The path of yoga is open to all who want to follow it. If there is something in you that motivates you to take it, these tips will help you take the first step.

Cultivating awareness in the body, mind and emotions: that is the main purpose of yoga, an ancient practice that was born in India in a spiritual context: Hinduism, but which has transcended to become an integral instrument for the well-being of humanity.

“The same thing happens with yoga as with algebra or physics. For example, the former was developed in a Muslim context and the latter in a Christian one, but both are useful tools for all of humanity,” explains Iván Moreno, an instructor certified by the International Yoga Federation.

For this reason, yoga has spread around the world without discriminating cultures or religions, as a way of being in contact with oneself through body movement, conscious breathing and meditation.

What are its benefits?

• Strengthens the bone-muscular system and prevents injuries.
• Stimulates the metabolism.
• Eliminates tensions.
• Breaks somatic armor.
• Clears the mind and releases emotions.
• It strengthens the cardiac system and regulates the nervous system.
• It invites you to relate to yourself in a more harmonious way.

The best thing about it is that to practice it you only need to make the decision to do it. Daniela Giraldo, also a yoga teacher, explains that “the mind is often filled with excuses. I don't have a mat, I'm not flexible, I've never done a class' are phrases that we often tell ourselves, but none of that is necessary. If there is no mat, there is surely a towel, a sheet or, simply, a floor. And about being flexible, how about starting to work on the flexibility of the mind by freeing yourself from your own prejudices?”

If you decide to take this path, follow these five tips for doing yoga at home:

1. Start by listening to your body
There are thousands of yoga styles to suit everyone's needs. Some types of practice are more active, such as Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Bikram and Power Yoga. Others, such as Kundalini, Nidra, Restorative or Therapeutic Yoga, are slower. Maybe your body wants to move and do a more physical workout, or maybe you're tired and looking for relaxation and relief. Whatever the case, there will be a yoga style that suits you, as it is a practice designed for everyone: "from small children of 4 years old to big children of 100 years old!" says Iván Moreno.

2. Make a sacred space for practice
Choose a different place from the one you use to work, eat or sleep and use it to be with yourself and feel at peace. In addition to a physical space, also set aside a temporary space. Daniela Giraldo advises “setting aside an hour or thirty minutes to inhabit yourself through practice. Let go of your tasks, put aside your cell phone and dedicate that moment to yourself. That is the way to make that space a sacred one.”

3. Give you help
Although nothing is essential to practice yoga other than your body, which we all have, there are elements that can reinforce the message to the brain to get ready to practice. “A scent, a candle, relaxing music or a few touches of mint or Vick's vapor rub on the temples. Find something that centers you and tells your mind that it's time for yoga.”

4. Search for online guides
You are not alone! On Youtube, Instagram and dozens of apps you can find instructors who, with voluntary contributions or for free, share their practices and tools to learn sequences, alignments and benefits of each posture.

5. Be compassionate with yourself
Yoga is a path, not a goal. For some, this path is traversed by standing on their heads; for others, by learning to breathe. Both are the same practice! The invitation of this philosophical doctrine and set of techniques is not to fantasize about the goal, but to live the process attentively and consciously. The only requirement: let go of the demands and practice from love!

Remember that the balance, strength and flexibility you gain through the postures are already within you. Yoga simply teaches you to recognize them in your physical body. So, what are you waiting for to get started? Let the practice ultimately be a celebration of life!