Some ways to have a studio-like experience at home while practicing yoga include carving out a space for yourself, using earbuds, setting the mood, and using your own props.

Yoga is a type of mental and physical activity that combines physical poses, mindfulness, and breathing techniques.

Although yoga was traditionally practiced in studios, gyms, and other communal settings, many people have moved their practice out of these settings and into their homes, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are several benefits to practicing yoga at home, such as convenience and affordability.

For instance, if you have limited time, you can do a short routine without spending time getting there. It’s also more affordable, as you can find free or low cost yoga videos online.

And, for those who may be self-conscious about their movements, you can practice alone, without others in the room.

On the other hand, building your own yoga studio can be quite costly, especially if there are props you enjoy using. You may also be distracted during home sessions by kids, pets, and outdoor noises, among other things.

Keep reading to learn more about how to transform your home into a yoga studio without incurring high costs.

Carving out your space is simply finding an area where you can move freely without touching any objects, walls, or ceilings.

A mat is the most important piece of equipment for practicing yoga, either at home or in a studio. So, all you really need in your yoga space is:

  • enough space for the length of your mat to fit
  • high enough ceilings for your arms to extend upward
  • wide enough space for your arms to extend sideways

While you may have to shift a few things around in a room to extend your arms sideways, you may be able to make a space in a bedroom, kitchen, or living room, so long as the yoga mat fits.

According to a 2023 research review, participants enjoyed doing yoga at home because it offered a calm environment they knew well. However, they noted that it was important to take the time to set up the space properly.

Often, this means finding a place free of clutter or decluttering an area. An older review of research found that a clean, clutter-free environment is an important part of experiencing the full benefits of yoga from the home setting.

If you can’t declutter the area you’ll be practicing in, don’t worry. Yoga is a mindful practice in which you focus your mind on breathing, moving, and feeling. With time, you’ll be better at focusing inward and allowing the room to slip into the background.

Sound plays a big role in how you experience and perform yoga. This may include the silence that allows you to hear your breathing or soft music and the instructor’s voice.

Wearing wireless earbuds or a headset can deeply enrich the auditory experience, which is one of the key senses involved in any mind-body experience like yoga.

Earbuds can also help eliminate external sounds, such as people talking, neighbors walking upstairs, and outdoor sounds, to help you focus on your movement.

With most devices, you can play both the instructions and your favorite playlist at the same time. Many teachers post their yoga playlists on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, so you can choose a soundtrack to fit your mood.

Now that your ears are taken care of, let’s work with your eyes and nose.

Lighting and exposure to sunlight may play important roles in regulating mood, behaviors, and energy, as well as reducing stress and feelings of anxiety. It’s also important when practicing yoga, especially if you’re doing it during the day or at night.

If you’re practicing yoga during the day or want to boost your energy, try to find a room with natural lighting.

Or, if you want to enhance feelings of sleepiness, consider lighting the room with a warm, soft, and dim light or placing several candles in the room. If you can’t turn the lights off, then try closing your eyes when you’re upright and placing a towel over your face when you’re lying down.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils from natural plants to help promote various aspects of health. Some 2020 research suggests it can help improve positive feelings during exercise, reduce fatigue, and promote recovery.

Consider using an essential oil diffuser, lighting a candle, or dabbing a drop or two of essential oil onto your skin. If you apply essential oils, remember to use an oil carrier to reduce side effects like skin burning.

One benefit of doing yoga in a studio is the easy access to props, such as blocks, blankets, and bolsters. But this has changed slightly after the COVID-19 pandemic, with many studios now requiring you to bring your own.

This could now make practicing at home even more convenient, since it means you don’t have to lug all your stuff back and forth. Being at home also means you don’t have to invest in fancy props!

Consider using household items, such as a towel for a blanket, a couch cushion for a bolster, a hand towel for an eye pillow, and a belt or scarf for a strap.

Canned goods and hardback books work great as blocks for balance and additional height. YogaWorks teacher Jennie Cohen suggests using toilet paper rolls for supine poses like supported backbends — a trick she actually learned from one of her livestream students.

If you’ve ever walked into a yoga studio and seen yogis hanging upside down like bats before class starts, that area of the studio is called a rope wall.

Several online retailers sell wall ropes and hooks to set up at home for around $40 or more. But you can actually recreate the lower ropes with a long strap, resistance bands, or even a dog leash.

To set up your rope wall:

  1. Make a large loop of your “rope” and wrap it around the side of the door handle to which the door opens. Then, pull the door shut with the rope running along the side of the door.
  2. Step into the strap, placing it on the top of your thighs, and walk your upper body forward.
  3. Either come into a Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana) or, depending on your height and the length of the strap, walk your hands all the way out to Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana).

Yoga tailored to your needs

Yoga is an inclusive form of exercise that you can adapt to your individual needs. It can play an important role in managing several health conditions due to its psychological, physical, and emotional benefits.

Learn more about how you can tailor yoga to suit your individual needs:

One of the greatest benefits of technology and social media is that you can access some of the world’s best yoga teachers from your home.

Many online yoga streaming services and apps are available to help you practice yoga anywhere, and they can be tailored to your needs.

Healthline’s Fit It In Yoga Series provides four 22-minute yoga routines that are free and require no subscription. Each has a specific focus: waking up, working on posture alignment, building strength, and promoting better sleep.

Video sharing platforms like YouTube also have many free, high quality videos you can follow along with. For instance, Adriene Mishler’s yoga channel, Yoga with Adriene, has over 750 videos covering a wide range of topics and styles.

If you want to subscribe to — often for free — an online yoga platform and join a community, but still practice yoga at home, then consider downloading one of the following yoga apps:

  • YogaWorks At Home: YogaWorks has been a leader in yoga since 1987. The YogaWorks At Home platform offers 30+ live classes streaming daily and a library of 1,300+ classes at a low cost.
  • Glo: This is one of the highest-rated yoga apps and boasts a library of 9,000 classes. It offers a variety of yoga, meditation, Pilates, and fitness classes. It’s available as both a streaming service and an app.
  • Yoga on Gaia: Gaia’s streaming platform has a library of classes and allows you to customize your flow based on style, class length, or difficulty. Plus, membership is affordable.
  • Yoga International: Yoga International offers a wide range of courses, workshops, and streaming and prerecorded classes. It’s a membership-based site with numerous perks for members, including free training.
  • Down Dog App: With 60,000+ possible class configurations, the possibilities are endless. This includes choosing class length, style, the voice of the instructor, and whether to play music.

Lastly, if you like doing yoga in real time or with a specific instructor, consider asking if they offer small group or 1-to-1 yoga classes via videoconference services.

Practicing yoga at home may have several benefits, such as saving time, being in a comfortable space, and often times, saving money.

To set up your own yoga studio, consider finding a room with natural light, using earbuds, trying aromatherapy, and even setting up your own rope wall.

Sarah Ezrin is a motivator, writer, yoga teacher, and yoga teacher trainer based in San Francisco. She lives with her husband and their dog and is changing the world by teaching self-love to one person at a time. For more information on Sarah, please visit her website, www.sarahezrinyoga.com.