Practice Tips with Online Yoga Video

Practicing at home to a yoga video might be new to you.  Here are some ideas for making it more successful.  We would love to hear what is working for you.

Dedicated Space and Time

Do your best to choose a time and place to practice when and where you will not be interrupted by your partner, kids, pets or others.  Turn off your phone.  Ideally, the space is clean with plenty of room in which to move.

Clothing

Wear comfortable clothing that will move with you.  We recommend choosing a top that will not fall over your head when you bend over.  Pants or shorts with a drawstring or elastic waist seem to work well.  Since you are at home, you can practice in your pajamas.

The Belly

Generally it is recommend to practice yoga on a relatively empty stomach.  A little hot water with lemon and ginger in the morning before practice can be a nice way to get the system going.  A big meal takes 3 to 4 hours to digest.  A light meal takes about 2 hours.  With time you will come to know what works best for you.

Full Screen

We recommend watching the video in full screen as this is supposed to counter the screen saver coming on.  Alternatively, you could change your full screen settings.

Take Notes

Keep a notepad and pen near you.  As you are practicing, if you have a questions about something, or you remember an errand you need to do later, you can make a quick note and then bring your attention back to the practice.  This way you are not trying to remember those items while also trying to relax.  The notes will be there for you at the end.

Go at Your Own Pace and Allow for Personal Exploration

This is one of the benefits of practicing at home.  If at any point in the practice, you would like to pause or mute the video and explore something deeper or rest in child's pose or even slip into a meditation, you have that freedom.  I am sure many people in class wish they too had the power to "mute" the teacher.  You might notice that people in class are often exploring things on their own.  The point of a yoga practice is to increase self understanding and awareness.  Allow for this.

Savasana

Do not skip savasana, even if only for a few minutes.  In class we tend to take 5 to 8 minute savasanas.  If you have the time to take a longer one, stop the video and then you will not be interrupted.  This will also allow you more time to sit before or after savasana without interruption.

Comment

If you have questions about instruction or sequencing or want to share your own experience with a class, post a comment.  We are hoping to create as intimate and supportive community online as we have at the Lulu Bandha's studio in Ojai, Calif.