Start Where You Are

Getting your practice with Yoga For All.

Starting your yoga practice can feel like a daunting task. What happens after you’ve decided you want to try it? I’m here to tell you that it’s a lot easier than it seems and you can get started today with items you already have at home.

We’ve all heard someone say it before, but I’m going to say it again. With the advent of the smartphone, social media, and algorithms we are constantly inundated with information on all topics imaginable. The constant exposure to other people’s lives paired with savvy marketing tactics can give us false ideas about the ways life could- or dare I say should- look like. As such, yoga has fallen victim to these capitalistic efforts. But, don’t let an influencer or company fool you. It is not a requirement for you to purchase new clothes, a mat, blocks, and a bolster to start your practice. In fact, if you’re an absolute beginner, I would discourage you all together from making those purchases before you know more about the practice itself and your body in your practice. Let’s talk about why.

Equipment and Props

For a moment, consider the clothes that you turn to after a long day. Those “comfy clothes” are likely loose fitting, non-restrictive, and soft. Am I right? Those clothes are the ones that you want to turn to when starting your practice. That outfit will bring you the same comfort when starting your practice as they do after a long, tiring day.

Now that the outfit is sorted, let’s talk about your mat. If you have an exercise or yoga mat laying around, feel free to dust it off and give it a new life. Otherwise, grab a blanket folded long ways or a bath/beach towel to use as your mat. If you’re using a blanket or towel, ensure you’re using it on a non-slip surface such as a carpet to prevent it from slipping out from underneath you.

Once you’ve got some soft clothes and something to use for a mat, I would argue that you’re ready to go. There are many asanas that will meet you where you are providing a full practice without the use of props such as bolsters and blocks. That said, if you experience any discomfort with getting down to, up from, or sitting on the floor, grab a chair from the kitchen or pillow from the couch to sit on.

Set Up Your Space

Did you know that when you practice yoga, the space you practice in gets charged with the energy you feel and cultivate while practicing? This is why it is important to select your practice space with care. Follow these few steps to help narrow down the search.

• Look around your home and consider the spaces that are naturally quiet (or can easily be made quiet) and that you feel the most comfortable in i.e. safe, relaxed and separate from the rest of the home activities.
• If the above space doesn’t jump out at you in the form of an empty bedroom or large open space, don’t be afraid to get creative! Remember, this is about using what you already have so move the table, the couch, the dog’s bed and see what feels good.
• Consider how you can keep this space somewhat available to you at all times. This can be a mental or physical task.
  • Physical: If you have an unused open space, try to keep it clutter free so it’s ready for you each time you practice.
  • Mental: If you need to move some furniture, add the time it takes to make the rearrangement to the time you’re going to practice. This will help you feel like moving the furniture is part of your practice rather than a chore on your way to yoga.

In my home, I like to practice in my bedroom in the space between my bed and the closet. There is just enough space there for me to move in all 4 directions off of my mat and the ability to close the bedroom door allows me to feel safe and secure.

In a previous home, when I did not have a room with a door to close, I practiced in my living space. I created an entirely new space by moving the coffee table out of the way and slid the couch back about a foot. This felt special because of the investment I made to make my desire come to fruition.

There is no right or wrong in choosing a space to practice. Resist labeling one way as easier and the other as harder simply because one has more steps involved. Your practice is not less than because you don’t have a home gym to convert into a mini yoga studio with soft lighting and candles. And your practice is not elevated because you do have a mini yoga studio with soft lighting and candles. The material pieces of the practice we have discussed so far have no bearing on the quality of your practice whatsoever. The quality comes from you. Not the “stuff”.

One last thing. If the first space you try doesn’t work out, try again. Trust the voice that speaks to you on this and don’t make a big deal of needing to make a change.

Time to Move!

I know what you’re thinking: “Here comes the hard part!”. But in fact, it’s the opposite. Rather than getting caught up on some preconceived “supposed to” when you roll out your mat, start with movements you already know and that come naturally to you. This includes:

• Movements/ stretches from a practitioner such as a chiropractor or physiotherapist
• Something you saw someone perform at the gym or online and thought “I can do that”
• The movement or stretch you turn to first thing in the morning or when you’re fatigued

Learning how to move your body is like learning a new language. Every language has nuance, detail, and likely some confusing concepts but over time with practice and reminders those things become less foreign and more natural feeling. Moving your body is the same way. The human body is a complex structure so it’s normal to have mobile and immobile parts; a strong side and a weak side; aches/pains and ease. The more you work with yourself, the more intimate your knowledge will become which as a result makes assessing your needs and capabilities seem more natural and less foreign.

Pro Tip: Get into the habit of trusting your body from the beginning. If it feels good, breathe through it. If the body says stop, stop. There’s no need to justify your choice or negotiate your safety. This is a skill that will support your entire practice.

Expand Your Practice

Once you get started with the tips from this article, begin to consider the ways in which you’d like to grow in your practice. This is your opportunity to personalize every piece of your practice for you to get exactly what you came for every time. Consider the following questions:

• Would you like to upgrade your mat? If so, would you like a cotton rug, rubber mat or cork mat?
• Is the space you’re practicing in working for you? Is it the right temperature? Do you feel spacious?
• Have you experimented with the times of day that you’re practicing? Morning vs. night? Mid-day? In between daily tasks?
• Are you ready to seek more formal practice perhaps with Kelsey at Yoga For All?

In Conclusion…

Wherever and however, you start, the most important part is to enjoy the journey in your yoga practice and into yourself. By affording yourself the time to start where you are keeps the practice you are building at the centre of your efforts and off of the external pieces. This kind of investment is more important than any money you may spend because the findings will come from a connected and aligned place. In yoga, all of these things matter and in time you will feel the very personal effects of your efforts.