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4 Steps to Building (And Maintaining) Your Home Yoga Practice
Last year, Covid-19 forced most of us to move our workouts into our homes. Even with the ongoing openings, some yogis still prefer the safety & flexibility of working out at home, but find it difficult to curve out a dedicated space for your yoga practice. Find out how you can create a Zen spot for your every day yoga needs.
By Emily Graham || mightymoms.netNothing compares to practicing yoga with your community, but when you can’t be with your fellow yogis in person, cultivating a home practice is the next best thing. Some yogis, (even experienced ones), may feel overwhelmed when making decisions about, which room would work best and how much space is needed. There isn’t a right or wrong answer to these questions, but we hope to help you find the answers that will get you on your way.
#1 Prepare Your Space
If you want to create the experience of being at your favorite class, it’s worth setting up a home yoga space that has the features you’d expect from a professional studio. Start by choosing a room in your home that’s convenient and comfortable. Converting a spare room into a dedicated yoga space is ideal, but you can also clear a space in your living room, or even your bedroom.
Firstly, if your budget allows, it’s worth investing in flooring that has some give, such as rubber flooring. Additionally, think about other ways you can make the space ideal for yoga. For example, House Beautiful recommends decorating your home yoga space with colors that are light and soothing and with using warm lighting. A floor length mirror is highly recommended, so you can make self-corrections, and you’ll also need dedicated storage for your yoga props, such as a good sized floor basket or a spare drawer. You should also take steps to ensure this space is free of things that cause anxiety and stress, as this will ultimately distract from your yoga practice.
If you’re not sure how to get this process started, get in touch with the us… schedule your Discovery Call today.
#2 Find Your Groove
Now that your yoga space, or room, is set up, it’s time to plan your routine and structure your sessions. You have a couple of options to choose from and you may even find that you like a combination of several ideas. One option is to take an online class. The major benefit of these classes is, you get the guidance and expertise of your favorite instructors, plus it takes the guesswork out of your practice.
When you want to try something new, you can also create your own practice by incorporating specific moves. The best way to start is to find moves that fit where you are with your practice - and what your body and mind need most. For example, you could create a sequence that focuses on yoga for mental health. Simple poses like standing forward fold, dancer, and warrior 2 are a few mental health favorites. Another way to get started is to build a sequence based on a structure. Following this method, Yoga Journal recommends beginning with opening poses, then moving on to standing poses, inversions, and so on until you get to closing postures.
#3 Set a Schedule
When you practice yoga at home, you aren’t restricted by class times, which can be both helpful and challenging. You’re free to practice on your own schedule, but the key is to SET a schedule because that’s what will keep you on track. Some experts recommend doing yoga first thing in the morning before having breakfast, but of course, that timing isn’t ideal for everyone. The best timing is really whenever you can commit to doing it consistently. The one time you DON’T want to practice is right after a meal.
#4 Keep Going!
One of the hardest things about doing anything on your own, is that you also have to supply your own motivation. And while you may assume that motivation to practice yoga should come naturally, we all need a little boost at times. If your motivation needs a boost, try these tips from Treehugger, which include setting an intention for your practice and taking any pressure off of yourself to perform a certain way.
#namaste
On top of everything else you do, remember that your yoga community is never very far away. Your home yoga practice can’t replace regular classes, but it CAN be a great solution for those times when in-person class isn’t an option.
5 Simple Ideas To Keep Your Home Tidy and Restful
Our living environment plays a critical role in our everyday lives. You spend a lot of time at home, so shouldn’t it be a sanctuary that promotes rest and relaxation?
By Emily Graham || mightymoms.net Our living environment plays a critical role in our everyday lives. You spend a lot of time at home, so shouldn’t it be a sanctuary that promotes rest and relaxation?
While there are countless home improvement ideas out there, sometimes all you have to do is declutter and keep it all tidy. Clutter has proven to create or exacerbate stress, and getting rid of the clutter in your environment can significantly reduce your stress levels.
You might be wondering how you can possibly keep a tidier home with everything you have going on. Easier said than done, right? Well, we have listed 5 simple strategies to consider working into your schedule, that will prove well worth it in turning your home into a sanctuary.
1. Purge Your Closet… (this is a big one!)
A good first step is to go through your closet. If there are any items that you haven’t worn in the past year, do an honest self-assessment— ask yourself, will you actually wear them at all in the coming year? If not, chances are those pieces will forever sit in your closet, taking up space and collecting dust.
To start your purge, sort all your clothes into 3 piles; Keep, Toss, or Store. Gently-used items in your toss pile, can be sold online to pad your budget (ka-ching!), or consider donating them to a local nonprofit.
For more tips and tricks, check out How To Organize Your Closet
2. Declutter Everything Else
Once you’ve taken care of your closet, tackle the rest of your home, one room at a time. You might be surprised by how much décor and stuff you have lying around, that you don’t really need anymore. Consider storing away some of your sentimental pieces for safekeeping and minimizing your décor, furniture, and other elements to create more breathing room in your living environment.
3. Get Your Furniture Cleaned
If you have any upholstered furniture that’s seen better days, consider getting it cleaned. Along with helping your home look tidy, cleaning your furniture can remove bad odors, refresh the fabric, and make your pieces look new again.
Look to a site like Angi for online reviews to find a few furniture cleaning companies in your area. Once you’ve found several different companies, get some customer referrals and estimates before choosing who to hire.
TIP: If possible, avoid hiring cleaners who use all-in-one solutions.
4. Invest in attractive storage solutions.
Another way to keep your home tidy is to find storage solutions to incorporate into your interior design. Using the right storage allows you to keep everything you need within reach, without cluttering up the space. Invest in shelving and closed storage like jars, bins and containers. These solutions that will help you stay organized while adding to the overall aesthetic of each room.
TIP: Start with your pantry!
5. Come Up with A Cleaning Routine
Taking a weekend or two to deep clean your home can make a major difference in fostering rest and relaxation.
Develop a routine for keeping your living space clean and tidy. Your cleaning schedule will largely depend on your lifestyle and obligations. Some people clean for 15 minutes a day, some tackle one room a day, and others clean for a little longer every few days. Figure out a regiment that helps you to maintain a comfortable, clean, and organized living environment.
TIP: Don’t let this mount up. Deep cleaning your home regularly and keeping a tide home will keep your stress levels down.
In The End…
Your home should be a place where you can escape your daily obligations and find rest. Consider the tips above for making and keeping your living environment clean and tidy. Not only will your home look more appealing, but it will also benefit your overall health and well-being in the process.
Till next time… #livelifebeautifully
Hugs
Lynda
Don’t miss another post!
For Goodness Sake! Wallpaper Your Powder Room - and have fun with it!
The Power Room, aka ½ Bath, aka Guest Bath, is usually a room that is largely ignored. See the different ways you can give this room the BIG personality it deserves!
I always push for the opportunity to use wallpaper on all my projects, because Wallpaper is AMAZING! For my clients who are unsure about designing a room with wallpaper, I always push to have it, at the very least, in the powder room.
Let’s face it, this room is one of the most boring rooms in the house. It was usually a 2 piece bath, with a mirror, no windows and poor lighting and yet, it is a room that is used and seen the most by all your guests.
For this reason, I think there is an opportunity to make a big/huge impression, while people handle business in those 10 (less) minutes they spend in there.
When you design your powder room, either extend your theme into this room, or give it it’s very own personality, which is my fav approach.
Here are some examples of powder rooms done right! Let me know which is your fav!
Loving the Shift to Black Hardware & Trim
While I still love brass/gold hardware, I can’t ignore all the matte black finishes that have been making an entry to the design scene. Check out these examples
Ok, Let’s talk black hardware and trim. For the last 2-3 years, gold and brass have been the go-to alternatives to chrome and nickel fixtures. But lately, Matte Black has been steadily growing as a popular finish and I must say, I’m loving it!
From shower enclosures, to light fixtures, to cabinet pulls, the contrast between the black and white backgrounds, give the spaces a clean, sleek and modern feel.
Here are great examples of how you could incorporate black in your next project and let me, would you install a black faucet in your next kitchen project?
Albert Albright Photography
Michelle Dirkse
Patterson Custom Homes
ArentPyke
VIGO
Studio McGee
Sarah Stacey Design
Rejuvenation
Till next time, have a great day!
Lynda
