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7 Tips for Creating the Perfect Yoga Space at Home

Yoga is best practiced in a room without many distractions.
Yoga is best practiced in a room without many distractions. Photo: Getty Images
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April 29, 2024, 3:18 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Whether it’s Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, or Iyengar Yoga, many people regularly practice asanas, which means they practice yoga. However, finding a suitable space at home can often be challenging.

According to a 2023 survey by GfK commissioned by the Professional Association of Yoga Teachers, most people use their bedroom or living room for their exercises. The survey found that 74 percent of the yogis surveyed practice at home, 20 percent go to a yoga studio, and 19 percent to a fitness studio. Those who want to do their exercises at home don’t necessarily need a lot of space, but it should be quiet and cozy. Experts offer tips on how this can look–and how to set up a yoga corner in your home.

1. Tip: It should be tidy

Only in a structured environment with little room for distractions can you really practice asanas well. This means that if you want to set up a yoga corner, you should first declutter and tidy up. Photos, colorful decorations, or books should not offer the possibility of distraction.

Also interesting: Setting up a yoga room at home in a few steps

2. Tip: View to the window

Yoga can be practiced in various places in the home. But it’s best to choose a fixed spot, preferably without distractions. “This can be a place in the living room, sometimes even a corner in a large bedroom,” says Nora Böhm, an interior designer in Cologne who also sets up yoga studios. It’s important that these are not active spaces like children’s rooms, kitchens, or hallways. 

If possible, choose a corner near a heater to avoid getting cold in a quiet position. You don’t necessarily have to place yourself directly in front of the window. However, having a window in view is a good idea. Yoga should take place as protected as possible, and it’s pleasant to be able to look outside, says Böhm.

3. Tip: At least two square meters of space is needed

A small room is enough to practice yoga. For the asanas, the physical exercises in yoga, you need at least two square meters of space. “Ideally, you should be able to stretch your arms upward without touching the ceiling and spread them to the sides without hitting walls or furniture,” says Jessica Fink from the Professional Association of Yoga Teachers in Germany. Even when lying on your back on the floor, it should be possible to extend your arms behind your head and spread them to the sides. 

If your home doesn’t allow for this, the exercises can be varied, for example, by changing the arm position. “In online live courses, there is often the opportunity to discuss such issues with the course leader and be shown alternatives,” says Fink. 

Also interesting: What rules apply for jumping and hopping in the apartment?

4. Tip: Dimmable lamps in the yoga corner are recommended

Once the spot is found, the question arises: How best to equip it? “Some can concentrate best on the practice when the room around them is as simple as possible,” says Jessica Fink. Others find that candles, flowers, pictures, or sculptures help them withdraw from everyday life and get into a calm mood.

It’s important to signal that you are giving your hobby yoga a permanent space, says Nora Böhm. For example, by designing the corner in soft colors or setting up your favorite accessories. Dimmable lamps can also create a calming atmosphere. Additionally, you can light incense sticks before practicing yoga to set the mood, says the interior designer.

5. Tip: An additional mat for a tiled floor

You can’t do without it: A non-slip yoga mat is the centerpiece of the yoga corner. It should provide sufficient grip. If you like, you can also work with yoga blocks and yoga straps. “For breathing exercises and meditation, seat cushions, meditation benches, chairs, or stools are important,” says Jessica Fink. 

You can’t always choose the floor you start on at home. If you have to practice on tiles or another flooring that feels very cold or hard despite the mat, you can place an additional felt yoga mat under the main mat. On cold days, a blanket is useful for relaxation phases.

6. Tip: A storage place for utensils

It all adds up. To store the utensils after a yoga session, a basket is a good option. If you have more space, you can also set up a small shelf. “This way, everything is always at hand and doesn’t have to be gathered before each yoga session,” says Nora Böhm. 

More on the topic

7. Tip: Place the laptop at the head of the mat for online courses

Those practicing with online courses might wonder: Where is the best place to put the laptop or tablet? But you don’t have to worry too much about it. Because: “Ideally, the exercises should be verbally guided so precisely that the sound is enough to perform them,” says Fink. Otherwise, it becomes difficult to keep an eye on the screen and practice at the same time, especially during exercises in a prone or supine position.

Böhm advises placing the laptop at the head of the mat. The height depends on what you need to see on the screen. “For exercises on the floor, it’s good to place the laptop on a coffee table or the seat of a chair or stool,” says Fink. For standing exercises, it’s better to have the laptop at eye level so that the neck isn’t strained by looking down. If the yoga corner offers both options, the laptop can be moved in between. 

However, it’s simpler and more effective to become familiar with the exercises so that you don’t constantly need to look at the screen. Those practicing with recorded videos have the chance to watch the video once beforehand.

With material from dpa

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

Topics Wohnzimmer
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