 At 532 Yoga, we believe that yoga is for everybody. No matter your skill level, we work to help those who practice yoga feel good in their bodies, quiet their mind, and reclaim their peace. Part of practicing yoga is finding the right space. Some people prefer to come into the studio and some prefer to practice yoga from the comfort of their own homes. It doesn’t matter where you practice yoga, as long as it works for you.
For those who prefer to come into the studio, we ensure that we are providing you with the best experience possible. For those who would rather practice yoga at home, 532 Yoga offers live-streaming classes that can be accessed from anywhere. When practicing yoga at home, it is important to dedicate a space in your house for yoga. This space could be in a bedroom, in your garage, or even outside. It depends on what will provide you with the best environment. Continue reading to learn more about how you can transform your outdoor space into a yogi's paradise. Establish a Budget Once you decide on where you want your yoga space to be, it is important to think about what you want it to look like. From there, start to put together a budget for how you plan to create this space. Some things to consider when establishing your budget are the cost of renovations, how much time the renovation will take, the cost of yoga equipment, and where to store your yoga equipment during the off months. If you choose to create your yoga space in your backyard you should start by looking at the current state of your backyard. If your backyard is not well maintained or does not have privacy, it may be difficult to feel at peace and fully immerse yourself in your yoga session. If your intended space looks like it could use an upgrade, you should consider making some improvements. It may seem overwhelming and costly to renovate your backyard, but the investment is well worth it when considering the value that your personal yoga space will add to your life. As a homeowner, explore all financial assistance options such as a line of credit against any existing equity. Taking the time to create a budget ahead of time, will help you with the renovation process so as to best plan for how much money you are going to be spending and where you will be allocating it to stay within budget. Layout When designing your outdoor space, it is important to keep in mind the layout. If you want to dedicate only a part of your backyard to yoga, then you need to figure out what type of furniture and flooring will fit your needs. It is common to practice yoga on a flat level surface because that is best for balance and stability. If you have a patio or deck, that would be an ideal place to create your space. Along with a level surface, you are going to want to make sure that you do not have a lot of furniture outside that could become an obstacle for you when practicing yoga. It is best to find an area where you can freely move and stretch out. When you decide on a space you should start thinking about where you want to put all of your yoga equipment along with anything else that may need such as a towel or water bottle. Equipment After finding an area in your backyard that works, you are going to want to start thinking about what equipment you are going to need for your yoga space. There are many different types of equipment that are used when practicing yoga and it is important to make sure that you are well prepared with what you need to get the most out of each session. Some of the things that you might need include a yoga mat, a yoga ball, a yoga block, a yoga strap, and a yoga wheel. All of these types of equipment provide you with the tools you need to start practicing yoga. A yoga mat is probably the most important piece of equipment because a yoga mat provides you with more traction and grip than your deck or patio would and also provides you with a cushioned surface so that you are not practicing against a hard floor. Ambiance When creating your own outdoor yoga space you want to make sure that you are creating a space that is calm and peaceful. Some ways that you can achieve this is by adding different types of plants such as low-growing sedums, alpines, azaleas, statuesque conifers, or bonsai trees. These types of plants are popular when it comes to creating a zen garden. A zen garden is a perfect way to add to the aesthetic of your yoga space. Along with creating a zen garden, you could also build a fence to provide you with some shade and privacy. To add to the ambiance of your outdoor yoga space, you could also add a gentle waterfall or pond to include a water feature. The sound of running water can be relaxing and soothing and could be the perfect thing to add to complete your space. Creating an outdoor yoga space is perfect for those who want to practice yoga from the comfort of their own home. It is important to remember that this space is for you and it should be created in a way that makes you happy so that you can get the most out of every yoga session.
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 Sometimes life moves so fast that you often forget about simple things, such as dedicating time to take care of yourself. Although we are more than halfway through the year, there is still time to take care of business and be your best self. Here are five simple tips to apply self-care within your daily routine.
Take a Yoga Class Yoga is great when it comes to active self-care. In fact, yoga can improve and lessen the effects of many ailments impacting you every day. Implementing a daily yoga routine by taking a class can help you sleep better, reduce anxiety, fight burnout, etc. Here at 532Yoga, self-care serves as a center point of our mission to help people achieve a well-balanced life. Whether you are a beginner, or a yoga expert, we will have a class for you. Now, we offer flexible daily in-person classes and live streams to fit everybody’s schedule. Stay on Top of Your Health Your health is your greatest asset, and neglecting it can impose unfortunate consequences. You should see your primary care doctor at least once a year. Having a wellness visit, and a yearly physical checkup can help your physician determine the best plan of treatment for many aspects of health. Keep track of what is bothering you and come prepared to talk with your doctor. If you wear glasses or contacts, make sure you have an eye exam at least every year to have the most up-to-date prescription. In modern times, you can save time and energy by easily order your contact lenses online without ever having to go to the store. This way, you can stay on top of your busy schedule and cut down on additional errands. Besides maintaining your physical health, also look to care for your mental wellbeing, too. Over the years addressing mental health has become more accepted and while still stigmatized, there are tons of resources and tools available to help you find a good headspace. Doing something as small as using an app like Calm to help keep you grounded and relaxed can improve mental health tenfold. Calm, and other similar apps promote mindful thinking and meditation throughout the day. Unplug from the World The globe is now more connected than ever, and it can be overwhelming. Constantly scrolling through social media on your phone can form bad habits and affect your spatial awareness. Start by monitoring your screen time and using that as a template to reduce phone usage. Being on your phone before bed can make it harder to fall asleep. Lower your screen time by reading a physical book before bedtime. Studies show that e-reader screens can delay the natural release of melatonin and have you wake up feeling less rested the next day. Besides unplugging at night, try to start your day free of any phone or computer time as well. Starting your day instantly scrolling the news or social media is an easy way to get in a negative mindset, especially if you see bad news. Besides seeing bad news, starting your day online is just going to push back other things that should be in your morning routine, such as making breakfast and getting active. Practice Mindfulness People may struggle practicing mindfulness as they feel they have too much going on to focus on one thing at a time. Mindfulness can help you regulate your emotions, and decrease stress, anxiety, and depression. It can also be achieved by focusing on the previous three tips which can help you be fully engaged in life. One way to deploy mindfulness in the current moment is by eating. Eating mindfully is when we take the time to truly acknowledge the act of eating and all that goes into it. Oftentimes, people will not even remember what they ate for lunch, which shows they weren’t truly in-tune with the eating experience. When eating, we should be taking the time to breathe, and take stock of the feelings and sensations that occur when eating. These feelings can be both physical and mental. To help jumpstart your mindful eating journey, try incorporating some of these tips into your daily routine:
Besides mindful eating, there are a few other ways you can practice mindfulness. A mindful morning is another great way to practice self-care. As already mentioned, starting your day away from electronics is a great way to start your morning mindfully, but there are even more ways to have a healthy morning. A great way to kickstart each day is by writing in a morning journal to organize your thoughts and feelings for the day. As you begin to practice self-care and mindfulness you can reference this journal each day to see how you felt the day before and see if there are any patterns between your daily routines and your mental health. Go Outside Summertime is here and going outdoors is a great way to kick off your self-care routine. Connecting with nature by taking a walk after dinner can help you reduce stress. Walking is effortless no matter your surroundings, and it's possible to get out of your comfort zone without forcing yourself to go on an intense hike. Gardening is also a great way to practice self-care and learn a new hobby. Starting a garden can be great therapy where it can inhabit peace and tranquility. Beginner gardeners should try not to worry about whether or not their plant will grow, but just go out and do it and learn from there. There are plenty of other tips to practice self-care, but these can get you started and get you on the right track to being successful in life. It can be hard to juggle everything going on, but taking a few moments for yourself each day can help you feel more fulfilled and revamp your well-being. |