Home workouts of all kinds grew in popularity during the pandemic and continue to be a great alternative to going to a gym or yoga class at a studio. While not everyone has the resources to build a home gym, yoga is a highly accessible form of exercise that anyone can implement — no matter your age, gender, or body type. In fact, doing yoga at home can be just as effective as going to a studio for your practice and in some ways even better than going to a public class!
Here are five reasons why yoga is ideal perfect at home and some tips to help you reap these benefits as you practice at home.
Practice with little to no financial investment
One of the biggest barriers to regular yoga classes at a studio is often the cost. Gyms typically require monthly payments on top of annual fees and sign-up costs. Fitness studios frequently charge per class. Buying traditional workout equipment for your home can cost hundreds, which can make it unattainable, even if it saves you in the long run. However, when you choose yoga as an at-home workout, all you really need is a yoga mat to get started with your exercise routine.
You don’t have to figure out your yoga routine alone either. To get the most out of your yoga practice, you can sign up for Yoga Download’s free online yoga classes and free live streams. It’s a simple, effective way to get professional help without recruiting a costly personal trainer or personally researching pose after pose.
You can be active with minimal space
When you purchase weights, treadmills, and other traditional workout equipment, you’ll end up wasting a lot of space just to do one type of exercise. Yoga, on the other hand, can offer the benefits of both aerobic and anaerobic all on one mat.
While some yogis prefer to create a dedicated yoga space, complete with props like candles or altars that get you in the mindfulness mood, it’s not 100% necessary. You can do yoga right in your living room, in your backyard, or wherever you have space.
If you live in a small studio or apartment and are still struggling to find room to safely practice yoga, consider decluttering your space to ensure you can exercise at home. For example, you can get furniture with built-in storage to maximize your space. Decluttering can also help you stay focused and present during your yoga routine.
Offsets the negative effects of remote work and working from home
As more and more people take on remote careers, finding at-home workouts that can easily be done during short breaks is becoming increasingly important. With yoga, you can make the most of your 15- to 30-minute breaks and return to your tasks feeling more energetic and refreshed. The transition from your desk to your yoga mat can be incredibly simple, too.
Yoga can also help you mitigate the health risks that come with remote work. Sitting at a desk for long periods can cause hip misalignment, poor circulation, tension headaches, and more. When you implement the right poses, you can get stretching and moving instead of staying still, all while stepping away from the blue light of your computer screen.
Personalize your practice to suit your needs
Yoga truly is a type of exercise that’s made for everyone. No matter your fitness goals or your experience level, you can find a category of yoga that works for you — and there are a lot of options to choose from.
For example, if you want to build muscles through your at-home workout, you can take up power yoga, which is an incredibly effective bodyweight exercise. Plus, since power yoga routines are highly customizable, you can focus on enhancing your muscle tone in specific areas or do full-body workouts.
Alternatively, if you want an exercise that encourages movement and mindfulness, you can practice hatha yoga, which emphasizes breathing and is much more slow-paced. Hatha yoga can also help you challenge your flexibility from any starting point. You can get started even if you’re a total beginner at fitness.
You can get your family involved
Exercises like lifting aren’t family-friendly activities, and most home workout equipment is designed for people to exercise solo. However, yoga allows you to involve your spouse, kids, and anyone else in your household. It’s a fun way to bond and practice teamwork with your family.
With your family, you can practice assisted poses that require everyone’s participation. Consider doing the twin tree pose with your partner and take on more advanced positions — like the double plank, which involves one person balancing on top of the other — as you succeed. You can also play virtual yoga classes on your living room TV and invite your household to join in.
There’s no reason you can’t involve your pets either. “Doga” is a growing trend that involves lifting small dogs or stretching alongside your pet in an effort to bond with them during your exercise routine. Have fun and see where at-home yoga (or doga) takes you!
By Katie Brenneman
Practice yoga at home online, no matter how busy you are!