Yoga At Home

Yoga and I have an on and off relationship. My desire to practice comes in waves and I'll go months on a yoga high, then completely burn out. Not because I've stopped enjoying it. But because of the time it takes to find a class that fits into my schedule, drive there, find parking, etc.

So now, I'm trying yoga at home, using YogaGlo's online classes. Have any of you taken them? I started the 15-day free trial and realized that one of my favorite teachers at Exhale, the yoga studio went to in Venice, is one of the founding instructors: Jo Tastula. I love her soft soothing Australian accent. She has a ton of classes available at any time of the day, and you can filter by style, level, duration and specific use. When I tire of Jo's classes (if that's possible), there are 20+ other teachers to discover.

I'm not sure why I hadn't done yoga at home before. It's so much more convenient. If you're interested in trying it out as well, I've rounded up the essentials. Here's what you'll need...

1. iPad or laptop. It was a bit tricky locating a place to put my iPad in the tiny space I have available, but I found a nice spot for it on a footstool which gives me visibility during mat stretches and yoga flow both. If you're using an iPad, having a solid stand is a good idea. I love this driftwood dock from Anthro.
2. Yoga mat. I have a plain orange one, but if you like a little pizazz with your poses, there are quite a few pretty patterned mats out there.
3. Skidless towel. When I was doing hot yoga, my Yogitoes towel was a life saver. You throw it down over your mat so your feet don't slip around. I started using it for regular yoga as well, because it keeps the mat from getting dirty and the towel can simply be thrown in the wash.
4. Candles. Ambiance is very important to me, so scented candles are a must. I'm dying to try these ritual Magic Hour soy candles. They're infused with herbs and essential oils and the wax is nestled around a gemstone that you remove when burned down to keep as a talisman.
5. Bra top. One of the many perks to practicing yoga at home? You can wear anything you want and nobody will ever see you. Bring on the belly rolls! 
6. Block. I love these guys placed under my hips during shavasana. They're great for proper alignment and extra support.
7. Water bottle. As you know, it's important to stay hydrated. I find that I drink more when I put sliced cucumber and lemon into my water.
8. Yoga pants. Let's be honest, cute clothes are completely unnecessary when you're doing yoga at home. I usually wear grubby sweats. Heck, you could practice naked if you really wanted to. But I spotted these foldover frill pants from Free People and couldn't resist sharing them with you. Besides, sometimes having cute yoga clothes to wear is the best motivation to get started.

{Images via: Jago Yoga; 1. Anthropologie; 2. Free People; 3. Yogitoes; 4. Summerland; 5. Free People; 6. Anthropologie; 7. Lululemon; 8. Free People}