How to Prepare Your Space
Preparing and decorating your home yoga space should be done with thoughtfulness and intentionality. A yoga room should be calming, inviting, and relaxing. In addition to basic yoga supplies, you’ll want to consider visual aesthetics, lighting, and sensory inputs to help you achieve the best possible yoga experience.
Minimize clutter
A clean space with few visual distractions will help you get into the right frame of mind for yoga practice. How do you feel when you come home to an apartment full of piles of laundry and dirty dishes in the sink? Clutter isn’t great for your mental health, so your yoga room should serve as a refuge. When it comes to a yoga room, less is more. Be very intentional with what items you include in your yoga space. Only leave those that are functional and beautiful.
Lighten and brighten your space
Lighting has a significant effect on your mood, energy, and overall wellness. Consider installing dimmer switches for your ceiling lights to alter the mood of your yoga room quickly. Cotton drapes are also an excellent tool to soften and brighten a space. They can also be used to curtain off your yoga space from the rest of the living area, filtering light and adding privacy.
You may wish to take advantage of natural light by setting up your space near a window or balcony. Doing so can help make the area feel more open and airy. Conversely, if you feel calmer in a dark environment, set up your yoga space away from windows, or consider adding blackout curtains.
Satisfy your senses
Once you have established your yoga area, it’s time to add all those little touches that make you feel calm and grounded. It may be a little difficult to decide what to place in your home yoga studio, particularly if working with a small area. To get inspired, use your five senses as a guide for items and decor that get you into that yoga vibe.
Sight: What visual cues help you cultivate mindfulness? Consider wall prints and paintings that help you feel spiritually connected. Some people find including natural objects, such as beautiful stones or carved wood, useful to create a calm visual atmosphere. Be mindful of the colors you choose. For instance, bright red might make you feel on edge, whereas light blue might help you feel serene.
Smell: Your olfactory senses are a powerful trigger for both memories and moods. Using different scents can inspire feelings of unease or calm. Scented candles, oil diffusers, and incense holders are all great ways to set the mood for your yoga room without taking up too much space. Feel free to experiment with different essential oils and incenses to find those that work for you. Lavender is a popular choice for yoga practices since it is known for helping people relax.
Touch: Think about the items in your yoga space that your body will make contact with. Items that are rough, scratchy, and uncomfortable should be left outside. Make sure to choose a comfortable mat that has a good grip and is soft enough for bare skin.
Sound: Different sounds and auditory cues quickly shift your mindset and inspire positive emotions. Tibetan bells and singing bowls are visually beautiful and great for chiming at the beginning and end of each yoga session. A water fountain is a great way to infuse your yoga space with calming, natural noises.
Taste: There’s nothing like a yoga session and a mug of herbal tea to unwind after a stressful day. Set up a mug to steep with your favorite herbal tea and place it where you can easily reach it. Water infused with lemon and mint is an excellent option to stay hydrated throughout a more intense yoga session.
Décor
The great thing about having your very own yoga space is that you can personalize the décor according to your own style. Consider which design elements inspire your soul, mind, and body. What would you like to see and feel most when practicing yoga?
Plants are a great option for making the air feel fresh and alive. Including items of sentimental value is a great way to make space your own. Remember not to go overboard on décor. When it comes to a yoga room, less is more, so make sure to leave plenty of open space.
Assemble yoga supplies
Now that you’ve achieved that perfect atmosphere for your yoga room, it’s time to get the actual yoga equipment in order. The most fundamental piece of equipment you will need is a mat. Choosing a yoga mat with a color or design you love will inspire you to practice more often. As you progress in your practice, you may find yourself incorporating yoga blocks into your routine. Make sure you have everything you need to carry out your favorite poses.
Yoga for Your Mind and Soul
Use the time you practice yoga to be consciously mindful of your day and thankful for everything going on in your life. One of the best aspects of yoga is that it has been proven to impact mental health positively. Because yoga requires you to be highly conscious of and present with your body, it’s an excellent practice to see yourself from another perspective, cultivates body positivity, and take some time to love yourself.
Your yoga sessions are a special time to focus on your body, breathe deeply, and let go of stress. While there are many styles of yoga that are focused on building physical strength and balance, you don’t have to use your yoga room exclusively for physical routines. A yoga room can also serve as a calm, tranquil spot to simply breathe and meditate.
Enjoy Your Yoga Room
While you may not make it to the studio every week, a home studio makes it easy to fit yoga and meditation sessions into a busy life. A regular yoga practice conditions both the body and mind for inner stability and centeredness; you will quickly find that this positively impacts all aspects of your daily life. Setting up your yoga space to inspire peace and tranquility is key to unlocking the myriad of benefits that come from practicing yoga daily.