Tea lights can enhance your yoga practice or create atmosphere in the studio, if you are an instructor. Use tea lights in combination with regular lighting or try using them alone. Depending on the setting, you might only need a few tea lights to add dimension to your practice. Most LED tea lights average around $1 per light, while regular, wax-burning tea lights can cost a few cents if bought in bulk. LED tea lights come in flicker or non-flicker style. Buy real tea lights with cotton wicks. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission determined that "candles using lead-cored wicks could present a lead poisoning hazard to young children."
For a Personal Yoga Practice
Step 1
Buy a small pack of real or LED tea lights. There are many websites that specialize in selling LED tea lights, which often include a small battery. These are safe and typically last for at least 100 hours. If you buy real tea lights, you can use scented candles in any scent that you find appealing and relaxing.
Step 2
Place several tea lights around your yoga mat and turn all, or most of, the other lights off. The tea lights can create visual ambiance, and if candles are scented, most of your senses can remain engaged during your yoga practice. Proceed with your yoga poses and breath work as usual.
Step 3
Use a single tea light for an object of meditation. Sit in a cross-legged position and rest your hands lightly on your knees or in your lap. Breathe in and out through the nose as you keep a gentle gaze (or drishti) on the candle flame. The candle flame helps you focus on the present moment. Let all other thoughts trickle out as easily as they trickle in.
For Yoga Instructors
Step 1
Consider buying a large number of LED tea lights for the yoga studio or gym yoga setting. Twenty or more tea lights should be sufficient. If you prefer to use real tea lights, get permission from the studio owner or your group fitness coordinator first. Also, consider buying unscented tea lights because some students might be sensitive to candle perfumes and oils.
Other instructors might want to borrow your tea lights for their classes. Ask them to pitch in on the cost, or ask your studio or gym to reimburse you if it ends up that the yoga students like classes with tea lights.
Step 2
Place a tea light in front of each student's yoga mat. This will provide focus for your students throughout the class and give them an object to meditate on at the end of class.
Step 3
Place tea lights around the perimeter of the studio or around the front of the room. This technique comes in handy if you have more students than tea lights.
Tips and Warnings
- Be sure to determine the cost and kind of replacement batteries you will need before you purchase LED tea lights.
- If you use real tea lights, take extra caution that clothing or other objects are not too close to the flame.
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