Secrets to Making a Home Yoga Space

I often get asked about how to create a home yoga space. For me, the creation of a space at home that feels as sacred, welcoming and beautiful as a studio, is key for my daily home practice.

I don’t think that there’s a certain feng shui that’ll make your practice more meaningful and transformative. But it is necessary to have somewhere that’s an inspiring and safe space for you to move and breathe deeply. A space which, if just for 5 minutes, is yours to inhabit fully and move freely. Most of all it is vital that you follow your heart, your teacher, in creating your space as well as in your practice.

As a busy and practical person, the most important thing for me is that it must be somewhere accessible. I just want to get on and do it, somewhere I will actually roll out my mat and get moving every single day.

Location, Location, Location

I don’t actually have a room that I always practice in. But what is really key for me is breaking down the barriers, so that there’s no ‘hard’ in yoga.

As I love to do yoga before bed, I create a little space right next to my bed by the wall which is great for night-time poses. It’s not a big space, enough for some supine twists, quiet Yin and Restorative and legs up the wall. I make it cozy and inspiring by putting meaningful pictures next to some tealights. It’s simple, welcoming, cozy and the main thing is that it’s a space which I want to fall into to get relaxed before bed.

For my daytime yoga space, because I work from home, I often have a mat rolled out in my living room so there’s no excuses to just dive onto the mat for a break during the day. I love to do bursts of yoga to keep my body moving and my mind focused and creative. I live in a cottage with a low ceiling, and folks ask how I practice, but life’s all about being creative with what we have! Although I can’t stretch up with my arms above my head, I make the space work for me by extending elbows overhead. Yoga is all about flexibility in body and mind. Don’t let physical limitations hinder your practice, but be creative with it! Although many keep pets, children, partners, locked out during practice, personally, I like to keep yoga as part of my everyday living and welcome all to my space!

 Making it Evocative

The beauty of practicing yoga at home is that yoga can be revelled in as a sacred inner practice, not a work-out or a public show of bendiness.

Keep your practice space inspiring and evocative. For example, creating a little altar near your mat to remind you of your higher intentions. I place my altar in front of my mat in the living room. It has some photos and meaningful objects on it, as well as a candle. It reminds me of a higher purpose and to practice for others, as well as for myself. If you like intention-setting at the start of your practice, make it really easy in your home practice! Intention-setting cards or angel cards can be wonderful for creating the right tone for you practice.

Candle-light seems to magically create the space for yoga, so I can put down my phone and make the intention to not respond to distractions.

You might also want to keep some lovely scent by your mat. Aroma seems to be particularly evocative for setting a certain tone. Think carefully about what you really like and pick a scent, yoga oils or incense and keep it by your mat to evoke your sense of intention in your yoga practice.

Don’t stress about fashion

The joy of home practice is you don’t have to change – in any sense of the word. You don’t have to pretend to be a young, hip thing, or be more bendy than you are. Be exactly as you are and wear just what you’re wearing. Fabrics which are lovely and touchable, organic and comfortable are so much more tempting to move in at home. I often practice in PJ’s or wear nothing at all. Well, isn’t that the joy of practicing in the comfort of your own home?

The trick to your own practice space is bespoking. So think deeply about what motivates you and what you love in terms of sounds, scents, style. This way you don’t need to think about it again when you’re ready to move – it’s all ready to go just when you are.

Kat Farrants by Karen Yeomans

This post was written by our inspirational founder, Kat Farrants.