Yoga is one of the most effective full-body workouts that combines strength, cardio, and flexibility. What makes this form of exercise even better is that it only requires a mat and some optional equipment. Michelle Marchildon is the Yogi Muse with years of experience teaching yoga and mobility, so she’s the ideal guide for giving you an overview to get you started on your yoga journey.

“First, invest in a mat. This serves to identify your time spent focused on fitness, and your space. When you roll it out, you signify it is wellness time and you can’t be distracted or disturbed

Next, purchase weights. Resistance training is critical to maintaining muscle mass and overall health. One set of medium weights will get you started. You can hold both in one hand when you want to progress.

Lastly, an enduring benefit of the pandemic is content available on the internet. Find a program you enjoy and make it a habit to stream routines.

If you have the space to set up a mat, weights and a monitor in a permanent location then it will serve as a daily reminder that health and wellness is important, and that you are worth your time.”

Kevin Parenteau, Founder and CEO of Asana at Home Online Yoga Inc, also has some great in-depth advice when it comes to setting up a home yoga studio. If you’re looking for more specifics on the gear to purchase, check below.

There are two practical considerations when identifying the location of your home yoga studio space.

Floor area: Having enough space is critical to productive yoga practice. When considering floor area, the standard yoga mat size measures 68 inches in length and 24 inches in width (173 x 61 cm). Now, You’ll want to move on the mat, so add an extra 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) to the front and back of the mat. When considering the floor width, use the length of the mat as your guide. Putting all the numbers together, you’ll need a floor space approximately 80- 92″ long and 68″ wide.Floor surface. Flat and hard surfaces are far easier to balance and move on, so most yoga studios have wood floors. A wooden floor is the goldilock of surfaces to practice on because it’s flat and not too hard compared to other flat surfaces like tile (hard) or carpet (soft). Not all is lost if you don’t have a wood floor because a yoga mat can help you there. For a hard floor, use a thicker mat (5mm or more), and a thinner mat (2mm or less) for a soft floor.

Yoga gear: A minimalist mindset toward gear is key when space is at a premium. So when adding yoga gear, less is more.

Essential gear:

2 x Yoga blocks 2″ or 3″ thick1 x Yoga strap (longer is better)

The nice-to-have gear:

1 x yoga bolster (Get something firmer than soft)1 x chip foam block1 x meditation cushion

Storage: Storage for all your yoga gear is critical to keeping the home less cluttered and the gear easier to find. Having yoga storage close to the practice area will also make access and cleanup easier.

Decor: Some yogis like to give their practice space a “yogic vibe.” If space permits, Consider adding candles, singing bowls, practice diagrams, pictures, statues, or whatever your yoga heart desires.

Practice: When setting up your home studio, consider how you practice. If you like practicing with music, you’ll need a stereo or portable speaker. If you practice online yoga, where you place a TV, tablet, or computer screen is essential.