transition from standing to the ground and back up repeatedly? Or do you prefer focusing on standing poses or balance exercises, taking your time to perfect each movement?
You don’t need to have a rigid plan for your yoga session from the start. It’s perfectly fine to begin with familiar poses and let your intuition guide you. However, it can be helpful to designate certain moves or sequences for warming up (like cat/cow or gentle sun salutations) and others for cooling down (such as inversions or corpse pose).
Yoga Journal offers a helpful guide on which poses work best for different parts of your practice. Once you’ve identified a few favorites—and yes, it’s perfectly fine to bring a notebook to your mat—you can create a fluid sequence by selecting poses from each category as you go.
Enjoy the Process
If downward dogs aren’t your thing, skip them entirely. If challenging balance poses like crow pose excite you, set up some pillows for safety and give it your best shot. This is your practice, and you have the freedom to tailor it to your preferences.
Feel free to play your favorite music during your session, move at your own pace, or even follow a yoga video when you’re not in the mood to plan your own routine. This time is entirely yours—make the most of it.
