Creating a sacred space is easier than you may think.  The most important element is to create an atmosphere of calm, a pause or caesura in your day.  The setting you create can be minimal but must evoke the feeling of privacy, safety, comfort, relaxation and calm.   A place and space that you set aside time to connect in with yourself and re-focus.  Setting aside time for yourself in this way each day will ensure that you will emerge feeling refreshed, clear, calm and invigorated.

First, you must find a small space that is especially for your practice. Maybe it's a small room in your house, maybe it's a corner in your room that you clear, and keep clear, marking it off as your own safe space. Clear the floor and put down a folded blanket or pillow. You can make this space warm by setting up candles and incense and perhaps a small picture that holds a special significance for you. You may also want to play soft ambient music; the sound of waves crashing onto a shoreline is a refreshing and soothing sound for meditation and is not distracting.

Turn off your home telephone, your cell phone and computer. Any calls can wait and you will be better equipped to handle any challenges or details in your life effortlessly after your practice is complete. If you have children, make sure they are safely occupied or are being watched while you meditate. Perhaps you can choose a time when your children and/or partner are out of the house. Make calm preparations to clear your time for the next half hour or hour--however much time you are comfortable setting aside today.  Each day is different so do not feel pressured to do more than you can each day.

If you are traveling you can bring with you the minimal things that you need to create a sweet space in your hotel as well.  Your yoga mat, one or two candles, a spay bottle of water mixed with your favorite oil to spray your area (olfactory senses can trigger moods almost instantly), a picture in a frame if it inspires you, a small towel, a CD or Ipod with your favorite yogic music, an eye pillow filled with rice or barley.  Any or all of these things, or other items, will work--the ritual of having these things and taking the time to honor yourself each day is what means the most.

You cans set your laptop or desktop and take the yoga class of your choice.  Choose a class that fits what you need that particular day: maybe your body and spirit want something simple and lunar like Moon Salutations , or perhaps today you want to invigorate your body and work up a healthy sweat with Sun Salutations.  Or maybe you want a slow, delicious repeating sequencing practice like a Taoist Flow class.  Felling tense? A Power Yoga class will help you to re-channel that energy into something positive and release any excess from the body.  Sometimes you just need some fun and to be a bit more lighthearted--that's when  a Yoga Animal Class would be perfect.

Choose your yoga video and enjoy yourself and your body in your yoga practice.  It is priceless the feeling that you get when you emerge from a yoga practice.  The connections that you are building with yourself will serve you all your days.

Namaste and Enjoy yourself!!