...sorry. Couldn't resist. My practice hasn't completely eradicated my poor impulse control, apparently.
Anyway, going to classes, if you have the money and access, is absolutely the best thing you can do for your practice, body, and mind. The online/video resources I've mentioned in the past are a great tool as well. You really do need a teacher to guide you, challenge you, and prevent injury. But once you're fairly confident with whatever "your yoga" is, I strongly encourage you to find a way to establish a consistent, self-directed home practice. The purpose of this series (which may or may not ever be continued) is to address what this might mean to you- the advantages and challenges in practicing at home.
Changes
A home practice, because it is self-directed, can change in infinite ways. Because we do yoga (ideally) throughout our lives and in varying conditions, I feel that a yoga routine should be able to accommodate that. (NOTE: practitioners of set-sequence styles will have a different, and equally valid, opinion. You might want to try both. As with anything, YMMV.) Here are some things to consider:
- Life cycle: They say that Ashtanga yoga was created to harness the somewhat erratic energy of adolescence with its challenging athletic style. If I were going to teach a class of 16 year olds, you bet I'd be pulling out the big power vinyasa guns (and challenging them with holding asanas, on occasion). A class of retirees new to yoga might benefit instead from a hatha class with an emphasis on alignment (throwing some vinyasa in there to mix it up). So on a personal level, I know that what's going to be most transformative for my body and mind at 23 won't be the same as the most beneficial practice for when I am 53.
- Climate/seasons: Your body is changing and adapting to the seasons, so why shouldn't your practice? Winter is a particularly challenging time, especially without access to a hot studio. Heat must be built slowly and steadily in order to prevent injury. In summer, when it is hot, you may want to avoid overstretching. Allergy and cold seasons may require a focus on strengthening the immune and respiratory systems.
- Physical fluctuations: A home practice can easily accommodate injuries and soreness (please, consult a certified teacher to make sure you're not aggravating anything). I personally don't believe in a mandatory abstention from inversions for menstruating women, but I would definitely recommend doing only what you're comfortable with. Feeling a flu coming on? Think chest openers and restorative poses.
- Mental fluctuations: I hate to use yoga too prescriptively (like I just did), but you can play with adapting your practice to your mental state. Next time you have some anger to work out, try embodying it in any Warrior pose. Feeling a little unfocused? A sequence heavy on tough balancing postures might help with that.
