It is a widely accepted truth that yoga is not only a form of meditation but is also an exercise that helps to keep the body and mind stay healthy. It is an age old practice that has been in vogue since time immemorial and has been proved to be highly successful.

As in most other forms of exercises, yoga also needs some equipment while practicing to reap the full benefits of it and the most commonly used equipment is the yoga mat. Yoga mat can either be a large thick towel or a rug although there are special yoga mats designed by many companies. Generally yoga mats are made of cotton or polyester latex and are found in a range of prices.

The mat can be chosen according to the type of yoga. If Ashtanga yoga that is needed jumping from one form to another is to be practiced, then, a thick and impact absorbing mat is necessary. It is essential that the mat absorbs sweat since it is quite common to sweat while practicing yoga.

Yoga ball is an yoga equipment that needs while practicing a traditional crunch on the ground. For beginners who practice yoga, foam blocks are the kind of yoga equipment that allow stretching or extending the reach and would offer support to the full weight of the body. Blocks are quite useful for standing poses where the hands do not reach the floor. These are helpful in giving the best results out of yoga practice.

There are yoga belts too that are made of nylon or cotton. These belts are used to support the back and also to align them. When certain poses need a stretching, the belts provide additional length like gripping arms, hands, feet or legs and offer more flexibility. Yoga blankets and towels provide warmth and comfort during the relaxation period.

While practicing yoga it is imperative to remain comfortable and therefore clothing made of fiber are ideal that helps to breathe well and prevents the body from over heating. Most of the yoga equipment are manufactured to help the body prepare itself to relax the body and mind and helps to concentrate on the pose and practice in the proper way.

Another piece of yoga equipment is the DVD or books for beginners to guide through the practice that can also be had as a reference at home. Elaborating further, there are yoga ropes that help to develop strength and flexibility and inversion sling to relieve back pain by providing low back muscle stretching and giving spinal traction. Slings are also helpful; to stretch shoulder chest and groin muscles.

So, it is not absolutely essential to have all these equipment to start practicing yoga. Yoga can be practiced with the barest minimum of equipment like mat and towel and can yield very good results, only if it is done with full concentration.

source:-http://www.yogazone.info

       

So, what’s all the fuss about a yoga towel? A towel is a towel, right? No, not really. But, before we extol the many rewards of a good yoga towel, let’s discuss a bit about Yoga, itself.

Yoga Mind/Body Benefits

Yoga assists you in awakening your inner body and enlivening your outer body! As you unburden your mind to give your full attention to each pose, you cultivate your “inner body” awareness of the present moment. A committed yoga practice awakens, energizes, and strengthens the structure and flow of the body. The goal of yoga practice is to create a union between the body, mind and spirit.

Patience is not only a virtue, it is the “key” to mastering a yoga pose, particularly when combined with ample time and commitment. A beginner should not be disappointed if they don’t do a pose perfectly on the first try. But, slowly over time, as you practice and make an effort to perform each pose flawlessly, without pushing yourself too far physically or beating yourself up mentally, you will notice that you are developing flexibility, strength, and energy physically and feeling more peaceful and clear mentally.

Try to create a clean, peaceful space for your yoga practice, with a bare floor, preferably, and a clear wall. Remove any distractions from your yoga environment. For optimum function, you should not eat for at least 2 hours before practicing. If this is not possible, then try to eat something light, such as a piece of fruit, but no more than 1 hour before you start your yoga practice.

Always be mindful of how your body feels, and stop or pause if you feel any pain or discomfort while trying out a pose. Then try again.

Yoga props and yoga accessories, such as yoga mats, yoga bolsters, yoga straps, yoga blocks, yoga mat bags, and even yoga towels are made with the intention to aid you in moving deeper into a pose, in performing a flawless pose, and in practicing in a sound way.

Yoga prop benefits are many, but above all they assisting you in avoiding, or relieving pain and discomfort that can accompany the more challenging yoga poses, particularly in the beginning.

On occasion we all “push” rather than “easing” into a yoga pose, and injury sometimes occurs. Yoga props can provide the support and extensions needed to do a pose correctly.

Doing yoga releases rigidity, and using props helps with stress relief by providing the support needed for you to relax (but not be lazy) in your practice.

The plumb line, that is, “head-over-heels” body alignment, is essential in doing yoga poses accurately. Yoga props encourage appropriate alignment.

Ease and flexibility of movement are are another healthy part of the benefits to using yoga props. When your joints move with ease, instead of “rubbing you the wrong way,” your yoga poses are more fluid. Certain props actually open space in the joints.

As we mentioned earlier, yoga practice is about unifying the mind, body and spirit through the nurturing of a deeper awareness and the evolution of mindfulness. How can yoga props assist in this great goal? When you are able to simply focus your attention on doing your yoga poses correctly, rather than worrying about transitory limitations, you will go deeper into that balance of mind, body, and spirit.

The Big, Beautiful Yoga Towel

A yoga towel does exactly what you think it would, and more! Absorbency, naturally, comes to mind, in particular if you’re into hot yoga, like Bikram. There are many super-absorbent yoga towels available, some manufactured with microfibers, that wick away moisture (and sweat!) during and after a particularly energizing routine, and they dry in half the time of a cotton towel. Most are produced with organic dyes and can easily be washed and dried safely. A mat-size yoga towel puts a hygienic layer between you and your yoga mat.

However, there’s more than one use for your yoga towel. In addition to encouraging good health and hygiene, many yoga towels are made specifically to prevent slipping while as you move into your yoga poses. Several yoga towels have “silicone eco nubs” on one side, others have clear rubber dots, still others have a latex-free “gripping” agent. When placed face down, the nubs or dots, or a similar gripping agent, grip your yoga mat (or the floor if you’ve forgotten to buy a yoga mat and there isn’t one available!). The gripping action actually takes place as you dispense your weight in a yoga posture. Yoga towels are crucial for a steadier, more stable practice.

A yoga towel works as a top layer for your yoga mat, as a yoga mat substitute when a mat isn’t available, or as mentioned above, while participating in “hot” yoga, such as Bikram. Yoga towels work better than a regular towel because most are of a super-absorbent material that mops up sweat during a especially energizing routine. A yoga towel that is the same size as your yoga mat is quite fashionable, as well as hygienic and healthy.

Most yoga towels come in earth tone shades from tan to deep gray, green, and dusty purple.

source:-dentalbrokers.com/2009/05/02/hot-yoga-and-the-yoga-towel/

       

It doesn’t matter if you are a Yoga beginner who is just starting out, or an experienced practitioner, sooner or later you will feel the need to buy a Yoga mat to add to your collection of Yoga equipment. A lot of people believe they should purchase the first mat that catches their eye. It’s just not true. It’s sad that there are a few manufacturers out there who produce yoga mats on a massive scale and still show no care or concern towards the life of the product. They instead compromise on the quality to make sure you become a repeat customer and buy from them over and over again. This often leads to a bigger expense on your part. Spend a bit of extra time & money to look for a high quality Yoga mat. As a result, you’ll have to do your own homework before going for that one purchase, which will last you for a long time. Doing a bit of preparation beforehand will not only save you time in the future, but will make certain you have a high quality experience.

Even if you make a decision to buy a chemical laced mat for your Yoga exercise, there isn’t any real proof to show that it will lead to any kind of health problems. However, it’s advisable that you don’t keep them in the heat for long, as someone who is allergic and prone to frequent headaches will face problems because of it.

There are many different Yoga mat types available. Some of them are jute or cork mats, which are pretty cheap and affordable, and are also known to be an earth-friendly alternative to the non-organic mats. However, you might discover that they have a few drawbacks of their own. They happen to be high degree porous mats, which means they will soak up any level of sweat while you practice. Even though they don’t last too long, they would come handy and be suitable for people who practice once a month.

Coming to the popular rubber mat for yoga, which almost every practitioner thinks is the best. These mats are highly durable, don’t cost much and are created out of sustainable rubber. However, when going through rubber yoga mats, you might bump into mats that are synthetically produced. So if you are one of those people who want to keep the earth in mind when buying, you can look around and shop for rubber mats that are naturally made. Another drawback is for people who are allergic to latex; they should avoid such mats at all costs. You can instead buy a phthalate free mat, which generally helps in bringing down the possibilities of having an allergic reaction.

As you can see, different people will go for different kinds of mats. Almost all of the mats have their advantages as well as disadvantages. It’s up to you how much time and money you choose to spend to get the perfect Yoga mat for a Yoga experience to remember.

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