8 tips on how to do yoga at home - Practice and all is coming
Beginners

8 tips on how to do yoga at home - Practice and all is coming

Esther Ekhart shares her top tips on how to do yoga at home. From choosing your yoga classes to keeping up your practice.
Von Esther Ekhart

Pattabhi Jois' most famous quote is “Practice and all is coming”. With these words, I believe he means that by consistently opening the body and mind through yoga, truth reveals itself to you in time, and with truth comes a deep peace. For many of us, a regular yoga practice may be a difficult thing to establish - here are my top tips to help you do yoga at home.

Table of contents

1. Create a comfortable spot for your yoga practice

If you have an extra room that you can devote to your yoga, great! Having your yoga mat unrolled and out all the time is certainly inviting.

Most of us, however, have to be more flexible and create a space when we want to practise. Try and find a spot where it's peaceful and quiet, with as much space around you as possible. An empty piece of wall can be handy too since the wall is a great prop. If you like, it can be nice and even helpful to create some atmosphere with a candle or an incense stick.

Things like candles and incense are just extras, and by no means necessary to practise yoga. You can do yoga anywhere as long as you have enough space around you without the risk of bumping into tables, chairs, etc. I've practised in the living room with my husband there, having his breakfast and reading the paper, even commenting now and then. Not ideal, but I still got my practice in, which is the most important message of this article.

So be creative and get on your mat no matter what! Create the best space you can and enjoy your practice!

2. Get your yoga accessories

All you really need is a yoga mat, preferably non-slip. The yoga mat market is huge but it's worth paying a little more for a good quality mat that suits your needs and will last a long time. Blocks are a great addition but they can be replaced with books and other household things. A bolster is also nice to have, but for years I used a stack of pillows and blankets instead. 

Accessories and even a yoga mat are by no means a prerequisite to practise: I have been in places where there was no yoga mat, and I found a piece of carpet to practise on. I've even practised on beds in hotel rooms where there was no space to roll out a mat. Just be creative... no excuses :-)

3. Stay safe, prevent injury

This is one tip with no shortcuts. Always watch your boundaries and especially be mindful of your body’s vulnerable areas. Particularly vulnerable areas are knees, hips, spine and neck. If you feel any painful sensations, adjust, soften, come out of the pose if you need to. Don’t force or push.

Warm up your body properly before attempting more advanced poses, and keep checking in if it feels okay to be in a pose. Be especially mindful during transitions between poses or when moving in or out of poses - these are moments of a potential risk of injury because we tend to pay less attention to our alignment.

4. Choose your yoga style / routine

What are you going to do when you are on your mat? The first question to ask is..... “What do my body and mind need?”

Something active like Vinyasa Flow, to get the juices flowing or something more soft and restorative, to quiet your body and mind? The more you do yoga, the more you learn the effects of different practices and the more you learn to recognise what it is your body and mind need at different times. 

If you pick an online class, don’t get stuck in reading too many class descriptions. The nature of the mind is to look for the perfect class to solve everything. That class doesn’t exist; you have to make it yourself. You can also decide to pick a yoga program where we've put together a series of classes that fit well together or choose from Playlists, playlists of classes your fellow members and YogaEasy teachers have compiled.

Pick a style, teacher, specific use and preferred class duration (or any one of these combinations) from the filters on the classes page, look for a title that speaks to you and go for it! The way you make the class perfect for you is through practising with full awareness, with as little resistance as possible. If there is a part you don’t like, breathe through it and observe your reactions. Remember that how you react on the mat seeps through in how you react in daily life. In daily life, you will also come across situations you don’t like and choose not to change or are unable to change. Remember Pattabhi Jois' words - “Do your practice and all is coming".

In time, your yoga practice on your mat will teach you to surrender more and more to what is. You will learn to stop resisting what is and to stop trying to change things. Next, you will be able to apply that perspective more in your life off the mat. The peace that comes from being able to accept what is will be great, I promise.

5. Always relax with Savasana

It is really important to give your body time to relax in Savasana after a yoga practice. The nervous system needs time to assimilate the benefits it has gained during the practice. You can otherwise feel unnecessarily wired after a yoga practice, especially after an intense yoga class.

6. Practise yoga regularly

Even practising yoga once a week is beneficial! Three times a week is great, every day is great too. What works for you? If it’s very important for you to achieve goals, then it is much better to set a goal of practising three times a week, being able to do it and feeling proud of yourself, than to set a goal to practise every day and feeling bad if you do only three times a week. A feeling of failure usually just makes you skip practices even more. So, be honest, set realistic goals, and do what you can. A 10 minute yoga practice is still a practice and definitely counts.

7. Enjoy your practice!

Don’t overdo it; if you don’t enjoy your yoga practice you will never keep it up. It should be something you look forward to doing. Maybe try another style of yoga or teacher if you feel like yoga is becoming a chore.

8. So get on your mat, practise, and all will come...

x
Esther

Try my Morning Joy class with your free 14-day trial

A perfect morning class for the first day of our 30 Mornings of Yoga program. Not too easy, not too hard, gets the energy to flow and wake up all the body parts. Everything you need to start your day off in the right way!

7 Tage gratis testen!
Esther Ekhart
Esther Ekhart

Esther Ekhart, face and founder of EkhartYoga, brings years of personal yoga and meditation practice, therapy training and study of yoga philosophy into her teaching.

Artikel veröffentlicht: 02.11.2017|überarbeitet: 03.09.2025
Kommentare zu diesem Artikel
Zurück nach oben
Esther26.04.2013
Hi Cindy, Just doing yoga is all you can do really. Its hard to say what is causing the little pouch of skin. But when the body relaxes and the energy start flowing again, amazing things can happen, especially just feeling better overall. Maybe the pouch of skin will not bother you so much anymore then as well. Of course you can focus somewhat on core exercises but it sounds to me you are already doing that with the pilates. So it could also be wise to use the yoga to relax a bit more, to stretch the area out and allow the body to heal. Hope this helps..
Esther26.04.2013
Hi C, It is a good idea to also get instruction from a live teacher at some point to find out! You can learn a lot about your alignment then and take that back home again to your home practice. Keep going to a live teacher regular though..
Esther16.03.2013
Thank you Anne! ♥
Esther15.03.2013
@Ivana, I understand your frustration, but we simply cannot force the body.. make yoga about doing it in the moment, and any benefit that may arise is something extra, and they will come as you already noticed. Don't make it about the goal basically.. :-) The highest form of yoga is not and will never be an advanced pose, it is being able to stay present while you are working towards it, (whether you'll ever make it or not) My most advanced student in my classes was not the one that could do everything, but a woman who could do very little actually but she was so aware, so present, and because of that her practice and life became so much more peaceful.. So much more important then being able to do the splits... So stay with it, be present to it all and let go of achieving a little.. With love,
Esther14.03.2013
Hi Dear Rachel, getting caught up in reading descriptions is also just another way of the mind to distract yourself from getting on with it. Remember the mind doesn't necessarily approves of you getting stronger, healthier, more peaceful (the mind doesn't like leaving the comfort zone, even if the comfort zone means being uncomfortable :-)) What could help is to make a small selection of classes (every week) for the morning and put them in your favorites and choose from those, have something of different levels and intensities and see what your body needs at the time. We will come up with a feature where you can make that list in another place then in the favorites soon !! There is nothing wrong with following lead classes, what you could as well is decide that once a week you just go to your mat and do your own thing. If it is not that balanced that is fine, the rest of the more balanced practices will make up for it. Just go with it, trust yourself, play around and don't worry about balance at all... Hope that helps Rachel.. Love
Jane14.03.2013
Practicing at home with you over the last two years or so has been inspiring and has transformed my life. I love the way you work yoga and meditation, body and mind together, and how yoga often feels like dancing for me. Whether I feel strong and powerful or more reflective and quiet, there is always a class. Thank you dear Esther, thank you! love Jane
Lolita16.09.2013
I loved it!!!!!!! :-))
Abhishek13.07.2013
Great post! Thanks Esther.
Rachel15.03.2013
Thank you for your reply Esther, those suggestions are helpful. I put so many classes in my favourites when I started that I stopped using that function after a while but I think I'll go back and use it for a weekly selection. X
Rachel14.03.2013
I like the advice not to get caught up in reading the descriptions. I practice in the morning so don't have much time and can spend ages flicking through potential classes trying to decide which one to do rather than just getting on with it. I'll trust my feelings more in future. I have a question about whether always following an on-line class rather than practising completely on my own is OK or is it stopping me from developing or listening to my body? I don't trust that I'd do a balanced practice if I don't follow a teacher. Thank you Esther and also thank you for the Leeds workshop which has really inspired me in lots of different ways.
mitzi12.11.2013
this is what i do already! good that we are on the same page :) i did notice that i wanted to over-do things lately, so i had to slow down some. thanks for keeping this website up for us practice-at-home yoga people.
Anne Berit16.03.2013
After almost two years of regular practice ( 3-6 times a week) I'm a new person! My initial reason for trying about yoga were completely physical, or so I thought..... Back pain was soon a thing of the past, even with a fairly heavy case of scoliosis. I will not bore anybody with the details of my journey, but no one could have convinced me in advance of the benefits that my yoga practice has had on my life! The one thing though, that strikes me over and over is learning that my instincts as to what i really needed for my body, mind and spirit were right on the money, even without anybody telling me. I think that this is probably true for everybody, but it is very a very useful experience, indeed, to fully realize that you CAN trust yourself! ....and this if course translates into other aspects of life as well! Your article here describes my thoughts and chosen approach to my yoga life style perfectly. Even though I trust my instincts, it is good to have my theories confirmed! You are a great teacher, Esther, I've said so before, and will probably do it again as I try more and more of your classes!
Annemarie15.03.2013
while, not why
Annemarie15.03.2013
I never thought, that a yoga course online could work. the instructions of you and the other teachers are so clear and illustrated not only with the pictures of the video, but also verbal. I also improve my englisch why practicing to the videos provided on ekhart-yoga. Returning words for special body parts like collarbone, pelvic floor, i have written on a post-it, which i pin beside the notebook-monitor ;) Thanks :)
Ilona29.03.2014
Hi Esther, Thanks for great tips. I really wish you could have all yourmeditation sessions as an 'app' to download on iphone. Perhaps I missed or you are planning to have one? Best wishes, Ilona
Kirsty13.03.2013
Great article, thank you. I practise most days and crucially I do it because I enjoy it! I used to have a very dogged approach to yoga and didn't think it was worth practising unless I did an hour at least and often really pushed myself. I generally skipped Savasana because I 'didn't have time for lying about (!) But lately (and in no small part to discovering your Yin yoga) I've realised that I need to pay attention to what my body needs and that any practise, no matter how short, is beneficial, as long as I practise with awareness (as you pointed out). So being truthful with myself, keeping my practise varied and enjoying my time on the mat are what work for me! x
Stephanie06.10.2013
There's always something exactly suited to where I am in my own practice and in my teaching. I plan to be at the front of the queue for your classes at The Yoga Show in a few weeks' time! Also love Andrew Wrenn and some of your other guest teachers. You deserve your success. (And we had a fab week walking the Sheep's Head peninsula last summer thanks to one of your posts from Bantry with skylarks soaring overhead....)
elaine16.05.2015
I never thought I would need these hints. My practice has fallen away from daily to once a week and I struggle with even beginners classes sometimes. My psoriatic arthritis was always kept at bay by my practice. Now I find I aggravate it continually and I am struggling to get back into a place where yoga benefits flow. Any tips?
Esther18.05.2015
Dear Elaine, Start slow, keeping it easy so you don't aggravate yourself, building it up slowly will get you back to that place - going too fast won't work. Start with the somatics, they are very healing and they restore movement and core strength. http://www.ekhartyoga.com/videos/somatics-a-healing-practice then level 1 practices not too long building from there! Hope that will help!
melissa13.03.2013
Good article, many thanks. :)
Michelle14.03.2013
I am usually prone to skipping or at least cutting short savasana after my yoga practice, but the way you put it " "The nervous system needs time to assimilate the soothing benefits it has gained during the practice" makes sense and I will be more conscious of including it in my practice. Thank you.
Alireza08.05.2013
Hi, I know Yoga since some years, and participate in beginners courses at the university more times and other course private. After that I saw your Youtube and began to do Yoga only by your Videos. I watch at first your videos then I take a small paper and draw the movements of an Asana in four parts ans notice importan ponits below that. Then I practice from that, and after some pracitices or a week, In know the Asana. I should say that your Videos are so good ... I think that it comes from your personality that the videos are made too good. I am always glad to see new Asanas and new points to consider them. The Yoga practice has interessting effect on music pratice. This is only my exeprience- I am also a swimmer, and have a trainer license, I try to bring many aspects of Yoga to swimming at firts in my swimming . This is hard because moste people see the swimming as a sport and not as a part of Life- they want to swimm always more faster and faster and reache a goal- I did some other chinese fight sport as I were young such as Kung fu after that i didn't do more because I didn't like fighting but the I carry yet the philosophy of Kung Fu and also maybe therefor I was ready to begin with Yoga, these two hava had influenced my swimming too much. I can swimm more than one km butterfly without rest. Somebody asks me, hwo, I answer that I don't fight against water, and I don't see swimming as as sport. You see hoe the Yoga can has Influence on other aspects or parts of the life. best wishes
Biljana11.02.2014
Hi Esther, Can you please list some yoga mat brands that you would recommend. I'm looking for a quality yoga mat and I'd love to see your suggestions, or at least what to look for ... Thanks :)
Jelena17.11.2013
Thanks for always reminding me that yoga is not about the perfect pose, to respect and embrace my boundaries, and to gently push myself further. Only because of this I now practice every morning before work, sometimes 10 and sometimes 40 min, always feeling centered, focused and ready for the day! Thank you, Esther!
Aysha08.09.2013
It's perfect .. Thanks Esther ..
Ekta18.09.2013
Thank you Esther for such a lovely article.... I have been practicing yoga for 2 years now...at home....and thanks to your videos....I am in Love with Yoga... :)
Jenny11.02.2014
Hi Biljana - I'm answering for Esther while she's on holiday for a little while. There are so many different kinds of mats out there but the ones we use here at the studio are made by Manduka. They're not the cheapest but they last well, have a good grip and we like their environmental policy. It's worth doing a bit of research to see what materials, textures and thickness you prefer. All the best Jenny :)
Michele04.10.2014
I just joined am have been stalling for ages but am so glad I did. I will be doing my first practice at home today and really look forward to just giving myself this time. Ekhart, this website is such a gift to many! Thank you!!!
Saidah19.02.2015
hi, I really like to take your advice about this , should i choose 1 style from different styles yoga, after when i finished all styles in beginners programme and completed my practice in it? i really care, thank you.
Esther20.02.2015
Hello Entrobya, not necessarily.. if you feel strong you can practice one of the stronger styles like Astanga or Vinyasa,.. its always good to share any stronger style with a regular Yin yoga class (no beginners program, but you can just try them out) Hatha for example is a little less strenuous most of the time, so really feel what your body likes, its good to mix up teachers now and then too. Sometimes another teacher says the same thing a little different and it might make much more sense.. No rules basically! Listen to your body and go with what feels good...
Rachael22.03.2015
Great tips + quote...thanks :)
Angelina14.06.2015
Thank you for the advice Esther!! :)
Anirudh12.07.2015
Wonderful article Ester! You are practical while dealing with people. You show empathy for all and I love this quality. This article has improved my thoughts about doing yoga and other things in my life - if you like something, just do it without thinking much about the odds. Feels great! Thanks Ester.
Sugi24.07.2015
Nice article, and reminds me the quote " causing reality is not impossible, you just have to do it" Anything in life comes from proper practice. But I am also like on and off even though learned quite a bit of yoga, but not doing it regularly and now starting back because of your website, i have severe low back and buttock pains, and hope i get better soon by doing yoga regularly, as i tried before regular practices but felt not really improving and went to chiropractor and seems he made it worse.
Esther27.07.2015
Welcome Sugi! Take it easy, and keep checking in with yourself that the practice is improving your pain, not making it worse. Only you know..
Johannes05.01.2016
I have pretty practical question. Its my first day today and maybe some of the more experienced followers on here can help me. I just did my first class ever and found myself being slightly stressed out by keep moving my laptop in a position so that I could see it and also often turning my head in order to see what the teacher is doing which was also sometimes holding me back in order to relax. Any suggestions or will this problem just decrees once I get to know some of the positions and classes?
Esther08.01.2016
Hi Johannes, It will get easier, its the same even with going to a yoga class, in the beginning you just have to look a lot, this will go away when you become more familiar with both the teachers and yoga. Promise !! With regards to the computer, that sometimes takes a bit of moving around till you frind the right angle. You'll get there...
Sa06.01.2016
Thank you for this advice. I am 60, my body is very stiff, and although I used to practise yoga regularly, I've neglected it for a very long time. I am a meditator, though. So, two questions: Can you advise a programme? Is it better to stretch before or after meditation? Thank you.
Sa08.01.2016
Thank you so much for your response, Esther. And thank you so much also for such a wonderful site with so many useful resources.
Esther08.01.2016
Hi Sandra, Stretching before meditation, opens the body for sitting, so the sitting becomes easier. Big pro. However, stretching after meditation brings you back out in the world a bit after having gone inward. Sometimes I need that personally, after a deep meditation I can have a bit of trouble dealing with the outside world. If I then stretch in between that makes it easier. So there is no right answer here. Better to find out what is best for you. And that can even differ every day.
Laura03.06.2016
Very helpful, thank you. Thanks to Ekhart yoga I HAVE a regular yoga practice that has improved my life in measurable ways. I look to this as much for head-clearing talks like this as much as I do the asanas!!
Mary09.11.2018
Thank you Esther for these great tips. X
Boogie03.06.2016
Great tips... i really liked 7 it is really speaks to me :-D
Thea10.12.2017
Thanks for the article and the encouraging words: practice and it will all come. I'm trying to do yoga everyday after work: 30-40 minutes is doable. Since my work is a lot of sitting, like computer work and travelling by car, I really enjoy the stretching at the end of the day. There is no yoga teacher nor class where I live (Dodoma, Tanzania) so I'm VERY happy with Ekhart yoga!