5 Upgrades to Make Your Home Yoga Studio More Special

For the many of us that don’t have a home gym built-in and are sharing space with other people, the home studio has to be like Harry Potter’s ‘room of requirement’ and literally appear with everything you need when you need it and be hidden otherwise. Though we can hardly wish a new room into existence, there are some quick hacks to transforming spaces for an immersive fitness and meditation experience. (and they are kinda like magic!)

Here are some tips to set up a scrap of floor as a studio, minimize the distractions around you and upgrade your home gym from bare basic to boutique-studio-feel.  you can immerse yourself in a fitness or meditation experience that makes you feel like you actually left the house.

1.     Start with how much space: A yoga mat is your best measure

Whether you are doing yoga or not, a mat is a clean and comfortable barrier between your body and the floor. A mat is also the best measurement for, “can I work out here?” If you have space or a mat, you can work out.

Pro tip: face the short end of your mat for moves working the front or back body (squats, planks, down. dog etc.), face your body to the long edge of your mat when working the sides of your body (side planks, side lunges, warrior II…you get it) 

2.     Lighting: Stand in front of a window

Does your favorite class have the lights high or low? These choices are very strategic to give a certain vibe with the class. Play around to find your own preferences.

Some ideas: Lose the overhead light and opt for a reading lamp nearby.

·      Light candles (tip – put them on shelves or buy these flameless ones, so you don’t pull a Britney Spears)

·      Fairy lights – these are a beauty

·      OK I may seem biased about working out in the dark, but nothing is more energizing than catching the morning golden hour while you are up an at ‘em: find a spot to unroll your mat that’s in front of the window, and let the sunlight, plus exercise, uplift your mood with an all-natural, double-dose of serotonin. 

3.     Music/ Sound: Charge your iPads

First rule to this is know that your favorite instructor or app is doing their best. Zoom was made for boardrooms where its not needed to bump high-quality beats, never mind have presenters be in-sync with them. And copyright laws and licensing fees limit apps from playing the latest hits. 

As a student and even as an instructor, music is a make-or-break-the-class for me no matter where I am taking it. Sound like you? Then its important to prepare this part of your set up – and you probably want to recruit multiple devices:

Example: Play teacher from computer, play music from phone. Adjust volumes accordingly.

·      If it’s a workout app that only plays on a phone, you could reverse that, or maybe you have an iPad (if its like mine its waiting to be put to good use).

4.     Temperature: Warm your towels

Fall is here and cooling your body just got so much less appealing. If you can adjust your room temperature with a heater, that’s easy peasy. If you can’ t, let’s talk about placement and props:

Questions to ask: Can I stand in front of or near the hheather?

·      If not, can I get a portable heater? (think how cardio equipment has hose built-in!)

·      Do I want to make this a heated class? (Remember how ah-mazing hot yoga made you feel?)

No matter your sitch, you do want to break a sweat. Take an extra minute before class to roll up a sweat towel (or two) all nice like the studio used to do for you. I recommend having one in the freezer for a post-class cooldown.

5.     Accoutrements: Add the boutique-studio bells & whistles

This and the lighting is where I think you can have the most fun. 

Inspiration: Fragrant spa towels: take your frozen or refrigerated towel a step further and SCENT it. Hellooo, who else has literally been a member at Equinox for the scented towels? I was, so I looked into this and you can get eucalyptus essential oil, mix with water and then cool your towel for an utmost luxurious experience.

·      Incense or scented candles: Add some aromatherapy to your movement therapy. I have been using PF Candle Co. and Homesick for my candlelit classes.

·      Smoothie/ healthy snack bar: Extend your exercise habit to a healthy refueling habit and treat yourself to a homemade smoothie right after you work out. I like this one[TK1] . Don’t have a blender? Stock up on energy bites, like these from Eat For You Co.

There you have it! From your base level needs to your boujie extras, the best part about this list is that the fixes are quick and don’t require any heavy-lifting (I’ll leave that for your next sculpt class J ).

Tell or show us which ones you tried @powermoveyoga !