The-Yoga-Spot.Com

Yoga is a discipline that can well benefit from yoga accessories such as mats, blocks, straps and balls - the question is ... which ones and what for?

In this day and age of so much to choose from, it seems as if the making of decisions just becomes more and more difficult!

If you're starting out what  yoga accessories do you absolutely need?

If you're starting out in yoga and not sure whether it's your thing as yet then I'd say that the only accessory that you absolutely must have ... and I say this because it has to do with your comfort ... is a yoga mat!

If I just take myself as an example, when I started out many years ago I had no mat, well at least nothing akin to the mats of today, a towel was no good as it slipped on the wooden floors (just think of the pressure you put on your legs when you go into a warrior pose) and I'm thankful yoga wasn't done on carpet ... just think of the carpet graze one could get...

Getting back to the point of why a mat is necessary ...some positions are executed from  a kneeling position ... a hard wooden floor is very uncomfortable on your knees ... not only that some positions require you not only to be on your knees but to also put the length of your arm on the floor exposing your elbow joints to a hard floor.

Well, perhaps I was uncoordinated, however, I always somehow managed to hurt my elbows or just

 press my 'funny-bone' in the wrong spot ... just think, days of bruised elbows and sore knees.

Now when the inverted positions started ... I was thankful I had my yoga mat as I didn't relish the idea of doing headstands off a hard wooden floor ...

There are so many other yoga accessories that you can have ... and all of them have reason. For

 instance, a yoga mat bag (or similar accessories are yoga tote bags, yoga mat rolls, yoga mat totes, yoga mat carriers - see what I mean, .... you can get lost in the choices) is a great accessory as it makes the carrying of the mat and all your other things, too and from class so much easier ... but in the same way you could go all out and get so many more things.

So you really do have to be discerning!

Yoga Mats

There are so many different types of yoga mats on the market ... it can really make choosing the best yoga mat for you a nightmare.

Perhaps you can get an idea of why I say ... a mat's essential

Just to name some, there are Manduka yoga mats, harmony yoga mats, natural yoga mats, pink yoga mats, and not all are cheap yoga mats or discount yoga mats either. There are also black yoga mats, thick yoga mats, pilates yoga mats, wai lana's yoga mats, travel yoga mats (for when you can't bear not doing yoga on your business trip), tapas yoga mats and sticky yoga mats. What a choice! ... And if your children also do yoga .... then you can get a child's yoga mat as well!

If you're confused I can understand ... as  I felt exactly the same when I first went looking for a .... what I thought was an normal .... yoga mat!

Just to give you an idea of what some of the different types of yoga mats are that you can choose from, Mike's contributed his comments:

Which Yoga Mat Is The Right One For Me?

Contributed By: Mike Singh

If you are just starting out with yoga, you already know that there are a number of different pieces of equipment that you may need and the yoga mat is one of them. But, how can you choose one that is right for you? There are several things to help you make that decision and knowing a little about each yoga mat will help you to make the right choice.

The most common type of yoga mat is the sticky mat. These mats are very thin and offer a little padding. This is the traditional type of mat. There are now those that have more padding and allow for a better feel being produced. What is important is to realize the point behind having a yoga mat at all. They do several things for you. First, they can help to brace you so that you do not slip and fall when you are in one stance or the next. They can also help to provide even a small bit of padding to the knees, the hips, and the back.
(I totally agree with Mike on this point! Even a little padding greatly increases your comfort level ... and as your mind is not focused on the pain in your ... say knees .... you can better focus on doing the yoga positions properly-author's insert)

Here are some of the various types of yoga mats and what they can do for you.

The Meditation Mat: This mat is usually purchased with a pillow that goes with it. The combination offers for a better sitting meditation posture. It conforms to your body’s shape while allowing you to sit properly.

Universal Style Yoga Mat: This yoga mat is one of the most basic. It has a light texture to it and a high tack surface that will allow the hands and feet to melt into it during poses.

Deluxe Yoga Mats: These are highly textured. They often are made of high tack foam surfaces and offer a better grip all around.

For those that are a beginner, a beginner yoga mat can be quite important. These are vinyl and have a sponge foam texture to them. (I think a thin sticky mat to start off with -  as you want to get the right feel to begin with - author's insert)

Others: There are also those yoga mats that can do excellent things for you. For example, some are thicker and denser than others. Some will absorb perspiration. Some are just tougher.

In order to know which yoga mat you should purchase, you will want to consider what you plan to do with it, your level and need for comfort while doing that and what budget you have. You can always ask your yoga instructor about which mats are appropriate for the type of yoga you will be doing.

Mike Singh is a successful webmaster and publisher of http://www.yoga-made-ez.com He provides more yoga health benefits and yoga sequences for your convenience.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Singh

By the way, mats come in varying lengths. A standard length is some 68"-72", whereas the extra long length is 74"-100". Although length is a personal preference, if you're over 6' tall then I'd suggest you look at the extra long mats!

Yoga Straps

You've probably come across this concept as well ... or if not under this terminology, then you might have used your towel in  your yoga class as a substitute yoga strap.

Now ... what are Yoga straps and why are they any good?

The straps are often made of a cotton material and have a buckle to hold the strap in place.

The yoga strap helps you deepen your stretches, extend your reach, and achieve more challenging yoga poses and hold them longer.

Imagine that while sitting on the ground you need to reach forward and grip your feet and pull yourself forward into that stretch ... if you're anything like I was when I started and have very tight hamstrings, then you'll find it nearly impossible to get into the correct position for this stretch.

Now, this is where these straps can come in handy .... as you loop them around your feet and then slowly pull yourself into position, you'll get a greater benefit from the stretch than just trying to grip your legs around your knees.

What you'll find is that by being able to properly undertake this stretch, each time you do it you'll be able to stretch your hamstrings and back just that little bit further until eventually you'll have no need for the straps.

Yoga Blocks or Bricks

Other than what you may think, these are not instruments of torture but yoga equipment utilized to fine tune your yoga practice.

I'll give you an example of where these blocks may come in use ... perhaps you can relate ...when you train, if you do a lot of squats or lunges with or without weights, you may have very tight quadriceps. Often, the stretches at the end of a resistance class don't sufficiently stretch out that large muscle group and you have a tight feeling left in your thighs.

Just as a bit of extra information!

(Your thigh has three sets of strong muscles, each with a specific purpose and all of them can become tight after either resistance (weight training) or cardiovascular work like jogging, cycling or aerobic training. Yoga is ideal to balance this type of training and to help stretch and lengthen these muscles again.

Your hamstrings are the muscles in the back of the leg, the quadriceps are the muscles in the front and the adductor muscles are the muscles on the inside of the legs.

The quadriceps work together with your hamstring muscles to extend (straighten) and flex (bend) your leg. Your adductor muscles pull your legs together.

Now your hamstrings and your quadriceps are particularly at risk of muscle tightness or strain because they cross both your hip and knee joints. They are in use in most sports, be it ball sports, track and field, cycling, gymnastics etc ...author's insert)

So when you go to your yoga class and the instructor asks you to sit in the pose of the hero (Virasana), ... if you're anything like me ... the pain through the quadriceps and the knees as they stretch is substantial. I often need to put a rolled yoga blanket or Zafu (Zen pillow), if you have one, underneath my bottom to elevate it and alleviate the pain in the knees and quadriceps.

Now often my yoga teacher then says well ... from that kneeling position ... lean back and place your hands on the ground behind you. Well that's nearly impossible for me to do .... and this is where the yoga blocks come in handy.

By taking one in each hand you can slide them back and do the position but your hands are elevated and supported by the blocks. This lets you do the stretch but without the excruciating pain. As you continue to do the stretch over time ( and I mean over days) you will eventually have stretched the quadriceps sufficiently for you to be able to put your hands on the floor.

Now the blocks / bricks come in varying sizes some are 9" by 6" by 4" or 9" by 6" by 3". Depends on who makes them. Some are made out of foam, some out of cork, some even out of wood.

Depending on how you turn them will affect the level of your stretch. .... SO if your very tight prop them up on the 9" side and do the stretch until it no longer hurts, then turn them to the 6" side and continue on until you eventually reach the floor or whatever your goal is.

So summarizing what these blocks do:

• deepen your stretches;
• allow you to safely reach optimal body alignment;
• they help you modify your poses to match your current flexibility.

Yoga Balls

What do they do?  They help build your strength, stretch and tone your muscles, increase your flexibility and improve your core strength through improving your balance. Wai Lana has a great kit which I will be featuring a little later on.

They can come in varying sizes, some even have little 'feet' on them to help with storage and to stop them rolling around, but they are all designed with the same purpose in mind, namely to help your yoga practice.

You can even get DVD's and videos which choreograph specific workouts with these balls.

Yoga Bags and Totes

Well, what a diversity of bags to choose from. I really must say it is a matter of personal preference!

I find it useful to have a bag with straps with clips underneath to strap my yoga mat to. Everything is all together in that way. Some of my friends however, just use a tote bag, whereas, others have the most beautiful silk yoga mat bags specifically designed to carry their yoga mats.

What can I say, it depends on what you like, what you find chic and what is useful for your  lifestyle!

Copyright © 2006 The-Yoga-Spot.com Last modified: 11/27/06  Privacy  Contact  Link Exchange  Link Exchange Partners