Home yoga - just what the doctor ordered! April 29 2015, 0 Comments

I have to admit, starting my own business while working in a day job can be tough. I have to put all of my self-love strategies into action or I frequently end up run down. I love my life but it is chock-a-block at the moment and some days making it to one of my favourite yoga studios is near impossible with a to-do list the length of my arm tugging at me! A few days or even a week can fly by so fast and I get frustrated that I've let my yoga practice slip. 

With Autumn feeling more like Winter so far in Melbourne I've intuitively felt like creating more space and upping the self-care from the comfort of my home. At times, the extent of my home yoga practice has been working on my head stand or opening my hips up in pigeon pose when I'm feeling tight. While I've dabbled in various free classes online and YouTube videos, I thought I'd check out an online yoga studio called the Yoga Collective a little more closely and see if it was an effective way to get more yoga back into my day. 

So what is The Yoga Collective?

The Yoga Collective is an online yoga studio that offers a wide range of online yoga classes varying in duration, level, style and focus. Oh and you can also select the class by teacher. Whether you're interested in yin, vinyasa, hatha or restorative, there is a class to suit everyone!

After test driving it the last few weeks, some of my favourite online yoga classes include Back to the Basics with Gigi Snyder. Gigi takes you through the poses, providing clear instructions and I really like the way she explains the benefits of the specific poses. It's a fabulous introduction to yoga for any beginners out there. Jump for Joy by Kyle Miller is an uplifting class to get you out of a funk. It's energetic and includes some fun playing into handstand (modified handstand is recommended for beginners). Again there is a focus on alignment and some great tips, not to mention loads of enthusiasm from Kyle. The 10 minute Bedtime Flow with Shayna Hiller is lovely and gentle, the perfect way to unwind before bed and ensure a restful sleep after a busy day. Some of the poses in that series can be used anytime during the day to stretch, relax and recharge. I've been tempted to take a yoga mat into my day job to stretch out for a break from being at the computer and Shayna's short bedtime series has reminded me I must!

There are so many options that I'm yet to make my way through all of the classes yet! From balancing sequences to heart and hip openers, there is a fantastic variety. There are also classes focusing on breathing techniques and meditation. 

What are the challenges?

+ Setting time aside and not allowing distractions to interfere with my practice. Yep! I had to ignore the dishes and the fact that my floor could use a good vacuum. Once I got into the flow, in tune with my breath and my body, these distractions faded away.

+ Dedication and commitment to myself and my practice. Committing to a home practice means that I have to be fully responsible. There was no booking into a class or going with a friend to hold me accountable.

What are the benefits?

+ I love that with the Yoga Collective online classes I could select a class according to how I was feeling, how much time I had to allocate to my practice and what my body needed at the time. 

+ I don't have to go anywhere! I can do yoga at any time of the day and I'm not reliant on a studio timetable. 

+ I can take my laptop or iPad anywhere, back home to my parents in the country or away for a weekend and log in to the Yoga Collective to guide me through my practice. 

+ The Yoga Collective have approximately 40 Free Pose Instructions to check in that you are completing the poses correctly and to workshop specific poses. The added benefit of a yoga video is you can rewind and replay if you missed anything! 

Do I recommend online yoga classes?

Hell yes! As I've said in a previous post, home yoga is fantastic to complement your in studio yoga practice. There are times where you simply can't beat the convenience of practising at home. It's a fantastic way to build up strength in certain poses or stretch out trouble areas. It's also convenient for mothers who might find it difficult to get out to a studio to practise. It's cost effective and there really is no excuse for not doing yoga, even as the weather gets cooler and we tend to want to hibernate!

If you'd like to find out more about the Yoga Collective, check out their website, follow them on Facebook or Instagram. They offer a range of free classes and a 15 day trial as well. Or... if you happen to be in Venice Beach, California (I wish!) call in to meet the team in person at their studio!

If you're interested in starting or ramping up your home yoga practice, come across and join me on Facebook and Instagram as I'll be giving away two yearly memberships to the Yoga Collective online yoga studio very soon! You might also like to read previous blog posts on how to develop your home practice here and here.