Setting yourself up for a home practice

• Get a mat or towel to practice on. Some floor surfaces are fine as they are without a mat!
• Gather other props like blankets and blocks. If you don't have blocks you can improvise- large text books, packing boxes, large tomato cans. I have even used empty-ish gallon paint cans for blocks which work great because they have handles on them, and the paint will help keep them stabilized!
• Set yourself up in your favorite room in the house, or the one with a good sturdy door.
• Surround yourself with things that make you feel peaceful- pictures, statues, candles, etc. You may want to choose to diffuse essential oils instead of burning incense as the smoke from the incense is sometimes too much while practicing.  Or you can burn the incense in another room.
• If you like to play music, get some going on!  I recommend music without a strong steady drum beat as it can disturb the natural rhythm of your breathing. (Your breath will align with the beat rather than your prana).  If you are live streaming you may not be able to hear the music from the Zoom meeting, so if you miss having it, you can play your own.
• Tell everyone else in the house to either leave you alone, or join in.  I know it sounds impossible, but it can actually work.  Let them know you will be a much nicer person if they let you do your practice.  
• Animals can either be a pain during your practice, or lots of fun to have around. You will figure that out as you go along, and that is where the sturdy door comes in.
• If you are live streaming you will need to set up your computer/iPad/phone in a way that you can see it and the instructor can see you.  It is best to have yourself positioned sideways, your device will be facing the long side of your mat.  You might have to adjust it as the class transitions from standing poses to seated poses.  Get those text books out again!  They are very useful in helping to adjust the height of your camera.  A laptop is the best thing to use as the screen is bigger and it is more stable and has more adaptability (folding the cover down is good for seated poses for example).  If you can come in 10-15 minutes before class starts the instructor will help you to position yourself, and you will also be able to see yourself on the camera to know if you will be visible or not.  You can absolutely choose to be not visible, but to get the most from live stream, it is best to let the instructor see you. 
• If you are using a pre-recorded video or audio then anywhere you put the device is fine as long as you can see it.
• TURN YOUR PHONE OFF! Just like you would at the studio.
• Here is the best part of practicing at home- you can stay in savasana as long as you like!! And then stumble into the shower or whatever you have to do next.

Interested in buying props for home use?
See below:
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