Blog-reader Heather asked about setting up a home practice and it’s a great question that I tackled earlier in an article on my Yoga Room website.

Her specific question is “Can I just do whatever pose I want?” and I’d say absolutely.

A key differentiator in yoga seems to be two views represented by what I call, the Structuralists and the Free Stylers. There are plenty of other variations on the yoga theme, but stick with me here. The Structuralists are represented by the schools that believe a particular series of poses done in the same order is the way to go. And the other guys are the ones who mix it up in a more Free Style approach. One isn’t better than the other. Different approaches exist to attract the people that are most comfortable with that approach. You know what I mean - the Hippie Chicks tend to be more into a Free Style experiential kind of yoga like Chakra whereas the Triathlete Yoga Convert is addicted to Bikram or Ashtanga. It’s all good. We all get what we need.

For myself, I started with a very structural approach and did some Ashtanga. But I’ve found that as yoga gets me to practice letting go, the best place to start is the structure and expectation around my practice! Going Free Style is outside my comfort zone. It’s scarier and therefore encourages better growth. I have to be more accepting of what I’ve done on mat after I’m finished. I can’t easily point to what I’ve accomplished. Which is good, because I want my yoga practice to be about being instead of doing. But that’s tough to do when you have the Type A tendencies I do.

There are also Free Stylers like those in Kripalu and like the Erich Schiffmans of the world who believe that what you’re working toward in your personal practice is Meditation in Motion. Essentially being ‘moved’ by the Divine, the ultimate Free-Style.

Sometimes I am able to do an ultimate Free Style in a.m.s when I haven’t woken up yet. Other days when I know I have the time I’ll stick to a rough order of - Centering, Warm-up, Sun Salutations/Standing Poses, Back-bends, Forward Bends, Savasana.

My biggest challenge is noticing what’s motivating my home practice session. Am I doing a ‘look-what-I-can-do!’ when I choose the next pose? Is my ego driving it? Or am I really listening and responding to what my body needs in this moment. The first leads to injury, the second to a solid yoga glow.

Being in a class is about giving up the reins and doing what someone asks you to do. Your ‘at home’ practice is about creating a session based on what your body/mind/spirit need. Maybe it’s alot of Child’s Pose that you know will make you feel safe. Maybe it’s alot of Sun Salutations to get your yah-yahs out. Maybe it’s allowing a set structure of poses to operate as a mirror that helps you see what’s going on with you today. Maybe it’s just going with the flow. The important thing is to practice.