How to Practice Yoga Safely at Home

Online Yoga instruction is reaching into more homes than ever before! With many studios scaling back in-person offerings and many yogis feeling skittish about close indoor contact, the virtual yoga world provides a wonderful option for your practice. Could Midlife Yoga be the right choice for you? Let’s break down the ins and outs of an at home yoga practice, and let’s see how Midlife Yoga fits in. 

Before Selecting a Yoga Program

1. Find a class that’s compatible with your level of experience and physical abilities. No one knows your starting point better than you. Are you a beginner? Do you have physical limitations due to illness or injury? Would you prefer a practice without getting up and down from a mat? Search for a class that meets your unique starting point. Midlife Yoga is a mat-free yoga practice, specifically designed for beginners and those who prefer a gentle, step-by-step approach. 
2. Find an instructor who’s licensed, certified and insured. Yoga is a form of physical activity, and like every physical activity, it carries potential risks. Anyone can hop onto Zoom and lead a yoga practice. Do some investigating into your instructor’s credentials. As for me? I am a fully certified group fitness instructor since 2014, specializing in the over-50 demographic. I have specializations in Yoga, Dance Fitness, Midlife Fitness for Women, Active Aging Yoga, Active Aging Fitness, and Fitness for Arthritis to name a few, and I keep my credentials up to date with yearly continuing education. 

During Your Online Class

1. Arrive on time. This is not just being considerate to the instructor and your fellow yogis. It insures your safety by following the practice that the instructor has designed from beginning to end. Also, being on time means you can enter the practice feeling relaxed and settled, rather than stressed because you’re coming in late. In Midlife Yoga, there is a 5-minute grace period for late entry. After that, because I am teaching, I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to admit you into the virtual class.
2. Understand that the instructor can only see a tiny portion of your body. This is a downside to virtual yoga, but it need not impact safety. Although I check in regularly to insure that everyone is okay, you know your body. Midlife Yoga is designed to be very gentle, but if something feels uncomfortable or painful, STOP! It’s okay if you cannot access every pose in the practice. Just do what feels available to you on that day. Talk to me after class and together we’ll find poses that feel just right for your unique body. 
3. Listen to the instructor’s verbal cues. Yes, watching on your screen is important, but in virtual yoga, verbal cues are your guideposts to the practice. In Midlife Yoga, the verbal instructions are designed to be detailed and clear. If you feel lost or confused, pause, watch the screen and see where you feel comfortable rejoining the practice. Again, speak to me after class for a bit of individual instruction.
4. Go slowly and deepen your practice over time. You may be practicing with students who have a little more experience than you, but don’t feel intimidated. Trust yourself to know your body, your abilities and your experience. Slow, steady progress is a hallmark of Midlife Yoga!
5. Relax and enjoy yourself. A yoga practice should feel joyful and expansive. Let go of comparison, let go of judgement, let go of achievement. Come to your Midlife Yoga practice with a tender heart and an open mind, knowing that you add a unique and beautiful energy to the class. Appreciate this time for yourself, and celebrate the wonderful transformation of your body, mind and spirit!