A Guide to Setting Your Home Up for Movement

 We know consistency is key to achieving our long and short-term goals. Still, everyday distractions often derail our best intentions, especially when trying to establish a regular at-home movement practice. This is why thoughtfully setting up your home for movement in advance is so helpful. 

Creating a space for movement can help you sidestep roadblocks that might have you delaying your at-home practice. Whether you are exclusively working out at home or supplementing your in-person studio classes with on-demand pilates and yoga training, these 5 tips will help you easily set up your home for movement to reach your wellness goals.

   Furniture Sliders

If you have an extra room that can be designated as a workout area, great! If not, furniture sliders are an inexpensive way to quickly rearrange furniture to create a more movement-friendly space. 

Sliders easily make way for your mat — and a little breathing room around it — without the hassle of lifting heavy furniture every time you want to work out. 

Find an area in your home that feels happy and is well lit. It doesn’t have to be an extra-large space. You should have enough room for a yoga mat, plus extra space to stretch out. 

Even if you need to sacrifice natural light from a window for artificial light, choose ease of setting up your mat first. A quick slide of a sofa and coffee table off to the side might be just the ticket to the instant and useful creation of your home studio. Remember, if it’s too complicated, chances are you won’t be as consistent as you’d like to be.

 Keep Props Nearby

Having the necessary class props at your fingertips is essential for eliminating that extra barrier to following through with the good intention to make your health a priority. The additional step of digging out your yoga mat from a faraway closet or trying to find your hidden hand weights may be enough to prevent you from staying the course. 

We all know how easy it is to walk into another room in our home and become distracted by a chore or involved in a conversation with a family member and never actually get that exercise session in. Using a container like a large basket that can hold your mat, roller, and hand weights is an easy way to keep focused. 

Even better, keep that basket in the area you’ve designated for movement, so it’s easier just to get moving without extra setup. If you store your basket out of sight in a closet, just be sure to stay organized and always put the props back so you can find them — this is especially helpful for days when you are tight on time and can’t go scavenger hunting.

 Minimize Distractions

Maintaining a consistent movement practice in a busy household can be a real challenge. 

As much as we love our fur babies, they can also be a distraction. If you have a pet, having a designated place for them will help you stay focused during your at-home session. If possible, let them play with a favorite toy or treat in another room with the door closed or let them outside if you have a fenced yard. 

Depending on the age of your children, it might take a little planning and creativity to find the right time to exercise. If you have young children, it can be tricky to find time for yourself without interruption. It may be while they are taking a nap or playing quietly after a meal. 

If your children are older— or your spouse or significant other is home — communicate your commitment to your goals so you can carve out 30-minutes of uninterrupted movement.  It not only sets up some accountability for you, but it also models an excellent example of what self-care and a wellness routine look like in action.

 Create a Positive Environment 

After you’ve identified the best place for your home workouts, add touches of beauty and inspiration. After all, creating a space you want to spend time in is additional motivation. 

Plants provide air filtration and oxygen, but green is also thought to represent health and good luck. This perfectly complements the goal of sticking to a regular home movement routine. No green thumb? No worries. There are many low-maintenance options. Staff at your local nursery can help you find the perfect one. 

For inspiration, you might want to hang a photo of your children that gives you the motivation to be your healthiest self, a framed quote with a positive or loving message, or perhaps a piece of art or scenic photography that makes you smile or feel peaceful. 

This is not an area where you want to feel guilt or shame, but one of positivity about the here and now and the good choices you are making. For example, if weight loss is one of your at-home workout goals, avoid displaying photographs in this area of a time when you think you looked better.

While there is nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight and look better, approaching your at-home classes or your movement exploration with a broader scope of goals might become more fun and feel like less of a chore.

 Don’t Confine Your Space

This last tip isn’t something you can physically see in your space. Still, it is probably the most important tool for setting yourself up for a successful home movement program: A non-judgemental, positive, and curious mindset.

Setting up your home for movement is setting up your lifestyle for movement. A designated area full of motivation and inspiration is a wonderful encouragement to begin your at-home practice, but why confine yourself? 

Incorporating more functional movement into your life can start with making small shifts in your daily routine. For example, performing simple stretches or fascia release moves with a roller while watching a movie. 

Even sitting on the floor while on a Zoom meeting makes a difference. The simple act of standing up from the floor — rather than from a chair — places more demand on your hip muscles, an area of the body we need to keep strong for great balance and longevity.

Choosing classes that give you insight into how your body works and cueing that teaches you the excellent benefits of good alignment deepens your body awareness. Body awareness goes way beyond just calorie burning in a class and carries over into all the other hours in your life, helping you to sit and move with better posture and control. 

You’ll begin to value not only a sweaty workout but a healthier mind/body connection. You may surprise yourself when you start to crave movement more and find an appreciation of parts of yourself that you may not have had positive feelings about in the past. 

Maximizing your space (and mind!) for movement will have you well on your way to achieving your fitness goals from the comfort of your own home. Put these five tips in action and set yourself — and your space — up for success on every level. 

Jumpstart your at-home movement practice with a free 7-day trial to Sandvi Studio’s on-demand yoga, pilates, and movement training.