12 Yoga Habits That Make the Practice Your Own

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the way you do yoga is the way you do life. In addition to your actual time on the mat, this reality is reflected by the yoga habits that accompany your practice. That pre-yoga cup of tea that must be sipped from a certain mug, the music played en route, painstakingly adjusting your mat so it lines up with the floorboards…these micro moments combine in a regimen that can border on ritual.

We gathered our team of editors and chatted amongst ourselves, quickly discovering that our little routines before, after, and during yoga are pretty specific. And, yes, sometimes silly.

Do any of these things really matter? Not at all. Our physical practice comes down to breath, intention, and allowing. But it’s fun and funny to consider how very human we all are in our pursuit of presence. Here’s hoping our little bits of awareness prompt you to notice some of your own little rituals—and smile.

12 Yoga Habits That We Just Can’t Quit

From favored props to post-class outings, these are the sort of yoga habits that make the practice even more personal.

1. No Commitments

“I don’t sign up for class until the morning of the class, even if it’s an evening class, so that i don’t have to cancel. But I literally never cancel. So…WTF. But I don’t care for commitments in general, so…”

2. Styling Session

“The ritual of laying out my yoga clothes the night before or morning of class. Also can be fun if I have a new yoga top or leggings to try out.”

3. Outfit Repeater

“I wear some variation of the same flared leggings and sports bra to every single class. They are from Target. I love them.”

4. The Right Time

“I make it out the door of my apartment at an exact time—7:07 to be exact, to make it to the 7:30 class a little early. If I leave earlier or later, things feel a little…off.”

5. Before You’re Ready

“To keep myself out of my head if I’m anxious about heading into class for whatever reason—maybe I haven’t been in a while or I’m feeling anxious about seeing people—I remind myself, ‘start before you’re ready.’ This lights a fire under me and brings me into the moment. Even if I still have anxious butterflies, it flings me into action and always gets me in the room.”

6. My Parking Place, My Cubby

“We are all creatures of habit in general, but for some reason this seems to go double on class days. I have a specific parking space that I am bizarrely attached to, along with a preferred cubby. I’ve noticed that days when these very public spaces are taken by someone else, I’m a little discombobulated. Which probably isn’t very yogic of me.”

7. Mat Placement

“I have a specific place that I unroll my mat. It depends on the class and studio—second row all the way to the left if it’s in yin, middle row second from the right in vinyasa. I have no idea why I do this. But there is something ritualistic and soothing about having the same vantage.”

8. All Lined Up

“If the floors of the class are hardwood, or there are any seams whatsoever, my mat needs to line up exactly. I will stop mid-class if I notice my mat is unaligned to address this very important issue.”

9. Favorite Props

“There are certain blanket colors that I really do not like. I always pick one that is on my approved list. Ideally, it’s pink. Turquoise is also on my approved list. Purple if the teacher insists we have a blanket and all the rest are taken. I will go without rather than opt for any other color!”

10. Say “Thank You”

“I quietly thank the teacher. No big drama. Sometimes it’s a conversation, and sometimes it’s just a nod or a wave and a mouthed ‘thank you’ if they’re surrounded by students asking questions. To me, it’s closure rather than just rushing out headlong back into life.”

11. Post-Class Coffee

“After class, I’ll get a coffee, tea, or matcha from this local place on the same block. It feels good to be around people after I’ve released a lot of excess emotional stuff I’ve been carrying with me. I like to notice how I am a little bit looser/more talkative/less in my head, even in small interactions like with the guy behind the counter.”

12. The Yoga Cloud

“Sometimes, after a good class, I’ll just lie in bed and soak in the good vibes. Usual me is always looking for the next thing to do or think about. But post-class me allows myself to chill with no external stimulation: no music, no phone, just actual presence. Maybe I’ll sip tea or something but I’m just vibing in my yoga cloud.”