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5 Ways to Elevate Your At-Home Yoga Practice, Straight From a Pro

If heading to a yoga studio a few times a week was formerly your go-to escape, your bedroom floor might feel like a less-than-ideal spot for Warrior 2s. But just because you’re posing and stretching alongside your (unmade) bed doesn’t mean your practice can’t continue to grow. Below, embodiment yoga instructor Hailey Lott shares her thoughtful tips for elevating your flow, wherever it happens.

Don’t Strive for Perfection

“It’s not about the pose for me,” Lott says. “For years I felt like I should be able to get into pose or do back bend, but a huge part of my practice is just loving where I’m at and listening to my body.” So instead of forcing your body into a shape it’s not ready for, give yourself permission to do what feels good right now.

Every yoga teacher has a different teaching style, and it’s important to find one you connect with, Lott says. Maybe you love someone who incorporates plenty of slow, guided movements and restorative poses (hey, savasana). Or maybe you prefer to flow through different sequences at your own quick pace. Experimenting with different teachers and styles is never a bad idea—and it’s even easier now that you have virtual access to top-notch pros outside of your own zip code.

Find Your Fave Teacher

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Lott's Top Picks

When you feel comfortable, the rest flows naturally—literally. “I love stretchy pants that I feel supported in and a loose flowy top I can breathe in, and I especially love that Athleta gives me a million options to choose from,” Lott says. Her go-to picks? The Salutation Tight paired with the Cloudlight Relaxed Muscle Tank, which allow plenty of movement throughout her personal practice (which usually combines restorative and vinyasa yoga and dance).

Grab the Right Gear

While both meditation and yoga can feel daunting at first, Lott suggests starting small and building up slowly. “Start with one-minute meditation practices every day and slowly build up one minute a week until you feel more confident,” she says. Consider it an extra level of mental support for the next time you’re on the mat. Then just keep flowing.

Consistency Is Key

Also a peak performance meditation teacher and self-love scholar, Lott’s own yoga practice has been influenced by meditation. “Meditation taught me that my yoga practice isn't just about strengthening my physical body, it's more about learning to strengthen my mind,” Lott says. During both meditation and yoga, remember your thoughts won’t just go away, she says. If you can’t quiet the soundtrack in your head—and especially if you’re feeling down on yourself—focus on how you to it (“ideally with more compassion, more understating, and more love!” Lott says).

Learn to Love Your Thoughts

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Lott's Top Picks

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A teacher who inspires you and motivates you will keep you coming back even when it gets hard.

Let go of any story or comparison that makes you feel like you should be further along than you are. You already are where you’re trying to be.

Yoga helps me take care of my body in the most nurturing and loving way. Meditation has given me the ability to train my brain to delete the thoughts that try to make me believe I am not whole in this moment.

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Don’t Strive for Perfection