If you are determined that you are going to learn yoga at home or teach your clients yoga at home, lucky you - you have the benefit of being able to practice in a comfortable space free of judgement. This is what yoga is all about. Usually we have to remind clients that it’s important to avoid competing with others and yourself when practicing yoga. But when we work out at home, it’s easier to focus wholly on our own experiences and our own journey.
However, your clients (and you) may be tempted to compare yourself to other online right now. Beautiful yogis on Instagram getting into impressive positions might seem intimidating. **But e****verything is difficult at first** - remind your clients of this as you begin to move through your asanas.
How to start yoga at home
If your clients want to start doing yoga from home, there are a number of resources they can use. The internet is choc-a-bloc full of different home yoga workout routines - especially right now when everyone has moved towards a home workout practice.
You can either direct them to existing resources like YouTube and subscription based services OR you can use this time to monetize your own offering or build up a strong follower base on social media .
You can do this by creating yoga sequences for your clients and share them on sites such as Instagram and Facebook. By using an app like Virtuagym you can book and schedule classes with your clients as usual - live streaming, integrating Zoom or YouTube links to your Virtuagym app and allowing multiple people to join in on one class.
What to tell clients that ask “But can I really learn yoga online?”. The easy answer? YES! You can definitely learn yoga online. Now there is instant access to more yoga classes than ever from streaming sites and spaces across the internet. It’s always better for beginners to have a real instructor to help them, so if you’re a yoga teacher try setting up online classes yourself.
You can try running beginner classes on your social media channel or if you work with a branded app like Virtuagym, you can live-stream classes via the Video On Demand service .
How to set up a yoga space at home
Ensure your clients that it’s okay to be a beginner and that we should try and learn yoga without making too many demands on ourselves. Eliminate thoughts like ‘I can’t’, ’this is too difficult’, ‘I am not flexible enough’ or ’this is not for me’.
Stay committed and you will see results in a short time. As a teacher, you should be ready with positive words of encouragement. Yoga practice is not a bootcamp, and while yogis certainly push their bodies, they do so in a way that is both gentle and understanding.
If you want to learn yoga as a beginner , you should try out online courses or online yoga videos. If you’re an instructor you could prescribe these to new clients OR make live stream session yourself.
Yoga can be an extremely relaxing and calming practice and it’s much more enjoyable to do when you have a cozy, comfortable space to practice in. If you have enough time to redecorate your house, pick shades of purple, lighter tones of pink, or any other light shade. When in doubt, always go for calming colors for a yoga room, since bright ones might cause anxiety.
Encourage your clients to find a space in their house that brings them calm. It can be hard to stay in the space all day - something we’ve all learned from living in quarantine. So see if your clients can find somewhere away from their work desks or sofas to practice. This could be in the living room, on a balcony or anywhere.
What should you put in a yoga room?
If you want to make a yoga space at home, or suggest your clients how to recreate the relaxing atmosphere of your yoga studio, you also need to make sure there are all the yoga must-haves provide them with a list of equipment to do yoga at home.
The great thing about yoga is that you can do it in any place - that could be on your kitchen floor or in your bedroom. You (and your clients) just need a space big enough to lie down full length with your hands and arms stretched above your head and that also extends as wide as your arms can stretch outwards. Here a quick checklist of essentials for a home yoga studio:
- Mat
- Bolsters
- Blocks
- Essential oil diffuser
- Candles
- Incense sticks
- Blankets
4 yoga exercises for beginners
Yoga is accessible to everyone. And even more if you use a yoga studio management software . But, let’s get started. Place a yoga mat on the floor, put on comfortable clothes and you are ready to start. Now you’re ready to get going!
We have listed a number of simple exercises you can start with. One last tip: Make sure your yogi take time to do each exercise and return to the starting position. And most importantly, remember them not to force their body to avoid damage or injury. Namaste!
1. The camel pose - Ustrasana
This pose is amazing for stretching out a tight lower back. To do it, first get onto your knees and slowly bend your upper body backwards. If it’s possible, reach back and grab your heels with your hands. Push your head backwards, safely and gently as far as it may stretch. If this is too hard, simply leave your chin resting on your chest.
2. The boat pose - Paripurna Navasana
Boat pose is great for beginners and experts alike - don’t be concerned if you’re shaking, while doing this pose. It can take a strong load on your abdominal muscles (which also means it’s great for building those yogic abs ). First, begin sitting on the floor with a straight back and your legs stretched out in front on you. Then put your hands behind your hips with bent elbows and lift your legs and upper body from the ground. The next step is to put your hands and feet together in the air, but just do what feels right for you - feel the burn!
3. Downward-facing Dog - Adho Muka Svanasana
Possibly the most famous of all yoga poses, get ready to spend a lot of time in this inverted position. To do this pose first go on all fours on your hands and knees. Set your knees directly below your hips and your hands slightly forward of your shoulders. Spread your palms, index fingers parallel or slightly turned out, and turn your toes under. Lift your knees away from the floor, keeping the knees slightly bent. Lengthen your tailbone away from the back of your pelvis. The finally push your legs back until straight and push your heels down to the floor.
4. The wheel - Ardhva Dhanurasana
This pose is another great back-bending stretch - it’s a move that might take you back to childhood! To do it first lie on your back and bend your knees. Put your hands next to your shoulders and push your belly and chest up. Stretch out your arms and legs and form an arch.
