Yoga is the best and most time tested path to physical and mental well being known to mankind. While some people think of yoga simply as physical exercise, it is actually a complete system for overall health and well being.
It includes everything from physical postures, personal hygiene, and a healthy diet to premeditation, breathing, and relaxation techniques. The most advanced forms of meditation and self-realisation are also a part of yoga.
Why do yoga?
Like many forms of exercise, yoga effectively stretches and strengthens the body however yoga's greatest benefits come from its profound effects on the internal systems of the body.
By bending, stretching, twisting, and flexing in the various postures, we bathe our internal organs with oxygenated blood and vitality.
Yoga soothes and tones the nerves and regulates the endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of hormones-one of the keys to both physical and mental health.
Yoga also improves digestion and elimination, it strengthens the respiratory system, and, most importantly, yoga is extremely effective in relieving stress.
Guidelines for yoga practice
*Yoga postures, especially inversions and those that compress the abdomen, should not be done on a full stomach. Listen to your body and if you practice too soon after eating or drinking, certain poses will feel uncomfortable.
* It's best to practice yoga asanas barefoot, using a yoga mat or yoga rug non slip surface for standing poses.
* Wear comfortable clothing, something that allows you to move freely.
* Ideally, the room should be well ventilated. Have enough space to extend your arms and legs in all directions without hitting anything.
* While practicing, concentrate on the feeling that the asana is producing in your body.
* If you feel too weak or shaky in a pose, come out of it. Gradually, you will build up your strength and be able to hold the pose longer.
* Don't go beyond your personal limitations, but extend your boundaries gently. Doing the asanas correctly means doing them to the best of your ability without straining!
* Throughout the workout, focus on your breath, inhaling and exhaling fully and completely through your nose. Breathing with awareness not only feels good, however also balances and regulates energy flow within the body, strengthening your internal organs and boosting your resistance to disease.
Yoga Mats
Yoga Mats are probably the most popular of all yoga equipment available. It provides cushioning on a hard floor and helps you define your space, especially when you are practicing in a gym or yoga studio. It also provides traction for you hands and feet preventing you from slipping thus enhancing your safety while doing a pose. You basically need to use a Yoga Mats in all poses, especially when you have to lie down on the floor. It is much more comfortable to do the poses over a soft surface than over a cold, hard floor.
Yoga Blocks and Bricks
Using Yoga Blocks and Bricks are highly beneficial for your yoga practice. Yoga blocks lessen the energy you use in doing the pose and are ideal for restorative practice. Yoga blocks can be placed under your hands, feet, or buttocks to provide support and help you maintain correct alignment and posture. It helps you extend your reach and stretch your body further. Yoga Blocks and Bricks are essential props for introductory Yoga, challenging Aasanas, restorative work and therapeutic poses. The Yoga blocks can be stacked, or laid out as the perfect surface for shoulder stands. Yoga blocks are lightweight, sturdy and can easily be stored at the corner of your room. Most Yoga blocks are made of foam and are extremely durable, stable and solid.
Yoga Blankets
Sitting, kneeling, and lying poses are but a few of the many yoga postures that are more comfortably achieved by using Yoga Blankets . Stacking several Blankets together creates a firm yet flexible surface for shoulder-stands. Roll up your blanket for restorative poses. Yoga Blankets help you feel relaxed and comfortable which is essential in the practice of Yoga. Yoga Blankets provide warmth and added cushioning to your yoga mat. You can use your blanket to sit and lie on during your yoga practice. You can also use it to cover your body while doing the Corpse or Relaxation Poses, or whenever you feel cold. Yoga Blankets can also be considered as the most versatile yoga equipment. Yoga Blankets can be used as substitute to the Yoga Bolster. It provides extra height, absorbs sweat, and helps you maintain a pose. Yoga Blankets can easily be stored in a mat bag making it easy for you to bring it anywhere.
Yoga Mat Bag
Whether in a yoga studio or outdoors, it is always better to use your own yoga mat whenever you practice yoga. Yoga mats are the ones you lie on, face up or face down, you sweat on it, you rub your body on it, so it is wise to have one for yourself. Having a yoga mat bag will be a great idea so you can carry your yoga mat to your class or for yoga holidays. Yoga Mat Bags even provide pockets for you to keep your essentials and valuables in. Yoga Mat Bags come in fashionable designs so you can travel in style.
Yoga Balls
Yoga Balls are designed to help you in strengthening your lower back, buttocks, abdomen, chest and arms. It is considered as the most comfortable and versatile equipment which can provide a versatile base for various yoga poses. It combines stretching with relaxation and the strength and balance you achieved from stability ball training. Using Yoga Balls can shape your body and relieve stress. They can effectively increase your flexibility, improve your range of motion and balance, as well as tone the muscles in your body. Yoga Balls can also serve as general fitness Equipment used for some abdominal workouts and ball squats. They come in different sizes.
Yoga Strap
Yoga Straps are strong, soft to the touch, easy to hold onto, comfortable against your skin and have convenient end loops for your hands or feet and allow you to perform some exercises easier and better. Yoga Straps are highly beneficial for beginners. You are not expected to be able to do a Yoga Pose perfectly on your first attempt. Using the Yoga Straps can at least help you gain the maximum benefits of a pose and allow you to grasp your limbs that you couldn't reach or hold the pose longer. Yoga Straps are particularly useful in bound poses when your hands could not reach the other or for poses wherein you need to hold your feet but could not reach them.
Yoga Clothing
The Clothes you wear in a yoga session should provide you with maximum comfort and ease of movement and it's best to wear loose or stretch clothing such as long lasting Meryl nylon and with Lycra. Wearing clothes that are a bit form-fitting during yoga practice is accepted since your head comes below your hips in many yoga poses and your clothes will definitely slide down. Wearing shorts is ideal since it allows you to see the alignment of your knees, feet and ankles. Sweat absorbance is also a factor you should look for in Yoga Clothes. Your clothes should not make you feel lousy or make you sticky and moist during your practice. Yoga Clothes should be comfortable, breathable, and sweat absorbent examples of which are moisture wicking fabrics such as Polartec Power Dry fabric.
Yoga DVD's
Yoga DVDs contain live demonstrations from yoga gurus about how to do a yoga asana, yoga breathing, or yoga meditation. It is highly convenient if you prefer to practice yoga at home since Yoga DVDs also show how a pose should look like.
Yoga Music
The relaxing effect of music and its positive effect towards our emotions had already been known to Yogis. Playing Yoga Music during your practice of Yoga can make you more relaxed and enjoy the practice even more.
Meditation
Meditation is not a technique but a way of life. Meditation means "to join together". It describes a state of consciousness, when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns. The observer (one who is doing meditation) realizes that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one. Whatever you do with awareness is meditation. "Watching your breath" is meditation, listening to the birds is meditation. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind, it is effective meditation. With regular practice of a balanced series of techniques, the energy of the body and mind can be liberated and the quality of consciousness can be expanded.
Meditation can be self taught by reading books or listening to CDs on the subject and will ultimately help towards a stress free life.
Yoga Books
Yoga Books can be considered among your best guides in learning yoga. Most yoga books provide in depth instruction on the yoga poses, the pranayamas or meditation. Most also come with pictures to serve as your guide when doing the yoga poses. You can also find Yoga Books which offer the basic things you need to know about yoga and its different techniques on creating a union between the mind, body and soul.
Yoga Footwear
Yoga is traditionally practiced barefoot however it is always advisable to look after your feet by wearing footwear that helps take care of your feet as happy feet lead for a healthy life.
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