Setting the Scene
There is nothing more relaxing than a beautiful, well organised space. When you’re rolling out your mat at home, if its at all possible, try and pick a space that you can create a welcoming atmosphere. Somewhere you actually want to be and when you look around you like what you see. This doesn’t have to be a pinterest worth endeavour. Simply doing a little bit of a tidy, making sure there’s no obvious or annoying clutter in your line of sight and just placing a few well positioned plants around you can do the trick.
Choosing your Gear
While it’s one thing to be surrounded by beauty or natural elements or just things that make you smile, it’s also important to feel good in yourself. Good quality, comfortable yoga gear that also makes you feel confident can release powerful feel good hormones that accentuate your practise. That is not to say you have to go out an invest in expensive, designer yoga clothes, you don’t! But when we practise at home sometimes its tempting to show up in your pjs (which is also fine btw!) but it can be nice to feel a little luxe at home too! As long as it’s still comfy, always choose comfort over anything else.
Indulge the Senses
Carrying on our theme of beauty and comfort a few well thought out touches can elevate your home practise. The addition of essential oils in a burner, soft lighting through candles or fairy lights, a natural yoga mat, a faux sheepskin rug, crystals, all of these can help you immerse yourself in your yoga practise by engaging the senses in a relaxing and restorative way.
Yogi Tea - Home Brew
I’ve made a variation of this tea for my students at my yoga workshops for years and years and it always goes down a treat. You can have it simmering away on the hob while you’re on your mat and let it fill your space with the most delicious spiced scent.
Ingredients
5 cardamom pods, cracked
20 whole peppercorns
5 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick or 1/4 tsp ground
Fresh ginger and turmeric, about the size of 1/4 of your thumb or 1/4 tsp each of ground turmeric and ginger
Pinch of Loose Black Tea (rip open a tea bag or dip in the tea bag)
Add all of the ingredients, except the black tea, to a small, heavy based pot. Allow to simmer on a low heat for at least 10-15 mins with the lid on. Just before serving, add a pinch of loose black tea and stir. Strain into a mug and enjoy.
