How to Create a Yoga Sanctuary at Home

For many of us, our day begins with some suryanamaskaras followed by a few asanas. Yoga is a great way to start the day because it helps you feel more connected to yourself. It is also the perfect way to destress in the evenings after a long day. While many of us are part of yoga groups or go into yoga studios to get our yoga fix, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had our own space for it at home?

And it’s very much possible! It doesn’t have to be as fancy as a dedicated yoga room since space comes at a premium for most of us. Simply allocating a corner and setting it up to reflect vibes of calm can be very helpful. Keep it small, and you will easily be able to carve out space by moving furniture around or even giving away some of the items you don’t use.

Make your yoga session an immersive experience by engaging the five senses in various ways. Here’s how to set up your space accordingly.

Sight – views and lighting

Keeping your yoga sanctuary bright and airy will enhance the overall experience of your sessions. If you have a garden, why not try and face it during your practice? Or perhaps you could line the space with a few flowering plants. Having the feeling of being amidst nature is a big plus.

So is natural light, which helps in transforming your yoga space into a more alluring one. Try to design your sanctuary near large windows or skylights if you have them. Worry not if you seriously lack natural light.

Go for soft and accented lighting with energy-efficient LED bulbs. If it’s a shared space where you have no control over the lighting, you could dim the lights and create a small altar that can hold some naturally scented candles. Whatever you do, the right lighting will enable you to set the mood for your yoga session.

Hearing – relaxing music

Yoga is often accompanied by the soft tones of a teacher’s instructions or by some relaxing music. Put on your favourite instrumentals or listen to recorded sounds of nature like bird calls or flowing water to drown out the noises in a busy household. If your allocated space is near a window hang wind chimes. The lovely tinkling sounds work like firm fingers on those knots on your shoulders.

Touch

Choose soft yoga mats and comfortable cushions that will enhance your posturing through the practice session. Outfit your sanctuary with materials like soft cotton, bamboo, and wood to get a sense of calm underfoot and in your hands.

If you need a partition to mark the boundaries of your space, choose screens made of bamboo or wood. Or why not keep some tall house plants too? You could even put up curtains with emblems of soothing chakras or chants written on them. Paying attention to such details will greatly augment the overall feeling of well-being that you get from yoga.

Taste

A yoga session can get tiring, and you will need to hydrate yourself in the middle just like any other workout session. Fill your water bottle with fresh juices or infuse your water with lemon, mint, or honey. Or a mix of all three! At the end of your practice, reach out for a small piece of your favourite treat, say a square of dark chocolate or a spoonful of ice cream. Anything that evokes pleasant feelings and memories to enhance the calm mood you are in.

Smell

You are going to do a lot of deep breathing in your special space, so make sure the air is as pure as possible. In a small apartment, lighting aromatic candles or some mild incense will lend set the right atmosphere and also purify the air of cooking smells.

You can also make your own personalised scents by mixing a few essential natural oils like peppermint, lavender, or patchouli with water and spraying it in the room, which will help you get into the mood for some rejuvenating yoga.