Six Tips for a Harmonious Yoga Space

By Erin Berkery

Use these suggestions to design your practice room

The average person has trouble pronouncing Feng Shui (FENG-SH-WEE) without snickering, let alone putting its ancient principles to good use. But Julie Anna Alvarez, a Harvard Law School graduate turned Feng Shui consultant, and author of the Happy Chi e-newsletter (happychi
solutions.com), assures us that “You don’t have to turn your life upside down in order to right your chi.”

So why apply this philosophy to your yoga space? Feng Shui is the Chinese practice of positioning objects, especially graves, buildings, and furniture, based on a belief in patterns of yin and yang and the flow of energy (called “chi”). Sounds a lot like yoga’s principle that when prana (breath or life force) is blocked you aren’t likely to be as energized, motivated, or fit.

Even though we were a little skeptical, we asked Alvarez to explain how Feng Shui can help us spend an extra 15 minutes on the mat. Turns out ditching the mat that’s in need of repair and placing a plant near a new mat inspired this writer to stick to her regular practice. For small changes that can help get that good energy flowing, read on.

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