What I have learnt from yoga at home
It has been a year since as a student I rolled my mat out in the space of a yoga studio. This is the longest I have ever been away from a yoga studio in over 20 years of practicing yoga.
At first I was frustrated and angry that the one thing I loved had been taken away from me. I enjoyed my time at the studios I visited and I had just found an amazing new hot studio which I absolutely loved. Then WAM – Covid hit and everywhere is closed.
My cat Lily joining me on my mat!
It took time to adjust to doing all my yoga practices at home. Squashed into my little office room, bashing into bookcases and lampshades, cat scratching at the door to get in, noises from other parts of the house – the dishwasher, washing machine….. I would always practice at home in between my visits to the studio anyway, I went to a studio around 3 times a week and this was my sanctuary.
Over the last year I have learnt to adapt, I now practice in the lounge where it is warmer, more inviting and relaxing. My cat normally joins me on my mat and there is more space around me to move into poses.
Online classes of course has its benefits, after all you are just a 2cm square on a screen. Therefore, if you haven’t combed your hair or shaved your legs it doesn’t matter no-one is going to see!
What I have learnt from the last year of practicing at home:
- Accepted that my practice doesn’t need to last for 60-90 minutes every time I jump on my mat.
- It is more convenient – roll out of bed and into a class.
- That I don’t have to continually push myself to the limit and can be more relaxed about my practice, listening to my body.
- I have experienced new teachers, teachers that I would never have found.
- Enjoyed different styles of yoga, in particular Kundalini Global.
- It allows me more time, instead of a 40-50 mile round trip to get to and from a studio.
- Use the garden as my studio in the lovely summer months.
Yoga in the garden
2020 gave me the opportunity to study my lifelong ambition to become a Yoga Teacher myself. I enrolled on a course via www.yogacourse.com and thoroughly enjoyed the course and becoming a teacher!
My teachings have all been online due to the pandemic and I look forward to when I can actually teach a face to face class.
I’m enjoying my teachings and carving out my own style – slow, mindful, nourishing type of class.
If you would like to join my open Yoga Class this is every Tuesday at 9.30am via zoom, £5 per session, payable via Pay Pal (Meridian Life), I also teach students on a 1-2-1.