My Yoga Space

I finally live in a place that allows me to have a space dedicated to my yoga and my practice, that is important to me. This is how I prepare my yoga space for my home yoga practice.

Let me paint you a picture. Its walls are cream and the trim is white. The carpet is a dark brown and soft. The windows are big white rectangles that open inward, so in the summer I pop them open and let the cool breeze of the Northeastern Ohio winds blow in. It is a lovely feeling. Above the windows I have inspirational quotes, stickers and photos. I read these while I practice. They give me motivation and remind me why I practice. Fairy lights hang from one side of the window to the other. This space where the windows are is like a little nook. A space that is perfect for my ever growing collection of yoga props, my mat, my meditation cushion, multiple lights, a collection of memorabilia and of course reading material because what is a room or a space without books... My cranberry JadeYoga mat fits perfectly down the middle. There is a lovely space for all of my books, crystals, etc. It's my sanctuary.

When I am ready to begin my practice I go to my yoga room. In winter it is quite chilly in this space so the first thing I do is turn on the space heater to get the space a little warmer.  Then I plug in the fairy lights, the salt lamp and a wax lamp that is home to some of the flowers from my grandmother’s funeral (it is such a unique lamp). I place my mala necklace across the top of my mat. The mala is a snakeskin jasper c/o my brother. It arrived as a belated Christmas gift and couldn’t have come at a better time. It arrived on the first day of my #YWATRUE journey, every day since I’ve placed it on my mat before practice for guidance and for grounding. Now a days along side my mala I place a piece of raw carnelian a gift from my yoga therapist. A wonderfully sweet, passionate, healing woman named Brittany Hoogenboom. Go check her out. This carnelian also helps keep me grounded and focused.

Malas are used for meditation; a mantra can be used with them. Sitting in meditation with a mala and a mantra allows the student to focus while counting each bead one at a time repeating their mantra as they count. Mine sits at the top while I practice and at the end or sometimes in the middle I will sit in meditation with it around my neck, holding it in my hands repeating a mantra or an intention. An intention can be set at the beginning of practice. It is used as a way for the student to focus their practice on something, to give it meaning and life. It allows them to go beyond the physical practice.  If one day I go to practice and I am feeling a certain way I will grab an essential oil that I believe will help aid me in my yoga practice. I will spray my mat with that essential oils. The sense of smell is associated with memory and focus. Oils are a good way to help one focus more on the practice and aide in the help of getting out of our own heads. I make sure my journal and a pen are nearby for some prepractice journaling. Then I leave the room and close the door to allow the room to heat up a bit and the energy of the salt lamp to take over.

Having a journal nearby may be beneficial to add to an at home yoga practice. Journaling is a good way to help you focus on your yoga goals, personal goals, mantras, and whatever else you feel like tracking or writing down.  I often journal before I begin my practice and sometimes when I finish, jotting down things that come to mind or setting an intention and where I want that intention to take me. Doing this allows me to stay on the path that I have for myself. It is a way for me to release anything that I have been feeling, note anything that I am working on and how I feel before and after, and it is a way for me to express thoughts that I need to get out but don’t necessarily need to say out loud.

When the space has heated up to an appropriate temperature I find my way to my mat. I find a video or if I’m not feeling a video I make up a routine of whatever I am feeling in that moment. Yoga with Adriene is my online at home yoga teacher. She is wonderful and a true delight. She knows what she is doing and I love the way she ques. I love her and I am willing to share her with you, just click the link. I get set up in my space, in my mind and in my body; grounding to my mat and taking the time to journal. I find some appropriate music, my music application choice is Spotify. I love that it gives me the freedom to create my own playlists, listen to premade lists or listen to another users lists. Then I begin my practice.

Yoga is a wonderful practice. I encourage you to make time for it.

xo

Namaste my friends

Kelly

Remember that your yoga is for  you. This is how I prepare for my yoga practice and some things that work for me. But what may work for me may not work for you. Do what's best for you. I am just here to provide guidance in your life and share with you my life. I hope you find inspiration here. I love you all.