So it seems like you've been going to yoga classes for ages, yet you still aren't comfortable on your mat at home. Where to start? Get going with these simple tips.

1. Start with the Breath

Unless you are following a particular school or style of yoga, no “routine” is needed to begin a daily practice. From day to day, our energies shift, our bodies change, and our lives present us with different circumstances, all of which will contribute to what yogic practices are appropriate at any given time. The initial barrier to this discovery is that we keep ourselves so busy that we don’t even realize what we need. The first step, then, is to quiet the mind as well as the body so that we may listen to both. Sit, stand, or lie down, however you are most comfortable. Close your eyes. Consciously tell each muscle of the body and face to relax. Then become aware of your breath, its sound, and its sensations, flowing and rising from the belly up to the collar bones. Once you are calm and listening to the breath, you will be open to whatever else your body needs to tell you.

2. Ask your body what it wants

The benefits of Hatha yoga are endless; no one can squeeze them all into a single practice. Just ask yourself, how do I feel today? Is something tight? Think of asanas that will stretch that area. Do you feel tired? A few sun salutations will energize you. Are you feeling blue? Chest opening exercises will lift your spirits. Feeling frenetic? Balancing poses calm the mind and help us focus. Become aware of what is happening in every pose; learn the benefits of different techniques; your practice will naturally evolve day to day to meet your needs and moods.

3. Let go of “right” and “wrong”

Many students worry that they will “mess up” an asana if there is no instructor there to make adjustments or check their alignment. Don’t use your instructors as a crutch. Begin to develop an awareness of your body in time and space. Also, remember that no two bodies are alike and so no two poses are alike. You best guide to right and wrong is an uncomfortable sensation of pain; encourage your body, but never force it.

4. Don’t tell yourself, “I can’t!” Challenge yourself and acknowledge your progress

In their home practices, many yogis tend to skip or avoid poses that are difficult for them. That’s not the best approach. It is actually the poses that challenge us that reveal where in our bodies our energy and love need to go. Start small, be accepting of yourself, and acknowledge the littlest change in your progress with excitement and gratitude. Whether it’s finding balance, opening the hips, or reaching forward in a bend, just try for a little more each day and you’ll be amazed how quickly things change. Remember that stagnation and resistance make our negative aspects stronger and more ingrained in our bodies and psyches.

5. In class, focus on one asana to take home and practice

Don’t try to copy every move your teacher did in a 90-minute class; just find one aspect that is new, challenging, or pleasurable, and take that home. That day! Your personal practice should not be measured in time or variety, rather how much you enjoy it and in what ways you benefit from it.

6. Don’t skip Savasana!

We’re all guilty of glancing at the clock and deciding something else is more important, but whatever time you have, allow yourself a moment of complete relaxation; this is the most effective way to open your body and mind to the energy that flows within you and around you.

7. Talk to yourself

Make sure to thank yourself for taking care of you. Express gratitude for all the wonderful things your body can do. Congratulate yourself for your accomplishments. Forget self-criticism in your practice. Save it for your performance evaluation at work!

8. Make time; there’s no such thing as not enough time

A five minute practice is just as meaningful as 50 minute one. Take what you can get!

9. Morning is best

In the morning, we are fresh; all the worries and negative habits of the day have not yet set in to wear us down. Also, a little morning yoga can set a wonderful tone for your day!

10. Sprinkle a little yoga throughout your day

Whenever you feel your energy falling at work, stop what you’re doing and try a breathing exercise, basic stretch, or brief meditation. You’ll be healthier and happier by the end of the day!