Home Practice Myths
by Erica Rodefer
Winters; writer and yoga teacher in Charleston, South Carolina.
Visit her blog, Spoiledyogi.com
Read full article here: Yoga Journal Blogs / The Good Life / Home Practice Myths
"There are a million reasons to practice at home, all by yourself. From
having the freedom to do whatever poses you like, learning to listen to
your own intuition about what suits your energy, and an opportunity to
play and explore to learn more about yourself."
Read full article here: Yoga Journal Blogs / The Good Life / Home Practice Myths
"While, I’ve always known that a home practice would be beneficial in
myriad ways, but for years I just couldn’t do it no matter how much I
wanted to. Why? I was buying into some of the most common myths about
how a home practice should be instead of making it work in my situation.
Thankfully a few years ago one of my teachers taught a class about
“demystifying” home practice. It doesn’t have to be so complicated, he
said. In fact, most of the people he knew who have consistent home
practices enjoy their asana along with a cup of coffee, a newspaper, or
at the very least a bit of conversation. When I heard this, a light bulb
went on in my head. All of those times when I got back from class and
just had to try that new pose I had learned again and again really does
count as a home practice?! Maybe I’m not such a bad yoga student after
all! Suddenly it wasn’t quite as challenging to practice at home, and I
was able to do so with more consistency.
Here are a few of the myths that have halted my home yoga practice in the past, but no more!"
"You have find a time a place to be uninterrupted.
If
you’re waiting for the perfect window to practice at home, it’s never
going to happen. The second I get out my yoga mat, my dog comes running.
(She sees it as an opportunity to shower me with licks. This is sweet,
but not exactly conducive to a relaxing asana session.) In fact, this is
one of the best lessons I’ve taken away from my home practice. There
will be interruptions. There will be surprises. There will be plenty of
“uh ohs” and “oh nos.” Can you take a deep breath, gather your focus,
and start again? If you practice doing this when something disrupts your
home practice, you’ll be better prepared for when it happens in life."
(Seriously, another great read by Erica on her personal blog Spoiled Yogi; 10 Most Annoying Home Practice Distractions)
"You need a dedicated space just for yoga.
That’s nice in an ideal world. In
my
world, my mat is often surrounded by baby and/or dog toys that I don’t
feel like cleaning up because as soon as naptime is over they’re going
to find their way onto the floor again. Sometimes, I don’t even bother
to unroll my mat. Maybe it’s lazy, but I think of it as putting my
energy into what really matters. I don’t have an altar. I don’t light
candles. I just move and breathe."
"You have to practice for an extended period of time.
Just taking five minutes to stretch your hamstrings and take deep breaths can completely shift your day."
"You need to be a yoga teacher and know how to sequence a class.
Even if you do know a lot about sequencing, it can be way more fun to
experiment and to see what works best for you. I love practicing at home
because I can break all the rules, do what feels good to me in the
moment, and just have fun."
Read full article here: Yoga Journal Blogs / The Good Life / Home Practice Myths
While Yoga and Pilates differ in technique the similarities of how and when to practice seem to go hand in hand as well as the home practice myths that go along which each.
Please visit Erica Rodefer
Winters blog here Spoiledyogi.com
