Ahhhh.  The sound of silence.  No kids screaming.  No TV in the background.  Just me, myself, and I….until I hear my phone vibrate.  And the doorbell ring.  Oh…and now my mind is going.  What should I cook for dinner?  That shirt was on sale…I should go back and get it.  I need to be at the school at 2:45 to pick up my kid….better hurry.

Please tell me that I’m not alone in this!  How hard is it for you guys to find some peace and quiet each day?  I vowed a long time ago to make sure to set aside time each day to center myself and quiet my mind.  Here is what I’m doing to create a space JUST for me, myself, and I; a space where I can practice yoga!  Hip hip hooray!!!  (I found these tips on Style At home)

To practice yoga at home, all you really need is a mat and enough space to move freely in 360 degrees. But creating an inviting, comfortable spot, whether it’s a spare room or a corner of a room, that you can dedicate to yoga, will go a long way towards helping make your practice more intimate and more fulfilling.

What to wear

First, consider your yoga clothing. Loose, natural-fiber pieces such as a T-shirt or tank and yoga pants are ideal, since they breathe and allow unrestricted movement, but some practitioners prefer more form-fitting clothing, since it allows you to easily check your alignment. Bare feet or socks with some form of grip on the soles are preferable to shoes or regular socks.

Flooring

Ideally, your yoga space should have a hard floor, such as wood, rather than a carpet. This makes it easier to hold balance poses, and natural materials such as wood and stone create an earthbound connection that enhances the spiritual element of your practice. However, some practitioners feel carpeted floors are safer should you fall. Your yoga mat should be thick enough to provide cushioning and traction during your practice. Synthetic mats are less expensive than those made from natural materials.

Remove clutter

Remove all clutter from your yoga space. Walls should be unadorned or hung with simple, uncomplicated artwork that sets a peaceful tone. Avoid wallpaper or strong colors, which can interfere with concentration. The addition of a large mirror will help you check your posture and can also assist in balance poses.

Lighting

Lighting should be soft and calming. Natural sunlight is optimum, since it energizes you (especially in winter, when lack of sunlight affects both mood and health); but if the sun is too direct, consider soft sheers over the windows. At night (or if you don’t have a window in your practice space), use candles or soft incandescent light bulbs for lighting. Avoid harsh, artificial fluorescent light.

Temperature

The room should be comfortably warm. Unlike more vigorous workouts, yoga slows down your metabolism, making you vulnerable to drafts. (It’s hard to relax into postures when you’re shivering.) The practice of “hot yoga” adds to the physical benefits of the art by making you sweat and release toxins, but even a gentle yoga session should be done in a warm room.

Surrounding sounds

If you use a CD or DVD player during your practice, make sure it’s positioned well away from your workout area. Along with yoga instructional media, look for CDs of natural sounds such as birdsong or Eastern-influenced music, to help center your mind to the spiritual nature of your practice. Some practitioners enjoy low-key classical music, since it helps focus the brain, while others find it distracting. But avoid pop or other upbeat music, which is too energetic.

Try to place your yoga space out of the mainstream of family life. It should be a refuge, not a small island in a sea of chaos. If you can’t dedicate a whole room to your workout, at least try to block it off with a beautiful screen.   I personally love to do yoga outside (weather permitting….I mean, I live in Utah and we have FULL BLOWN WINTER each year!!!)  Eventually, you will find that your mind will automatically start to relax as soon as you enter the space.

If creating your own personal space just isn’t feasible, I would encourage you to try a yoga video or go to a yoga studio to treat yourself once a month.   Doing this will challenge you as well as get that travel time to yourself and time to think.  That is what I did when I was homeschooling my kids and it was heaven just going once a week; it was my meditation time and me time.