By Guest Writer Claire Lebek
This is being written in the midst of a global pandemic. A never experienced before halting of the world as we know it. I am writing to share how creating something so simple is helping to soothe my soul and create joy during the anxiety, fear and turbulent nature of change right now. A space to feel how much resistance I feel to all of this change! My yoga sanctuary/home studio/space I’ve created is somewhere I know I can land to find peace, where it is safe to be still and quiet, uninterrupted when I’m feeling like my crazy (possibly hormonal) self needs somewhere safe to retreat to.
I have always found aesthetics extremely important and felt a direct correlation between my own internal feelings of clarity, calmness, spaciousness. In creating an actual room at the beginning of this self isolation, it has really become like a refuge and somewhere I find myself drawn to more and more. I look forward to waking up to play in my practice or to just sit and be. And we all have allll the time right now to make somewhere in our home so beautiful for ourselves. It is a gift!
Just like having your own studio, natural light during the day is an important way of feeling invited into the space, and somewhere that a cocooning, warm ambience for evening practices can be created.
Leafy green indoor plants create a purity in the air and have a calming affect, and brings that feeling of being in nature into your home studio.
Days working from home I leave my yoga mat rolled out, so there is always an open invitation to come to be. At home there is not the same luxury of all of the props at the yoga studio, so do your best in having ‘make do’ props around you. Large beach towels make excellent yoga blankets, your favourite cozy blanket for savasana/mediation, cushions for bolsters and meditation pillows, foam rollers, tennis balls, books, straps, scarfs, what ever you have got. When not using your props have them stacked neatly somewhere just like the studio so it feels like a little touch of professionalism at home and also keeps it clutter free.
Make it an environment where you are able to relax. A door if you have housemates/family around so when it is closed you (hopefully) wont be interrupted. This is possible as it’s just me, but if there is any clutter around I find it so distracting and contributes to feelings of internal clutter, so keep it free and almost minimalist. Important trinkets, salt lamps, candles, crystals, books, an alter can all make this area feel more sacred.
And of course somewhere to stand your laptop, phone or iPad where you can stream all of your favourite teacher’s classes from YogaHara at Home. The facebook platform also houses an online YogaHara community to talk and share and feel connected while we are self-isolating, and this YogaHara studio/community has been an important part of my life, it feels re-assuring that the community is still there, just in another virtual form.
May you be finding peace and many simple and small pleasures during this time.
With Love,
Claire
