My home practice has evolved significantly over the years. It started when I was just a child playing with yoga from a book called "The Children's Garden of Yoga"...I find myself now with a similar energy to that 10-year-old girl, just playing with how different movements and positions feel in my body each day. Somedays my practice is 5 minutes, somedays it is well over an hour. I never know what poses or sequences I'll do as it depends entirely on what I'm feeling in the moment. I've been practicing for well over two decades, and rolling out of bed onto my mat every day is as automatic a habit now as brushing my teeth. When I taught yoga, I had two priorities I wanted all my students to walk away from my class with. #1 BREATHE. #2 HOME PRACTICE.
No teacher can tell you how you feel in your body, or what your body craves and loves and needs. That's for you to figure out, on your own, to the rhythm of your own breath.
My home practice this morning probably looked wackadoo from the outside, but luckily, I was all by myself and able to drop the self-consciousness that often comes along with that invisible observer/critic who sticks around to keep me in line. You said there's no correct answer, but I still always feel like I'm cheating when I do things that feel good to me, that are maybe exactly what I need. And this time, I think I actually began by cheating because my home practice started with Jason's Glo class as it typically does Wednesday mornings. But in savasana after he ended class, it turned into floor dancing. Dancing has been a really therapeutic thing for me. Today I just didn't have the energy to get up and do it, but still felt called, so I just laid there and danced while lying down. Lots of flowy arms and some twitching. How's that for letting go of any prescriptions? I wasn't even holding on to sanity! Lol There was some cathartic release, processing the loss of a friend's husband yesterday. We were not close but this friend has been the definition of grace through their goodbye and I've been so moved to witness it. I'm always surprised by Jason's classes and your offerings in how they seem exactly perfect to what I specifically need. Like you two are also there standing next to the critic, more benevolent invisible observers checking in to see what you should send me next. Maybe it's just that all of us could always use more of this yoga thing no matter what's going on. It's more fun to think that we're psychically connected! Both and, I suppose.
Posting on this late but also timely because I just listened to your podcast about 7 important things for a home practice. I live in a small town west of Toledo OH so there has never been a real opportunity to practice in a studio around here.
I have followed Jason’s work for a long time - 20 years? I remember practicing at home with a first generation iPod or media player that was just Jason’s voice, giving instructions. I think it was sponsored by Yoga Journal? Nowadays it’s so much easier to just click on the most recent Glo class and call it good and done!
All that to say I love having a home practice that I can do on my own schedule (I’m an early riser) with the freedom to choose a class that I feel will connect with my body for that day.
I remember those Yoga Journal podcasts! That was all Jason's doing -- I remember him coming up with the idea and pitching Yoga Journal. He was ahead of his time :) Where do you live? (Jason is from Sylvania)
My home practice started after the Shutdown ended my 11 years teaching yoga at a local gym. After I was done pouting, I suddenly felt my practice take on a complete shift to rebirth and exploration. It was a much needed reminder that asana is the vehicle, not the destination.
I still feel isolated in my home practice. This makes me grateful for what you do, Andrea.
I love this post! I've been a yoga 'rule-breaker' for years and have been trying to spread the word, haha. I'm such an advocate of following our intuition and the messages from our bodies and just like you, motherhood completely transformed what I define as yoga. Honestly, there were times when I used to play capoeira and I felt like it was 'my yoga.' I also teach kids yoga, which is so creative and fun, it generally leaks into my own practice, which is a great thing. But to answer your question, my yoga practice looks like short bursts of asana, maybe sometimes only a few minutes because I have little kids and one of them (the 3-year-old) loves to jump and crawl all over my body any time I get close to the ground. Now and then I do longer practices on my mat, but it all depends on the flow of the day. I'm just grateful to have access to this practice.
I love how the practice ebbs and flows when we allow it to. For so many years Sofia needed my full and immediate attention each day to co-regulate and that made it so hard for me to check off the box and "get my practice done." So, finally, begrudgingly at first, I adjusted. Now she is finally able to manage herself in the morning and I've just started two studio classes/week. It feels great! And it also feels great to do restorative mid-afternoon which I never used to do before my mandatory adjustment!
First, the profanity was a game-winning dunk, big lol.
Your story made me think about my personal style of discipline, which seems to be that I can be very disciplined for a certain period of time, and then, no matter what project it is, I fall off the rails a bit, and have to re-center. So I was thinking I'm gonna try 20 minutes in the morning every day, which will mean cutting down on some other things like absorbing the "news". My wife and I do pretty vigorous workouts together fairly often after she comes home from work but I think I need the yoga daily in the mornings. Especially with stuff I'm going through I need to double down.
I also want to add that since I left teaching yoga my home practice has of course changed. I'm never rehearsing, and that means I can really pay attention to what I want to do. Of course this morning I caught myself saying, Oh I wish I could teach this, that would really work. Anyway, yeah, thanks for inspiring me to focus on this today.
I love this! For me also coming to a real home practice has been a journey. I had no idea of how to get there until my ego and pushing too much produced a very lengthy but cathartic injury. As bad as that time was it made me find my true practice which I now love.
I let it change and meander with my day and how I feel. It’s mostly in the morning before breakfast, sometimes gentle, sometimes vigorous, sometimes interspersed with other movement modalities or weight lifting. Sometimes it’s just little mini moments during the day, a downward dog on the kitchen counter, spinal rolls on a chair or a 10 minute Savasana break. Some days it’s a free flow thing in the afternoon on the floor without a mat. It all feels so good. The best part is that I learnt to listen to what I need, that I allow my body and spirit to speak. I don’t get injured anymore.
My first teacher always talked about having a home practice. Initially, getting on my mat without his guidance was an impossible task. When I started practicing Ashtanga, it gave me a format to practice. Over the years, i have learned that if I don’t get on my mat, my teaching gets stale. I still do a bit of Ashtanga but I’m more likely to do 15 or 20 minutes of favorite poses, or a yin practice or even a YouTube video. I always feel better after I’ve been on my mat.
I used the Ashtanga standing series as my home practice for quite awhile when I just didn't have it in me to come with a sequence. It's really useful. I'm with you -- now that I can accept that my home practice won't look or feel like the studio, I always feel better after I practice.
It’s taken me a really long time to establish a home practice as well. I’ve finally come to realize that the beauty of a home practice is that it’s allowed to be fluid. The rigidity of practicing at the same time every day or following a set program doesn’t work for me. Learning how to honor my individual needs and accept that some days a restorative pose is my practice, some days it’s yoga nidra, sometimes I have the energy for a 15 min flow and if I can fit 5-10 mins of meditation in that’s great. While I understand the benefits and purpose of discipline in spiritual practice I’m finding that letting go of all that pressure is allowing me to practice the way I need when I need. I can’t really define my home practice and I think that’s the point of a practice that truly shows up to meet your individual needs.
My home practice has evolved significantly over the years. It started when I was just a child playing with yoga from a book called "The Children's Garden of Yoga"...I find myself now with a similar energy to that 10-year-old girl, just playing with how different movements and positions feel in my body each day. Somedays my practice is 5 minutes, somedays it is well over an hour. I never know what poses or sequences I'll do as it depends entirely on what I'm feeling in the moment. I've been practicing for well over two decades, and rolling out of bed onto my mat every day is as automatic a habit now as brushing my teeth. When I taught yoga, I had two priorities I wanted all my students to walk away from my class with. #1 BREATHE. #2 HOME PRACTICE.
No teacher can tell you how you feel in your body, or what your body craves and loves and needs. That's for you to figure out, on your own, to the rhythm of your own breath.
Love this and love that you encouraged your students to practice at home!
My home practice this morning probably looked wackadoo from the outside, but luckily, I was all by myself and able to drop the self-consciousness that often comes along with that invisible observer/critic who sticks around to keep me in line. You said there's no correct answer, but I still always feel like I'm cheating when I do things that feel good to me, that are maybe exactly what I need. And this time, I think I actually began by cheating because my home practice started with Jason's Glo class as it typically does Wednesday mornings. But in savasana after he ended class, it turned into floor dancing. Dancing has been a really therapeutic thing for me. Today I just didn't have the energy to get up and do it, but still felt called, so I just laid there and danced while lying down. Lots of flowy arms and some twitching. How's that for letting go of any prescriptions? I wasn't even holding on to sanity! Lol There was some cathartic release, processing the loss of a friend's husband yesterday. We were not close but this friend has been the definition of grace through their goodbye and I've been so moved to witness it. I'm always surprised by Jason's classes and your offerings in how they seem exactly perfect to what I specifically need. Like you two are also there standing next to the critic, more benevolent invisible observers checking in to see what you should send me next. Maybe it's just that all of us could always use more of this yoga thing no matter what's going on. It's more fun to think that we're psychically connected! Both and, I suppose.
We got you, Nancy! 👀
“And age means that the rule-following and people-pleasing can go fuck itself.” 🙌🏻 Yesssssssss!
🙌 🙌 🙌
Posting on this late but also timely because I just listened to your podcast about 7 important things for a home practice. I live in a small town west of Toledo OH so there has never been a real opportunity to practice in a studio around here.
I have followed Jason’s work for a long time - 20 years? I remember practicing at home with a first generation iPod or media player that was just Jason’s voice, giving instructions. I think it was sponsored by Yoga Journal? Nowadays it’s so much easier to just click on the most recent Glo class and call it good and done!
All that to say I love having a home practice that I can do on my own schedule (I’m an early riser) with the freedom to choose a class that I feel will connect with my body for that day.
💕🙏
I remember those Yoga Journal podcasts! That was all Jason's doing -- I remember him coming up with the idea and pitching Yoga Journal. He was ahead of his time :) Where do you live? (Jason is from Sylvania)
Small town called Archbold, but also work in Maumee. He was definitely ahead of his time! Trailblazer!
My home practice started after the Shutdown ended my 11 years teaching yoga at a local gym. After I was done pouting, I suddenly felt my practice take on a complete shift to rebirth and exploration. It was a much needed reminder that asana is the vehicle, not the destination.
I still feel isolated in my home practice. This makes me grateful for what you do, Andrea.
I love this post! I've been a yoga 'rule-breaker' for years and have been trying to spread the word, haha. I'm such an advocate of following our intuition and the messages from our bodies and just like you, motherhood completely transformed what I define as yoga. Honestly, there were times when I used to play capoeira and I felt like it was 'my yoga.' I also teach kids yoga, which is so creative and fun, it generally leaks into my own practice, which is a great thing. But to answer your question, my yoga practice looks like short bursts of asana, maybe sometimes only a few minutes because I have little kids and one of them (the 3-year-old) loves to jump and crawl all over my body any time I get close to the ground. Now and then I do longer practices on my mat, but it all depends on the flow of the day. I'm just grateful to have access to this practice.
I love how the practice ebbs and flows when we allow it to. For so many years Sofia needed my full and immediate attention each day to co-regulate and that made it so hard for me to check off the box and "get my practice done." So, finally, begrudgingly at first, I adjusted. Now she is finally able to manage herself in the morning and I've just started two studio classes/week. It feels great! And it also feels great to do restorative mid-afternoon which I never used to do before my mandatory adjustment!
First, the profanity was a game-winning dunk, big lol.
Your story made me think about my personal style of discipline, which seems to be that I can be very disciplined for a certain period of time, and then, no matter what project it is, I fall off the rails a bit, and have to re-center. So I was thinking I'm gonna try 20 minutes in the morning every day, which will mean cutting down on some other things like absorbing the "news". My wife and I do pretty vigorous workouts together fairly often after she comes home from work but I think I need the yoga daily in the mornings. Especially with stuff I'm going through I need to double down.
I also want to add that since I left teaching yoga my home practice has of course changed. I'm never rehearsing, and that means I can really pay attention to what I want to do. Of course this morning I caught myself saying, Oh I wish I could teach this, that would really work. Anyway, yeah, thanks for inspiring me to focus on this today.
20 minutes is so doable isn’t it? And you can really feel back in touch with yourself in 20 🙌 Hope your energy and spirits are faring well!
I love this! For me also coming to a real home practice has been a journey. I had no idea of how to get there until my ego and pushing too much produced a very lengthy but cathartic injury. As bad as that time was it made me find my true practice which I now love.
I let it change and meander with my day and how I feel. It’s mostly in the morning before breakfast, sometimes gentle, sometimes vigorous, sometimes interspersed with other movement modalities or weight lifting. Sometimes it’s just little mini moments during the day, a downward dog on the kitchen counter, spinal rolls on a chair or a 10 minute Savasana break. Some days it’s a free flow thing in the afternoon on the floor without a mat. It all feels so good. The best part is that I learnt to listen to what I need, that I allow my body and spirit to speak. I don’t get injured anymore.
Yay for listening to the body daily and moment-to-moment. What a gift.
My first teacher always talked about having a home practice. Initially, getting on my mat without his guidance was an impossible task. When I started practicing Ashtanga, it gave me a format to practice. Over the years, i have learned that if I don’t get on my mat, my teaching gets stale. I still do a bit of Ashtanga but I’m more likely to do 15 or 20 minutes of favorite poses, or a yin practice or even a YouTube video. I always feel better after I’ve been on my mat.
I used the Ashtanga standing series as my home practice for quite awhile when I just didn't have it in me to come with a sequence. It's really useful. I'm with you -- now that I can accept that my home practice won't look or feel like the studio, I always feel better after I practice.
It’s taken me a really long time to establish a home practice as well. I’ve finally come to realize that the beauty of a home practice is that it’s allowed to be fluid. The rigidity of practicing at the same time every day or following a set program doesn’t work for me. Learning how to honor my individual needs and accept that some days a restorative pose is my practice, some days it’s yoga nidra, sometimes I have the energy for a 15 min flow and if I can fit 5-10 mins of meditation in that’s great. While I understand the benefits and purpose of discipline in spiritual practice I’m finding that letting go of all that pressure is allowing me to practice the way I need when I need. I can’t really define my home practice and I think that’s the point of a practice that truly shows up to meet your individual needs.
Agree 100%!!