Starting yoga at home can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, it’s easier to stay consistent. Here are four key tips that helped me build a routine and stick with it.

When I first started yoga at home, I had no idea what I was doing. I just knew I wanted to feel better—physically, mentally, and emotionally. So I kept it simple, and stayed open and curious enough to see if yoga could help me.

Starting yoga at home sounds easy—roll out a mat, press play, breathe. But if you’ve ever opened YouTube or Amazon and instantly closed it again, you know the truth: it’s not the moving that’s hard. It’s the starting.

Maybe you’re overwhelmed by choices. Or afraid you’ll do it wrong. Or waiting to feel ready for just the right moment.

Here's the good news, you don’t need the perfect class, the perfect mat, or the perfect mindset.

You just need a place to begin—and a reason to keep going.

TL;DR:

Short on time? We're covering the 4 very practical steps I used to start my yoga practice, and how you can too!

• Focus on how you wanted to feel, not goals
• Chose a yoga style that supports your nervous system
• Discover teachers that made you feel safe
• Repeat the same few practices to build consistency

Here are four steps that helped yoga become not just doable, but dependable.

#1 Start with How You want to Feel

Around my 30th birthday, I looked at a photo of myself on a hike and had this gut feeling: my body isn’t heading in a good direction. It wasn’t about judging my body (although there was plenty of that in those days), but tapping into my future self and deciding how I wanted to feel and move through life.

I was also dealing with lifelong anxiety and chronic tension headaches. Debilitating anxiety and neck and back surgeries are common in my family, and that wasn’t the path I wanted for myself, if I could help it.

So, I made a quiet but strong decision: I wanted to feel better: Lighter. Stable. Zen.

And that was my starting point.

🎬 Grounded Action: Skip the goals. Seriously. You don’t need one more thing to measure, track, or optimize. Instead, ask: How do I want to feel? Your “why” doesn’t have to be profound. It just has to be true.

#2 Choose a Style That Fits Your Nervous System (Not Your Ego)

At the time I started yoga, I was working a demanding corporate job from home. I didn’t have the time, energy, or desire for 60-minute studio classes. But I could give myself 20–30 minutes, two or three times a week on the floor in front of my desk.

I found free on-demand yoga videos on Amazon Prime and stuck with the same three or four on repeat.

That’s it.

Nothing fancy. No pressure to be perfect.

Just enough time to breathe and move my body.

Consistency was key, but I wouldn't have found it practicing a style that didn't feel good or right. Instead of doing what you think you should or what others have done in the past, yoga is an opportunity to experiment with what works for you.

There’s a reason you might try one class and think, “This isn’t for me.” But not all yoga is the same—and it’s not supposed to be.

🎬 Grounded Action: Start by choosing one style that resonates with how you want to feel and start exploring.

#3 Find the Right Teacher—for You

You don't need a guru. You’re looking for a voice and pace that makes you feel safe.

Sometimes it’s not the style or the length of the class—it’s the vibe of the teacher. If you’ve ever clicked out of a class because the energy felt off, that’s not you being picky. That’s your body guiding you to what you need most.

Try a few different teachers. You’ll know when someone makes you feel like you can breathe easier just by being in their presence—even on a screen. That matters.

Yoga is about connection. And connecting with the right teacher for you makes all the difference.

🎬Grounded Action: Let yourself off the hook for not resonating with a teacher and make space to find the right one! "Thank you, next" is appropriate, and yoga teachers respect this.

#4 Repeat Sequences, on Purpose

You don’t need something new each time, something familiar is often best for developing a sustainable change.

If you’re always chasing the next workout or trying to map out the perfect routine before you start—pause. That’s the trap. The magic is in the repetition.

When you find a few videos you can return to, you take the guesswork out of it. No scrolling. No decision fatigue. Just press play and go. That’s how the practice becomes a part of you.

I did the same three or four videos for months. Not because I had to—but because they felt good and worked for me. They gave me something to return to that allowed me to observe my progress. Over time, that consistency built a foundation I could grow from.

Let your body learn what it feels like to come home.

Variety will come later. As your practice grows, so will your capacity to try new teachers, new styles, longer flows. But first? Build the foundation. Let it be simple.

🎬 Grounded Action: Create a personal playlist of 2–4 yoga videos that resonate with you—choose styles and teachers you enjoy, and make this your go-to practice library for the next few months.

If you’re starting your own yoga journey at home...

Start small. Choose one or two videos and repeat them. Decide how you want to feel, and keep checking in with your intention. You don’t need fancy gear or a perfect routine—just a little bit of space and a willingness to show up for yourself.

Kind of Support That Matters

If I were to start over, I’d want someone who could answer my questions and help me understand what I was feeling and how to make the practice work better for me. That’s how I show up in my community and how I will show up for you too.

With Home Yoga Therapy, you get on-demand yoga videos you can watch anytime AND a real kind person who wants to support you along the way.

Deep Encouragement on your Path,

Mandy

P.S. Whenever you're ready, Home Yoga Therapy can help you in 3 ways:

• Join the Home + Yoga Community 3 live online yoga classes each week, access to library of recorded practices, and personalized support.

• Check out my 4-part Chair Yoga Series on YouTube. Practice anytime, even from your desk. 🪑

• Subscribe! Join Mandy's email list below and get updates on new blog articles and upcoming events.