Practicing yoga at home has its pros and cons. On the plus side, you can roll out your mat at any time and use yoga when you really need it. On the down side, there can be a lot going on at home that can distract you from your practice - whether it's people, other tasks you need to do, or environment.

Creating an environment that's free from distraction, uncluttered and pleasant to be in can go a long way towards making home yoga more appealing along with setting good intentions for your practice ahead.

Clearing space

When we practice yoga at home, not many of us have a specific allocated spot to roll out our mat that we can leave in place all the time. Knowing where you'll usually set up means you can prep that spot in your house, and having a clear, uncluttered space will help your mind settle into your practice.

• Remove anything from the space that is not necessary.
• Remove anything that reminds you of tasks that will distract you such as washing baskets or calendars. You could cover things with a sheet or throw if need be.
• Try to set up your mat in an area with plenty of room to move so you won't knock into things as you flow through your poses.
• If you need wall space to assist with positions such as inversions or seated meditation, clear this space before you start so that you don't need to do it in the middle of the session.
• If you are doing an online class, ensure you can set up the video where you can see it properly otherwise you will find yourself getting frustrated during your practice.

Creating atmosphere

Forming a sacred yoga space in your house isn't just about physical things, but also about the atmosphere of your environment.

AROMATHERAPY
For some people, using scents to settle in can help establish your yoga space. When we breathe in scents, our olfactory nervous system - the part of our brain connected to the sense of smell - is stimulated and can trigger production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine (helps control movement and emotional response) and serotonin (contributes to feelings of wellbeing and happiness). On the flip side, if there are any 'bad' smells in the area this may not be ideal so clear your space of things like old shoes.

If using essential oils, ensure they are a good quality and not synthetically made. You could choose to use incense, an oil burner, or essential oils combined with a base oil and applied to your inner wrists (ensure to patch test first for allergic reaction). Try:

• Peppermint - as a pick-me-up to lift your energy
• Sweet orange - for an uplifting, cheering effect that is also relaxing
• Lavender - to soothe and calm (great to use in the evening just before sleep)
• Sandalwood - traditionally used for yoga practice/spiritual applications, it's said to help soothe and relax the mind to prepare for meditation

MUSIC
The right kind of music can enhance your yoga and make it more enjoyable, but music that doesn't fit with your practice may leave you feeling jarred and disconnected. Experiment with modern ballads, instrumental tracks or more traditional yoga music (often mantra).

LIGHTING
If the lighting is too harsh it can be taxing on your nervous system, aim for lower lighting - bright enough that you can see what you're doing but not so light that you find yourself squinting when you come out of Svasasna/relaxation at the end of your practice.

ALTAR
Whether you consider yourself to be spiritual or not, having a small altar space for a collection of treasured objects can help set the intentions for your practice ahead. This could be on a small table or on the floor and include things like:

• A picture or image
• A statue or ornament
• An incense or oil burner
• Crystals
• Candles
• Plants
• A salt lamp

Your yoga space should make you feel calm, supported, nourished and happy. You can't always change everything about your practice space to be ideal, but any shifts you make towards it can help enhance your practice.

REFERENCES

• Lv X.N., Liu Z.J., Zhang H.J., & Tzeng C.M. (2013). Aromatherapy and the central nerve system (CNS): therapeutic mechanism and its associated genes.  National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23531112.

Image / DepositPhotos