How to Create the Perfect Home Yoga Space

Yoga has become an essential escape for countless people as our world continues to become faster-paced. Yoga studios provide an opportunity for community and exposure to additional teachings; however, having the opportunity to have a home practice develops your consistency and gives you privacy while also giving you the opportunity to develop your own practice. The environment in which you perform yoga greatly impacts the quality of the yoga you do. If your space is messy or chaotic, then you are creating a messy and/or chaotic space in your mind; therefore, the opposite is true as well: when your space is created with purpose and intention, that space becomes a reminder for your brain to slow down, to breathe, and to focus.This guide explores every element required to build a dedicated yoga sanctuary in your home, regardless of your budget or square footage.1.  Choosing the Right Location :Evaluating Available Area
Find an area that is large enough to hold your yoga mat (the average size is 24" x 68") and gives you two feet of clearance on each of the four sides. This allows you room to fully stretch your arms and legs out to their full length in postures such as Supta Padangusthasana (Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose) and Natarajasana (Dancer Pose), without hitting or coming into contact with any furniture or walls.

The 'Wall Test': Stand in the middle of your prospective yoga area, then extend your arms the full width (side to side) and rotate in circles. You have enough area to practice a basic flow if you have not come into contact with anything in the process.

Consider Flooring: Hardwood floors or laminate flooring are great surfaces to practice on and ensure proper support for your body as opposed to soft, cushy surfaces; carpeting can make it difficult for you to perform balance postures correctly; however, a high-density yoga mat can decrease the risk if you have to practice on carpeting. If you must practice on concrete or tile, think about getting a thicker mat or putting down an area rug for extra support for your joints.

Giving Priority to Quietness and Privacy
The ideal location for you would be a quiet area of your home where there isn't a great deal of traffic or noise. If you live with others, be proactive in letting people know when you are practicing, whether that means communicating your schedule or using some type of visual signal (i.e., closed doors or a specific sign) to show others that you are practicing. If you can't get quiet, you may want to buy noise-canceling headphones or a white noise machine to help block out distractions so that you can fully focus on your practice.2. Lighting: Create Atmosphere
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of creating an atmosphere. The number of lights and their brightness will influence how much energy is in the space.

Natural Light
If there is a window in your practice area, use it to your advantage! The sun’s rays increase serotonin levels and regulate our inner clock which is why practicing in the morning is so beneficial. On days when the weather is overcast, keep your curtains open to create as much illumination as possible, as natural light wherever possible is always beneficial.

Artificial Light
When it comes to artificial lighting, avoid using bright overhead lights if you wish to achieve relaxed states of mind. Bright lights do not provide relaxation to the brain; rather they provide alertness.

Dimmers
Dimmable switches can help you move from intense power yoga sessions into restorative/yin yoga sessions without having to completely turn off the lights.

Lamps/Sconces
Using warm colored floor standing lamps (2700K-3000K) to illuminate the practice area produces natural looking atmospheric conditions.

Candles
Candles' flickering light has a naturally calming effect and produces a "hypnotic" state for meditation. For safety purposes when active during outdoor practice, consider using LED Candles, however do not use them if you do not feel comfortable lighting them.

3. Supplies and Props That Are Needed
Your yoga area needs to have all of the items that you need so that you do not have to interrupt your practice to retrieve a prop.

The Mat
You should consider your mat to be your private island. You need to purchase a yoga mat that will be suitable for your style of practice.

Grip: A non-slip grip is essential in a vinyasa style or ashtanga style yoga mat; otherwise, you will slip off your mat.

Cushioning: You should purchase a yoga mat that is thicker than 6mm if you have sensitive knees and do restorative yoga.

Material: If you are an eco-friendly yoga practitioner, you may want to choose a non plastic based yoga mat, such as a mat made from natural rubber, cork, or jute.

Difference Between Blocks
Props are not only helpful for beginners; they help even the most experienced practitioners get deeper into their poses.

Blocks: Cork blocks are dense and heavy; therefore, they provide excellent support. If you plan to use blocks for under your head or your back, you should use foam blocks since they are lightweight and soft.

Straps: You can use straps for stretching the hamstrings and also for binding in certain poses if you lack flexibility.

Bolsters: Bolsters are cylindrical pillows; you can use them in restorative yoga for opening the chest or supporting the hips.

Blankets: You can use yoga blankets from Mexico to provide support for seated positions or provide warmth in the Corpse Pose.Design & Aesthetics
The visual impact on the mat is a reflection of how you feel about practice. A key goal of this design and aesthetics will be to create "visual quietness".

Colour Psychology
Earthy Colours - soft beige, soft brown and terracotta shades offer grounding energy.

Cool colours - blue and green are associated to Nature and Water and evoke a feeling of tranquillity, focus, and calmness.

Whites/Creams - create a visual sense of cleanliness and openness, allowing people to see through small rooms.

Bright Reds / Neons - easily overstimulate you and create unnecessary anxiety.

Biophilic Design - Using plants brings us closer to the natural world in our artificial environments and has been proven to reduce stress levels.

Living Green - Snake Plant, Pothos, and Peace Lilies are wonderful indoor Air Purifiers, create visual and auditory interest.

Natural Materials - wood, stone, bamboo and wicker are all materials that will add beauty to your space while avoiding plastic materials.

The Eye - when we do yoga, we focus on something known as Drishti, this is a focal point. Creating a physical focal point in your yoga room will assist in maintaining your balance and attention while you practice. Examples of focal points include:

1. Art that creates calmness.
2. Statues or other figurines e.g. Buddha, Ganesha, abstract art.
3. Simple Mandala Tapestries
4. Beautiful crystals or stones that admirably occupy one singular space.5. Engaging your senses with Aromatherapy and Sound through Yoga.

Yoga is a sensory experience and adding smell and sound gives it an added level of immersion.

Aromatherapy

The sense of smell connects to the part of our brain that processes emotions known as the limbic system.

The best way to utilize essential oils when practicing yoga is to diffuse them with an essential oil diffuser.

Using Incense can be a great tool for cleansing the energy of the room, but be cautious as the smoke may interfere with breathing during Pranayama.

Essential Oils to Consider for Yoga Practice:

Lavender: Can be used for relaxation at night before bed.

Peppermint or Lemon: Can be used for energizing in the morning; helpful for morning yoga practices.

Sandalwood and Frankincense: Used during deep meditation or grounding practices.

The Soundscape

Silence is a rare commodity in our daily lives, however it is important during a yoga session. Create a Soundscape to cover those external distractions with an array of sounds and silence.

To create your Soundscape, consider the following options:

Music: Compile a list of songs that create a specific mood. Examples are: "Morning Flow", "Deep Stretch", and "Power Hour".

Sound Bowls: Use a Tibetan Singing Bowl to set the atmosphere for your yoga practice, ringing the bowl at the beginning and end of your practice.

Technology: You will typically only need a small Bluetooth speaker to play music during your yoga practice. Using your phone as a speaker is not recommended due to the possibility of notifications interrupting your vibe.There is a direct correlation between cluttered environments and uninspired minds. Clutter is a form of distraction, and practising the niyama of Saucha encourages the practitioner to create a clean, organised environment.

Storage Ideas

Baskets: A basket is an ideal solution for storing your mat and blanket when they are not in use.

Shelves: Floating shelves are perfect for storing accessories, blocks, and all the decorative touches to enhance your practice space, without taking away from the floor plan.

Invisible Storage Solutions: If you practice in your living room, you can create an area that instantly converts back into a living space after you finish practising. Use an ottoman with storage or trunk on which to tuck away your practice equipment until you are ready to use them again.There is a direct correlation between cluttered environments and uninspired minds. Clutter is a form of distraction, and practising the niyama of Saucha encourages the practitioner to create a clean, organised environment.

Storage Ideas

Baskets: A basket is an ideal solution for storing your mat and blanket when they are not in use.

Shelves: Floating shelves are perfect for storing accessories, blocks, and all the decorative touches to enhance your practice space, without taking away from the floor plan.

Invisible Storage Solutions: If you practice in your living room, you can create an area that instantly converts back into a living space after you finish practising. Use an ottoman with storage or trunk on which to tuck away your practice equipment until you are ready to use them again.There is a direct correlation between cluttered environments and uninspired minds. Clutter is a form of distraction, and practising the niyama of Saucha encourages the practitioner to create a clean, organised environment.

Storage Ideas

Baskets: A basket is an ideal solution for storing your mat and blanket when they are not in use.

Shelves: Floating shelves are perfect for storing accessories, blocks, and all the decorative touches to enhance your practice space, without taking away from the floor plan.

Invisible Storage Solutions: If you practice in your living room, you can create an area that instantly converts back into a living space after you finish practising. Use an ottoman with storage or trunk on which to tuck away your practice equipment until you are ready to use them again.There is a direct correlation between cluttered environments and uninspired minds. Clutter is a form of distraction, and practising the niyama of Saucha encourages the practitioner to create a clean, organised environment.7. Using Technology
If you're a home practitioner, you most likely utilize online platforms for your practice (e.g., YouTube, Zoom, Apps). When incorporating technology into your practice, try to use technology as an aide-instead of letting technology be the center of your practice.

Screen Placement: When practicing yoga seated or standing, make sure to have your computer/tablet/TV at your eye level, looking down at something like a phone will cause you to strain your neck and not maintain proper alignment.

Do Not Disturb: To maintain a focused meditative state, having your phone set to "Do Not Disturb" is important. A notification for a new email may distract you from your meditation practice.

Using Timers: If you practice yoga on your own and wish to utilize a timer, use a dedicated meditation timer or sand hourglass rather than using your phone to prevent the temptation to scroll through apps and social media.The process of developing a suitable yoga area in your home is an ongoing project. It does not have to involve costly renovation or hiring an expert designer – it requires a thoughtful approach. Through careful consideration of where you will practice yoga, the type of lighting you prefer, what props you will use and what sights and sounds will appeal to your senses, you will create a boundary for your practice.

A physical representation of the self-care you provide, this area holds emotional and spiritual significance. As the energy that is created within this area accumulates over time, zoiden, way can simply stepping into the space elicit a cellular response of relaxation in your body-creating your haven to come alive to breathe, move and exist.