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 Always enter that pratyahara (withdrawn state) every day.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.

Designate Your Space

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:

• Hardwood or tile floors
• Natural lighting
• At least 21 square feet of space (to allow for inversions, arm spans, etc.)
• Little to no sound distractions (outside road, kitchen, bathroom)

Clear Out Clutter

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.

Buy Yoga Essentials

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.

Set The Vibe

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.

• Sight

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.

• Sound

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.

• Smell

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:

• • Lemongrass: Energizing, cleansing
  • Lavender: Relieving, Rejuvenating
  • Peppermint: Soothing, refreshing
  • Cedarwood: Grounding, nourishing
  • Sandalwood: Centering, calming

Decorate Your Space

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:

• • Iconic statue
  • Candles
  • Grounding items from nature (seashells, rocks, crystals)
  • Purifying plants
  • Tapestries
  • Inspiring pictures/paintings
  • Mantra decals

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.