One of the greatest benefits of yoga is its ability to be practiced anywhere. Sometimes the weather, work obligations, or life’s responsibilities can make getting to a yoga studio feel nearly impossible.
If your New Year’s resolution is to practice yoga more regularly, setting up a home yoga studio can help keep you on track and moving toward your goals. Without the limitations of travel and other outside expectations, a home yoga practice may be more personal and approachable than a studio on certain occasions.
Judith Hanson Lasater, one of the founders of the Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco, California, says that yoga is less about mimicking others in a studio and more about showing up to do the work—wherever that may be.
“Follow your nature. The practice is really about uncovering your own pose; we have great respect for our teachers, but unless we can uncover our own pose in the moment, it’s not practice — it’s mimicry. Rest deeply in Savasana every day. Always enter that pratyahara (withdrawn state) every day. And just enjoy yourself. For many years I mistook discipline as ambition. Now I believe it to be more about consistency. Do get on the mat. Practice and life are not that different.”
Here are 5 steps for how to set up your own home yoga studio.
You don’t need an entire room to do yoga. There’s really only one thing you need for a true home yoga practice: space for your yoga mat. After that, it’s the vibe and the mindset that will truly set the tone for your home yoga room.
But if you do have a few rooms or corners to choose from, we recommend finding a space for your practice that has the following items:
For many of us, practicing yoga at home can be difficult because of the ever-surmounting to-do list of chores that awaits us. There’s nothing that will take you out of the yoga mindset faster than seeing clutter in your practice area.
Remove anything from your space that doesn’t directly benefit your practice, including (but certainly not limited to) unorganized boxes, toys, and more. The less you have in the room that might give you something to think about, the better and more focused your practice will be.
Wondering what you need to practice yoga at home? Start with the essentials: a good, comfortable yoga mat, two yoga blocks, a strap, and a blanket. And depending on how you prefer to practice, a mirror is usually appreciated in a home yoga studio as well.
Over time, your practice might change and grow, requiring new and interesting yoga props like a wheel or meditation bolsters. We recommend starting small and adding more over time alongside your growing practice.
Use your senses to set the mood for your yoga studio at home. Having the right vibes is one of the most important aspects for a home yoga practice and can make the difference between feeling in the moment and feeling lost.
What do you like to see when you practice? Whether it’s a mirror, out the window, or blank space, make sure your home yoga studio embraces that preference. This includes making sure your lighting is right (candles, low lighting, natural light) and your mat is facing the right direction.
Make sure you have a portable speaker or your computer/phone handy for music. Whether you create your own playlist or stream one from Spotify or Pandora, having the right music for your personal yoga practice is absolutely crucial.
You can also start and end your practice with the same sound each time as a means of setting aside the space for your practice, like a chime, the sound of Om, or a specific song.
Give your space and practice a smell that is unique to you. We love Nag Champa incense at Power Life because of its relaxing and warming properties, and its ability to help us (and our students) feel present in the moment.
You can also use essential oils for your practice. Some of our favorite essential oils for yoga include:
This is the best part! When figuring out how to decorate your home yoga studio, think about the things that bring you creativity and inspire your practice. You can have fun with this or take the minimalist approach of less is more. Whatever you decide, make it personal.
Here are a few of our favorite ideas for yoga studio decorations:
Practice On, Omie
If you’re just starting your yoga journey, we highly recommend visiting a yoga studio in your area to learn the foundations of a safe and effective practice. This includes understanding strong alignment, helpful breathing techniques, and the proper yogi mindset.
Once you have built a firm foundation for which your yoga practice can grow off of, you can practice in the comfort of your home or wherever your mat takes you! Having a home yoga studio can help you feel more personal and comfortable with your practice, giving you less excuses for not making it to your mat every single day.
2024 Power Life, All Rights Reserved.
Built with 🤍 by Blink Consulting
2024 Power Life, All Rights Reserved.
Built with 🤍 by Blink Wellness
Parking available in the Scheels Parking Lot.
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Kirk was working 80-hour weeks and wearing his shoulders as earrings when he found yoga in 2005. Forever the competitive athlete, he loved the physicality of yoga. When the spiritual and philosophical side of yoga were exposed to him, Kirk was hooked. Yoga provided him with what other activities couldn’t -- the ability to foster the benefits of practice both on and off of the mat. Yoga was something that Kirk could bring into all aspects of his life.
Kirk knows that yoga can be intimidating, so he crafts a class that is playful and inviting, while still being challenging and safe. His creatively planned classes build strength and flexibility in your body and mind while establishing clarity, giving you more confidence to overcome obstacles in your life, and keeping you injury-free. His classes are themed with a message that is relatable and will inspire you to take it with you off your mat. Kirk has been teaching yoga since 2008 and lead his first teacher training in 2012. Where Kirk truly shines is in coaching, developing and bringing out the best in others.
Kirk enjoys traveling (40+ countries to date!), snowboarding, and cherishes time with his wife and two daughters.
Christen Bakken’s yoga journey began in 1998 in a Bikram studio that provided a safe and secure place to practice. She saw the yoga mat as a place to remember her purpose and a place to play. As she continued her studies and began her journey to teaching in 2006, Christen infused yoga classes with devotion and the yoga mat became a place of personal transformation and healing. Her classes are filled with laughter, song, sweat, and usually heart openers. In 2013, Christen began training yoga teachers. This is the place where she finds the most joy - in community with folks looking to grow and be of greater service in their homes, on their mats, and in the world. Over the years, she has led trainings in Denver, the Midwest, Florida, and now abroad. She has trained in continuing education modules, 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour programs. Beyond the mat, Christen is a passionate adventure seeker - she loves to bike, snowboard, and spend time with her husband and pups. She sees each day as a blessing and hopes to remind all who interact with her of this truth.
We validate parking for THREE garages in the area!
Two Light garage located directly north of the studio. Please bring your ticket inside for validation.
Three Light garage at Main and Truman. Garage entrance on Truman. Please bring your ticket inside for a validation sticker.
Power & Light garage at 13th and Grand. Please ask for a parking pass at the studio front desk. (Hot tip: the Power & Light garage has a ton of space! But be sure to give yourself a little extra time to walk to the studio.)
If you find that you are running a couple minutes late due to parking, please call the studio to let the instructor know to wait for you before locking the doors.
We have partnered with our friends at Greenslate to provide 1 hour and 15 minute validated parking for Power Life students in the lot at 36th and Harney (just south of the Cottonwood Hotel). Read below to learn how to take advantage of this perk:
Step 1: Scan the QR code located in the lot.
Step 2: Select your destination (i.e. “yoga studio”).
Step 3: Ask for the validation code at the Blackstone studio front desk and enter it on your phone.
Step 4: You are all set! Have fun at class!
Please note:
The validation provided by Power Life and Greenslate is for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Need to add additional time to your parking space? You can do that conveniently from your phone!
This option is valid once per day per license plate.
There is a paved lot and gravel lot on the West side of the building.
Meters on Court and 4th (by Peace Tree) for $0.25/hour, 9am-9pm Mon. – Sat. 12-hour max*
Meters on 4th (to the North) for $1.25/hour. Mon – Sat. 4-hour max.
All meters are free on Sundays and major holidays.
*Starting July 8, 4th Street will temporarily become a one-way. Students will only be able to enter our parking lot from the North via Court Ave. and exit it going south. Thank you for understanding!