Yoga for Small Spaces
In most apartments in big cities, one thing can be quite certain: You are paying for location over size. Within your space is probably at least one roommate, an animal, maybe none of the above-but put your arms straight out of your sides, and the walls are probably...close.
In these totally wacky times, (and I know, this has been said before,) but, we have got to move our bodies, and keep them moving. The tone up is merely a bonus before keeping our hearts healthy, our minds sound, (or at least get it to shut up for a few minutes,) and building an appetite, especially if you’re like me and constantly forget what time is. I still mark notes as June. Nope. I look at the clock expecting to see noon, and it’s four. HUH???
So...getting back into moving and grooving. If a small or shared space, pets, or general apartment mayhem is holding you back, I hope some of these ideas give you a little nudge of love.
Meet Annie Ellertson! One of our Senior Pro-Spirit(s)-Lifters. Check out her dancing for Broadway Dance Center!
Meet Annie Ellertson! One of our Senior Pro-Spirit(s)-Lifters. Check out her dancing for Broadway Dance Center!
1) Take it outside
I know, this might seem like a cop-out, but seriously, if you are near a park, or far from a park, take the time to get there, roll out your mat and get a one-two cardio stretch punch out of it. Have a class pre-downloaded on your phone or just freestyle, baby. Prospect Park, I’m looking at you and giving you mad applause for Nama-staying-away from people while we all get on the other side of this. Oh and I say this with love, but CLEAN YOUR MAT WHEN YOU GET HOME! I will put my favorite mat spray recipe below, but at least, take it into the shower, brush off any debris, and wipe it with a damp rag.
2) Coordinate
Let the people you live with know that you are planning to give yourself a class. if you need to roll out in a common space, just make sure you’re not going to be in the way. It doesn’t have to be a big scheduling ordeal, but being considerate rocks, and nothing is more awkward than your roommate maneuvering around you when they’ve emerged from their room still half asleep before coffee. Pets are a little less forgiving, but they also care less...you may discover that they are pretty awesome breathing bolsters! If they are really wanting to play, perhaps entice them into the bathroom with catnip or a toy for your you time. But if you do have room in your bedroom or are living that studio life...
3) CLEAN YOUR AREA
I’ll say it again: Clean your area! I need to practice what I preach a little more consistently. Too many times, I have been too dang lazy to pick up my clothes on the floor, make my bed, put away the clutter that mysteriously covered my dresser. Especially when we have exactly enough room to lay out the mat, it feels so much better when laundry isn’t staring back. It also makes me feel better if I want to light a candle or bring a teacup to the mat-less of a chance of spilling onto things, and I can relish in that delicious minimalistic-ish aesthetic.
4) Move stuff, and then put it back
You probably will have to push your coffee table over, move a nightstand, a chair, whatever it is, PLEASE put it back. Again, I have been one to move my furniture, and then can’t be bothered to put it back. It took finding the funkiest washi tape on complete accident and putting tape marks on my hardwood floor so I would have an exact stamp for where my furniture actually belongs. And put away your mat after every session too, ok? I’ll get better at that too.
5) Let that sh*t breathe
Open a window. Turn a fan on. Let your AC blast if you don’t want to make it a hot practice. It’s summer in the city, it’s going to be sweaty regardless. Sounds like a no-brainer, but once again, there have been too many times where I’m barely getting started, and I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. Once a little air circulation gets going, it’s just less stifling, and we don’t need any more of that in our living conditions.
We’re going to get through this. Whatever you decide to take or leave from this, stay curious, take care, and remember that in all these little boxes stacked on top of each other, you probably have an unseen yoga buddy. I promise to be better about putting my stuff away too, ok?
Happy posing!
