Codeigniter and phpstorm and github

I use phpstorm and have a need to maintain both a production site and a staging site. I was advised to use git and github to keep these two separate. But how do I do this with a site I maintain with a phpstorm project. Do I keep the projects up on git hub and bring  then down prior to working on it, locally? What is the "best practice" on keeping two different copies?

proof that an old dog can learn new tricks