Some of our readers have been attending our yoga classes regularly for several years. Others are new to yoga and only recently began attending classes, either at the Ashram or elsewhere. For either type of student, establishing a daily routine in one’s own home is essential to receiving the full benefit of yoga.


While it’s easy to think there is not enough time to do yoga everyday, as little as 5 minutes a day can make a dramatic difference in how you feel throughout the day. Try doing 2 surya namaskars (sun salutations) each morning for the next week and notice how it affects your posture, how it feels to walk and sit, and how you sleep at night. You’ll be surprised at how far a little effort can go. Imagine what 30 minutes a day can do for your life!

For those who have experienced a growth in their range of motion, strength or flexibility from attending a regular yoga class, there is more room to grow as you build a personal practice. Asanas that seem beyond one’s reach can be mastered by discipline and a focused practice. For example, few people can perform chakra asana (bridge pose) or padma asana (lotus pose) at ease without practice, and a yoga class doesn’t provide enough time to learn these challenging poses. Yet most people who try these asanas everyday will achieve improvement over time and experience the benefit of these essential poses.

A home practice also means that we can go beyond asanas. The cleansing of the internal body using yogic techniques, such as neti and vaman, boosts our immune and nervous systems and help us fight disease. Daily practice of pranayama is also essential to the upkeep that our body requires. Its benefits are countless and the Ashram is always available to teach these techniques so that you can practice on your own. Finally, incorporating a short meditation or prayer before or after your asanas can give new meaning to your practice.

It’s clear that the physical benefits of home practice are alone worthy of making the time. However, the true benefit of yoga, whether in the class or at home, goes beyond the body. When you are calmer in stressful situations, more kind and generous to those in need, able to fully concentrate at work, and more aware of and faithful in the divine energy in all that exists, then you are witnessing the effects of yoga in your daily life. Setting aside time to practice yoga is thus a gift you give yourself. It’s easy to go through life’s motions and never feel connected with our true self. A practice that starts with the physical but ultimately brings us to the inner peace within us is worth making time for.

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