HOME PRACTICE
Written end of August 2020
There has been a lot of talk about HOME PRACTICE during the pandemic. Many years ago I was pushed by a friend to practice at home. At the time I was living in Oakland, California and having a hard time getting myself to the studio. My friend encouraged me to practice at home and it sounds funny to me now, but it was completely novel to me. Shortly after I began practicing at home, my Dad landed in intensive care at a hospital in Florida. I found myself packing my yoga mat on a trip to be with my dad that lasted close to two months.
My yoga mat ended up being my lifeline during a time where I spent most of each day in a hospital at my Dad's side. This is where I learned that I could practice anywhere, on a concrete slab outside the hospital, in a hotel, or at the park.
Before I share some home practice tools with you I want to emphasize that I don't believe that you need ANY of this to practice. Let your practice begin with you.
Light it up: Burn sage or light a candle to set the mood for your practice. This can also be helpful in creating a ritual with your practice.
Music: Most of the time I practice without music. When I want to increase my energy output I choose something with a beat or my happy music. When I want the energy of the music, but I don't want to be distracted by lyrics about romance and such, I turn my Pandora station to Krishna Das. This has led me to other artists that create yoga-inspired music.
Read: A poem. A sutra. Yoga philosophy. Alignment instructions.
Track: You can keep notes on your practice in a journal or make a notation on your calendar when you practice. The app, Insight Timer, has a feature to time and track your practice. I have found these tools helpful in keeping me honest with myself. It is also fun to look back on reflections from practices years ago for learning and growth.
These are just a few ideas to assist you in creating the container for your practice. Seriously, you don't need any of this. You don't even need a mat. Of course, a mat can enhance your practice. That is, unless it has lost it's stick and become a magic carpet. In that case, lose the mat and keep practicing!