In his best-selling book “Atomic Habits,” James Clear talks about four pillars to creating a good habit. The third law of creating a good habit – craving – is to make it easy. By designating a physical space exclusively for doing yoga, in your own home, i.e., within easy reach (as opposed to having to travel to the yoga studio), you are reducing the friction between what you want to establish as a habit and yourself.

Also, by having a small corner that feels calm and inviting, you are preparing your environment to make future actions easier: returning to the practice.

In addition, if you show up regularly time and time again, the space will become energetically charged with positive vibrations. It will become the ideal setting for reconnecting with yourself, especially if defining spaces and times for self-care is hard for you.

Defining a space for the sole purpose of meditating, doing breathwork and performing asana (all different aspects of yoga) will also be a way of letting your partner, children, and yourself know that this is important.

• Choose a place in your home that brings you peace, where you feel safe, welcomed and at ease. It is not necessary to use an entire room or cover a lot of space, in fact, a small corner will suffice.

• Pick a small bench, a short stand, the inside of a closet or a shelf to place incense sticks, candles, singing bowls or display your crystals. Think of those things that inspire you to continue your practice.

• You can decorate it with images and objects that connect you to a higher power (nature, a higher consciousness, the Universe) or to the divine within you. Images are triggers for sensations and feelings. Choose the ones that you like the most and evoke positive emotions, transmit calm and serenity. If you associate the space with a sense of well-being, you will want to return to that state.

• Place the yoga mat, blocks and other accessories in a harmonious but practical way, so that you can easily grab them when you need them. If you hide them in a closet, out of sight, you are more likely to forget or postpone your practice.

• Use this space to practice your sequence of poses, meditate, repeat mantras, pray or simply as a refuge, to sit quietly and breathe deeply.

• Keep it clean and tidy. Use a yoga mat cleaner to keep your yoga mat fresh and ready for your next session. Check my blogpost about making your own mat cleaner. You can use your favourite essential oils to make it even more inviting.

• If possible, define a time of the day and dedicate at least 5 minutes to it, so you can turn it into a habit and observe the changes within yourself and in your life.

If you want to establish a regular practice, sign up for my free 5-Day Self-Care Challenge for Busy Mums and discover the power of a short daily yoga session made especially for mamas.