5 Tips for Building a Daily Yoga Routine at Home

A daily yoga routine at home can be difficult to get accustomed to at first but can have so many benefits. Yoga is one of the easiest at-home workouts because it needs almost no equipment, and there are many online videos available. It’s also one of the best home workouts because it will mentally focus you and can relieve stress. Having a daily yoga routine at home will advance your yoga practice both physically and mentally. You will be surprised at what your body is capable of as you do more yoga, and the focus and renewed mindset you will gain each day.

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Choose a daily time you can commit to your practice every day

This might be one of the most important tips for any consistent yoga practice: find the best time of day that works for you. This time should be just for you and you alone, without any distractions. If you have kids let someone watch them, or if you live with a partner let them know you need some alone space for an hour or so.

Along with choosing the best “me time” for your yoga practice, choose what time feels right for you. I am a morning person and find if I wait until the end of the day I am unlikely to work out – I also love starting my day with yoga. Many people though prefer to work out in the evenings, and can wind their day down with yoga. If available, afternoons are also a great time for a mid-day break. Yoga is really the perfect escape from whatever is going on in your day. Choosing a time you can commit to it each day is the first step to a consistent daily yoga routine.

Clear a space in your home: calm, alone, and a place you can focus just on yoga

Just like choosing a time, you need to choose a space for your daily yoga practice. Ideally this is in a room where you cannot hear much of what might be going on in the household, or any loud distractions from outside. Even better, if you are able to have windows, they can always bring some fresh air and light to your yoga practice (although by no means necessary).

Make this space your own. If you like candles or incense, light some. Move aside any objects that might impede your focus or ability to fully practice. If you prefer to practice with light music, bring in a speaker, home device, or smart TV that you can play music from. You should feel fully comfortable and relaxed in your yoga space.

To prepare for a daily yoga routine at home, set aside your clothes and yoga gear every day

This is a mental suggestion but it works. If you have the yoga mat set up and ready prior to your class and change into your clothes ahead of time, you will feel more motivated. If you prefer a morning yoga practice, set your clothes out the night before. When you wake up and see it, it will seem seamless to just put them on and do your practice. If you prefer an evening yoga practice, keep your clothes to the side and change into them an hour or two before. That way when you are ready for yoga, you just have to go to your space and you’re all set.

Luckily, you don’t need much gear for yoga. However, if you are looking for a yoga mat that will last essentially forever, give Manduka a try. They are one of the most reputable brands in yoga equipment. I have this pro lite mat and it feels indestructible. If that is out of your price range, my first yoga mat (which is surprisingly in decent shape for how much I’ve used it) is from Gaiam, another reputable yoga brand. They have a beginner’s kit which would be perfect to start a daily at-home practice.

Choose one source for your daily yoga practice

In order to maintain a consistent daily yoga practice, I would recommend choosing one source of instruction. Here are a few ways you can practice yoga at home:

• Yoga studio for live or recorded classes
• Video channel or series (such as through Youtube)
• Yoga or fitness app

If you are looking for app recommendations or yoga studios that have taken their classes online, check out my post on best home workout apps and classes with free options

When you are first beginning an at-home yoga practice, feel free to try all these sources. You need to understand which channel you prefer, and the right “vibe” of your yoga class. Once you determine which source is best for you and your daily routine, stick with it. By using just one of these it will drive you to be consistent in your practice. You will know what type of yoga instructor personality to expect each day and their flow framework.

The beauty of yoga is you can choose the intensity of the class depending on the time of day or how you are feeling. Even if you stick with one studio, channel, or app, they will likely offer a variety of classes. From power vinyasa yoga to yin yoga, multiple types of classes should be available through one of these sources.

Try a yoga challenge (30 days are popular) or pay/schedule your classes ahead of time

Paying for yoga might be a difficult idea. There are just so many free options online, why would you pay for yoga?

First, if you find a yoga studio you love who has online classes, think of how you are supporting their instructors. This is particularly something to consider during times of studio closures or smaller class sizes. There is also a type of intimacy that comes with being part of a yoga studio. It is almost like you are a family, and you are invested in supporting them.

Scheduling and paying for yoga classes will also keep you accountable. You’ve made the choice to invest in yourself and your practice. If you sign up for classes ahead of time it ensures you will set aside just a little time out of your day to maintain a daily yoga routine.

If you aren’t into paying or scheduling for yoga ahead of time, why not try a yoga challenge? 30-day challenges are extremely popular, which means you commit to doing yoga daily for 30 days in a row. If that is too intense for you, a 7-day challenge might be the perfect starting point. This will get you accustomed to having a daily routine. There will come a time where it actually feels strange not doing yoga, once your mindset is so used to it.

Building a daily yoga practice might seem challenging at first, but once you start, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing this from the beginning. I am still working on building a daily yoga routine as well, but consistency is key. Striving to practice daily is a great challenge, but even a few times a week is a perfect first step. I hope these tips are helpful and bring a little more yoga consistency into your daily routine.