Boost your yoga practice
Even though your practice may be well-established, consider these 10 ways to empower your yoga even further with Feng Shui.
Yoga is a well-being practice that improves the quality and flow of life-force energy (ch’i or prana) in the mind, the body, and the spirit. Feng Shui is the art and science of improving the quality and flow of life-force energy in your living and working environments. It makes sense therefore to attend to the well-being of the space in which you practise yoga because a good environment will support you in achieving the best results.
Few of us however have the luxury of a dedicated room for yoga – or Pilates for that matter. But taking the trouble to reset the space you do have will support your practice and help you get the most from any online classes.
Don’t be concerned if your space is messy and you haven’t seen a way to improve it. By implementing even one of this Feng Shui tips will cause a shift in energy immediately and motivate you to continue – or call me in to review the remainder.
1. Multi-purpose
When the room is used for activities besides yoga, it’s often awkward to switch between uses. To convert a busy, open-plan kitchen-diner or a densely, digitally-saturated home-office into a sanctuary of calm in an instant, is challenging. Maybe there is another space that could work better. Even a hallway or landing can work if it’s wide, warm and light enough and the doors into it can be closed. If you’re in a larger room, consider demarcating your yoga space with a screen to contain the energy of your practice.
2. Create a boundary
Develop a routine to prepare for yoga. Light a candle. Burn incense. Play gentle music. Put a DND sign on the door to remind yourself and others this time is for you. Open the window slightly for ventilation if it’s not too cold. Let this mindful preparation be part of your practice. Do this in plenty of time to allow the energy to settle before the session begins. And dismantle the space with respect and gratitude when the session is over.
3. Clear debris
The remains of childrens’ activities. Empty cups. Waste bins of grunge. Stacks of paperwork. Piles of ironing. All these need to disappear before the session begins. Any detritus hanging around will distract your focus, even when it’s squirreled away in cupboards. Decluttering creates more space for energy to flow, to encourage old habits to die, and new growth to occur. Jobs left undone will disturb your equilibrium so complete them, fix them, or recycle them to feel lighter in body, mind and spirit.
4. Mat location
Imagine the room divided into thirds. The ideal mat location is in the third the furthermost away from the main door into the room – yet still so you are facing the door. You will feel most supported when there is a solid wall behind you and not a door or a window, even if they’re both closed. Sitting too close to the door with your back to it – or sitting opposite – will leave you feeling on edge because you’re directly in the path of chi entering the room.
5. Technology, lighting and flooring
When attending an online lesson, take care to position your device so you can see and hear the teacher easily and your head is not tilted upwards or downwards at an angle. Check the lighting is sufficient and not casting shadows, which will affect the teacher’s ability to see you. Make sure the floor beneath you is as clean as it can be so you are not lying on base energies that accumulate on the ground.
6. Furniture
How much furniture is in the room relative to its size? Where are you positioned on your mat in relationship to the furniture? Furniture is usually made from a dense substance and absorbs a lot of chi. It can constrict the flow in a room if there is too much and it’s not positioned well. Sometimes it has sharp angles which can project ‘cutting chi’ in your direction and feel uncomfortable where you are trying to release and rejuvenate. Less is more.
7. Pictures & ornaments
Yoga is a spiritual practice. All the more reason to make sure the accessories in your yoga space have been chosen with attention to their significance. Make sure the things around have been placed intentionally and not because you can’t think where else to put them. Avoid strong, unrelated artwork as it will demand attention while lots of smaller objects and pictures can be distracting. One single, relevant image such as a mandala on the wall behind your yoga mat is a good placement. Or a few significant symbols on an altar.
8. Night and day
Aim for good quality, even lighting throughout the room to promote a steady, even flow of chi. Notice how light and temperature changes at different times of day and different times of the year and the affect this has upon the room and your practice. This will help you decide what to do to compensate for fluctuations to maintain balance. Small uplighters in the corners will help to define the space and keep the chi lifted rather than one central light fitting bearing down.
9. Colour
Feng Shui does not concern itself with the aesthetics of colour choices. On the contrary it can cut through the myriad of options available to you by asking what colour is the room calling out for and what do you need to support your practice and to balance the energy. Colour can stimulate or subdue us – and everything else in-between. Red is usually too strong for yoga practice. You may be drawn to the calming influence of blue or green for healing and growth.
10. Sound
Music moderates chi and masks unpleasant or sudden noises from the outside that can jolt the nervous system when you are at your most relaxed and open. The sound of traffic. Phone notifications. Dogs barking. Doorbells ringing. People talking. All these will affect your ability to drop deeply into your practice. If external noises are disruptive, consider playing music quietly or using an indoor water feature to mask it. Switch all digital devices off.
Here’s hoping these Feng Shui tips galvanise you into action and double the benefits you are gaining from practising yoga. You don’t need to address them all at once. If you pick one that resonates with you and act on it, you will already be making a significant difference to your practice.
To explore whether Feng Shui is right for you please book a free telephone discovery call.
If a troublesome area can’t wait any longer please book a Feng Shui consultation with me. It can be done online or in-person, whichever is the most practical and convenient.
Mary Nondé
A Feng Shui practitioner since 1995, Mary loves helping clients create a life they love from a space they love. Trained also as a Reiki Master, she works with energy to blend modern day ideas of well-being with traditional wisdom to promote happy, healthy harmonious environments and lives well-lived by all.
Get in touch about a consultation – mary@marynonde.com
For more information visit – www.marynonde.com/feng-shui
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