Whether you want to take up yoga practice or have already been an avid yoga aficionado for years, creating a personal and dedicated yoga space in your home can have many benefits. Some benefits will seem obvious to you, but you may be surprised to discover new ones among the 6 that I mention below in a first part.
Next, we are going to explore the different steps you can take to create your own yoga studio at home because yes, where you roll out your yoga mat does matter. Like libraries, massage parlors, or cinemas, yoga studios also have their own atmosphere and are often an invitation to well-being to make your practice even more enjoyable. Have you ever walked into a yoga studio feeling directly more peaceful and dreaming of being able to transport yourself there at any time of the day or night?
Well how about being able to get there without having to leave your house? Here's what I'm going to help you achieve by presenting 8 different steps to inspire you.
Why you need a dedicated yoga space?
1. To switch your mind off
The first advantage of a dedicated yoga space at home is that it allows you to disconnect from the external world but also from any concerns about the household.
Moreover, in addition to the fact that it adds an attractive additional feature to the house, a dedicated yoga space in the house also brings peace of mind. Indeed, knowing that this space is available to us at any time of the day or night allows us to be more relaxed, mindful and creative.
We know that we have a calming and shooting place available that takes us away and protects us from the stresses of the outside world while immersing us in a peaceful state of mind.
A dream, isn’t it?
2. To remove all the annoyances of having to go and practice yoga in a studio or gym place
The second advantage of a home yoga space is that it saves time, money, energy while being able to make the experience of practicing yoga sometimes more pleasant and less stressful.
By cutting out travel distance and designated class schedules, and not having to find and pay for parking, a personal yoga space gives you the freedom to practice on your own time, whether you’ve got an hour or five minutes.
And since an online practice costs less than a yoga studio membership, it also helps you save money, not to mention the price of oil and on-site parking in some cases. This is a no-brainer!
And the cherry on the cake is that you won't have to endure the crowds or even certain unwanted odors such as your neighbor's sweat or disturbing perfumes…
So to conclude, you will have the same bliss as a yoga studio without the disadvantages!
3. To get a space at your image
On this momentum, the third benefit of a yoga room at home is that you're free to do whatever you want with it, to decorate it with objects that make YOU happy and inspire you.
4. To allows more focus
The fourth benefit of a home yoga studio is that it removes all distractions, allowing you to practice yoga with ease whenever you want and be fully focused on yourself, your body and your breathing.
Having a room or at least a space dedicated to yoga in your home works like a sanctuary in the sense that it also keeps others out and disrupting your practice. Once you are in your yoga space, it signals to the other inhabitants of the house that you are in your zone and to respect your personal time, to leave you alone.
And of course, the same goes for any other distractions like electronic devices: your smartphone or laptop has no place in your yoga space unless you're using it to stream yoga videos online. line or listening to music. In this case, make sure to turn off all other notifications during practice.
5. To invite and develop motivation
The fifth advantage of a home yoga space is that it allows you to develop your practice.
Indeed, having a yoga space at home allows you to practice more often since the space is available at all times. And since it is in sight and freely accessible, your subconscious encourages you to go on your mat more often. This way you can progress or reach your goals faster.
Inspiration and motivation for a consistent practice of yoga at home is therefore easier.
6. To develop other mindfulness practices
The sixth benefit of a home yoga studio is that it could be the gateway, the start of new habits, new practices.
By building your own sanctuary, your own private, dedicated space in your home, you might find new cravings and other activities to do without any distractions. I am thinking, for example, of meditation, which could therefore become part of your habits, but also journaling, reading, reflection, singing, drawing or any other mindfulness practices and routines.
8 Steps to Create a Home Yoga Space for You / that suits you
A yoga space doesn't have to be complicated. It can actually be as simple as rolling out your yoga mat anywhere. And that's all. But I guess if you're reading these lines right now, you're looking for inspiration and want to go a little further in creating a great space.
Firstly, if you don't have the possibility of dedicating an entire room to your yoga practice, know that you can very well create this space in a corner or a small section of your living room, your bedroom or a guest room. And this corner does not need to be very large, an area of 4m² (2 meters long by 2 meters wide) is quite enough. You need to be able to unroll your yoga mat and plan to stretch beyond as in the balance poses (Warrior3, Dancer, etc.) as well as the twists without hitting the furniture.
Secondly, once you have found and located your space, you must ensure that it will be possible for you to concentrate on your practice there, that it will be possible to create calm, serenity and silence.
Third, it's time to ask yourself what you want this place to be like so you want to go back again and again. It must reflect your image, inspire you while generating peace, mindfulness, concentration and tranquility.
Think of everything that makes you feel good, everything that brings you tranquility, zenitude. If it helps, think about your favorite yoga studios and list all the things that inspire you about those places to help you choose and create your own dream yoga space.
Ok, now that you're ready, let's create your home yoga studio together step by step...
1. Declutter
You’re more likely to declutter your mind if the space you are practicing in is also clutter-free. Here I don’t ask you to go as far as Marie Kondo with her KonMari Method (which encourages people to get rid of items that no longer have a purpose (or no longer "spark joy") and keep only items that are purposeful and meaningful) because it's a rather rigid method that might not be for everyone, and it can take several months to complete thoroughly but you get the idea…
It’s important to start off with a clean and organized area. So, try to get rid of everything that is useless AND also, get rid of any distractions because, as we said, a cluttered space is known to make a cluttered mind.
2. Set the mood
Regarding the atmosphere, colors, tones and lighting are important.
If you are looking to create a soothing and relaxing space, where it will be easy for you to relax, you will need to choose calm, soft colors for the walls, for example, or the furniture and various objects.
When it comes to lighting, if you can, opt for natural light rather than artificial light. However, as this is not always obvious and achievable, consider spending some time thinking about your lighting. Indeed, as it has a great impact on our mood and the definition of an atmosphere, it is not to be neglected.
Ideally, a light dimmer switch is the best to install in a yoga room since it allows you to adapt the brightness to your desires and/or your practice. For example, during active yoga sessions such as Vinyasa or Ashtanga, we can favor brighter and more intense lighting for extra dynamism, while for more soothing sessions such as Yin or Restorative yoga, more subdued lighting will be sought.
Candles and salt lamps are good choices for dim lighting that invokes a meditative mood. Additionally, Himalayan salt lamps are known to be an excellent tool for improving well-being. They give off a pleasant and soft light whose orange hue is soothing. In chromotherapy (a form of therapy that uses color and light to treat certain mental and physical health conditions) the color orange is known to promote reconnection between body and mind but also to be an ally against fatigue. For this reason, they can be very useful during a relaxing yoga and meditation session and naturally find their place in a yoga studio at home.
3. Decorate your space
As we saw it in the introduction, it is important that this place reflects your image, that you feel good there and that you like it in order to make you want to go there as often as possible.
It is therefore important for you to accessorize it as you wish, with objects and things that you love, that inspire you, that make you feel happy.
Here are some ideas of things you can have in your space to remind you to stay present, to calm yourself, to connect to your own energy and to open your heart: paintings, sculptures, photos, statues but also inspiring posters and educational items, hanging decorations, tapestries, singing bowls, etc.
If you are sensitive and receptive to the more spiritual part of yoga practice, you can take decorating your yoga room one step further by creating an altar and including spiritual elements such as crystals, miniature statues of different gods or goddesses that inspire you, beautiful pieces picked up in nature that anchor you like a stone, a piece of wood or others spiritual elements that speak to you.
4. Get the right equipment
A yoga space would be nothing without its yoga mat like a bar would be nothing without its counter or a hair salon without its styling chairs and mirrors.
In the panoply of the perfect yogis you will find: the yoga mat, blocks (at least 2), strap, bolster, eye pillow for your relaxation-savasana.
It's important to prop yourself correctly but if you don't want to invest in these tools right away, you can use things you already have at home: use blankets instead of mats, books instead of blocks as props and support for poses, pillows or cushions instead of bolsters. Scarves or belts are in no way inferior to yoga belts and will work just fine.
Advice: remember to unroll your yoga mat to maintain motivation. The more you see your yoga mat in your yoga space, the more likely you will want to practice. Conversely, the more you leave your mat rolled up in the closet or the trunk of your car, the less you will think about your yoga session.
5. Create (or not) a dedicated olfactory identity
This part is completely subjective and depends on your desires and needs. Where some will see no interest in it, others will be very sensitive to developing a singular and unique olfactory identity for this place.
Indeed, for some, fragrances and perfumes can give migraines and are therefore banished while for others, they can help put themselves in the right headspace.
If you belong to this last category, you will look for scents that will help you create a relaxing and soothing atmosphere such as floral scents, lavender, orange blossom, chocolate, lemon, basil or cumin among others. After it's up to you to choose the diffusion mode that you like the most. For this you have the choice between scented candles, essential oils or incense knowing that they can also create some nice and pretty objects to add to your space.
6. Add a full-length mirror
A mirror is useful in that it allows you to check your pose and assures you of proper alignment. Thanks to it you will make sure that you are doing the poses correctly.
7. The musical atmosphere
Here too this is totally subjective and specific to everyone. However, it is recommended to choose musics and sounds that inspires you and relaxes you.
If you need inspiration, there are hundreds of ready-made playlists on YouTube or Spotify under the names: music for yoga, relaxing music, zen music, etc.
8. Bring in some greenery
Indoor plants, in addition to purifying the air in your home, they also have a positive impact on your mood and mental health.
But that's not all: plants create an instantly natural and beautiful ambiance that invites nature indoors. It would be a shame to do without this perfect cocktail!
If you don't have a green thumb, don’t worry, you can opt for succulents, cacti, snake plants, spider plants, bamboo palms and ferns as they require very little water and maintenance. Place them in the room in pots to your liking.
A final piece of advice is to try to keep this space clean and organized so that you want to go there and that it is and remains as welcoming as possible.
I hope this article has helped you and that you were able to pick up an interesting idea or two to implement in your home.
As I'm curious and I'm sure you can give me ideas too, feel free to share your yoga space with me in the comments section below (yes yes you can leave me a picture!).
And when your home yoga room is ready, don't wait, jump on your mat and start training right away! If you need help and support to start your yoga practice at home, do not hesitate to take a look at my online offers by clicking on this link:
With love,
Anne Po.