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/

       

Tight hamstrings and lower backs are common complaints among runners, office workers, and people who are on their feet all day. Doing forward bends regularly can help tremendously, but doing them on your own just isn’t as effective as when you can get some help. I’ve already showed you how to do Seated Butterfly Lunge and Seated Straddle Lounge, so here’s another variation to try. The person on the bottom gets an amazing stretch for the backs of their legs, and the person on top feels an incredible lengthening in their spine.

So grab a friend and read more.

* Partner #1 sits on the ground with his legs extended straight out in front of him. He folds forward as far as he can, coming into a Seated Forward Bend.
* Partner #2 gently sits down on Partner #1’s sacrum at the base of his spine (aka back of pelvis), and begins to lie down on Partner #1’s back. Partner #2 should move slowly because this is a really intense stretch for Partner #2’s hamstrings. Partner #2 can stay here (as in the picture shown to the right), or if it feels OK, she can extend her arms overhead and straighten her legs.
* Both partners talk to each other, making small adjustments if necessary. When either partner is ready to get out of the pose, Partner #2 lifts her torso and sits up.
* Then each partner switches roles.