Archive for June, 2010

Yoga Supplies – What To Look For

With yoga attaining a lot of fame among millions of people all over the world, many have developed a fetish to learn this art.

There are several reasons for this:

First and foremost, people have understood the importance of this form of art in providing health benefits and keeping their mental health in good condition.

Second, one can easily say goodbye to stress via practicing yoga. Third, yoga helps a lot in making the body flexible. There are several other benefits of yoga one can enjoy when the individual starts practicing it.

Prior to actually start practicing yoga, you need to focus on purchasing good quality yoga supplies. These supplies are extremely important to enhance your performance and provide you the maximum benefits of yoga.

Some of these yoga supplies also provide good support to the body and prevent the individual from encountering with any accidents or injuries. Don’t worry. Yoga does not require expensive equipments as most of the modern exercises and sports do.

One of the most valuable supplies that you need to focus on purchasing is a Yoga mat. These mats are constructed of tacky rubber and also prevent slippage. It is very difficult to maintain a complex pose while performing yoga. With a yoga mat, you don’t require to worry about hazardous flood conditions.

Additionally, you will find a wide variety of designs and colors when purchasing a yoga mat. If you have a tendency to develop allergy from latex products should go for cotton mats. These also serve the same purpose. Make sure that you keep your yoga mat clean.

Another yoga supply you would require is yoga clothes. Keep your yoga apparel simple, durable and comfortable. You may find yoga clothes in hemp spandex and cotton. You may choose to wear pants, shirts or tank tops according to your own comfort.

Yoga music is another important investment you need to make when learning yoga. This helps you to relax your mind and also helps you to get into appropriate mind set for a yoga session.

Yoga is a low impact exercise and performed in a quiet atmosphere. The yoga music will help you to get in to the real mood of yoga. It also works towards enhancing one’s learning performance and experience.

Last but not the least, you should also think of investing in to some yoga DVDs. You can easily learn a lot via watching these DVDs.

Purchasing yoga supplies will do a lot of good to you. You would be able to learn yoga in a better way and without any distraction.

Try to visit some shops prior to actually purchasing the yoga supplies. This will help you a lot in purchasing the best and the most affordable.

You may take help of an experienced person or someone who practices yoga regularly in order to purchase the best. He or she will guide you on purchasing the best and giving you tips on what to buy, how to buy and where to buy these yoga supplies from.

By: Bertil Hjert

About the Author:

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about YOGA and MEDITATION please visit YOGA TIPS and MEDITATIONBUZZ

Green, Natural and Essential Yoga Accessories

114484217 6e88360a2d Green, Natural and Essential Yoga Accessories

Yoga accessories include yoga mats, gear, CDs and even yoga video DVDs and books. Many are available in new age stores, health food stores, and meditation shops, or directly over the internet. There are so many different varieties of accessories that it can be hard to know which items a beginner really needs – so keep your eyes peeled and take note of those items you would like to have. Yoga accessories can sometimes be rented at a gym or yoga studio, but I wouldn’t count on finding that handy block or strap as it may be in use by someone else. This is why it’s best to purchase at least some of the necessary ones when you get started with your yoga practice.

Essential Accessories

A yoga mat is probably the most essential accessory that you will find. you need your own for personal hygiene reasons, and because you will eventually become more comfortable in your poses with a mat that you are comfortable with. One of the nice things about a yoga mat and other accessories is that having them and taking them with you can make pretty much make any place appear to be a yoga studio. some are certified organic products.

Green Yoga Accessories

Some yoga accessories are made with mother earth in mind and are completely environmentally friendly, and biodegradable. these support a more holistic yoga experience and should be sought out if you really seek a ‘green’ yoga experience. other yoga accessories to consider purchasing include yoga straps, blocks, sandals, books, music CD’s and video DVD’s. you will find everything from chakra inspired bandannas to lavender eye pillows and even intention based jewelry and eco-fashion purses. some are uniquely manufactured by fellow yogis. another great accessory that I use daily is a zafus (or zabutons) meditation pillow. Since it can sometimes be hard to find specialty items, the internet has become the best place to find your favorite yoga tools and even items such as specialty yoga pants. you don’t need a lot of yoga accessories when you practice, but it’s nice to have a few of the essentials. One of the least mentioned, but most important one is a water bottle to help keep you hydrated.

Accessories

Natural Yoga Accessories are becoming more popular, though in general, the accessories required for yoga can be fairly inexpensive and easy to come by. a short list of those essentials is included below. the accessories that you may need for yoga include your apparel (clothing), mats, props (straps and blocks), bags, and training materials such as DVDs, and books. a yoga mat is also essential to your practice. another excellent accessory if you are practicing in a home environment is a DVD (or video). these DVDs are great accessories for beginners because you can pause or back-up the DVD during when you are learning a new position. There are a huge variety of other accessories which you may find useful including: straps, a block, hair bands, environmentally-friendly blankets, bolsters, yoga mats and other accessories. There is also a full line of children’s yoga clothing available. from basic yoga requirements like yoga mats to more of a ambiance accessory such as candles or incense you are sure to require some of these to enhance your practice.

Meditation Accessories

There are also comfortable crescent cushions; one of the essential accessories for yoga and meditation. I use this type of cushion myself on top of another ‘buckwheat’ cushion for comfortable meditation. if you want to practice yoga at one of the first extras you’ll want is a DVD and lessons. other yoga accessories you will want to purchase include a yoga mats and possibly yoga blocks or straps. you can find all types of these from chakra inspired bandannas and eye pillows to intention based jewelry and even eco-fashion purses.

Yoga Accessory Websites

Many websites offer hard to find unique yoga accessories manufactured by other fellow yogis. It doesn’t matter if you decide to go with a standard yoga mat, a pilates mat, socks, a yoga ball, or one of the other many yoga related accessories available, there is definitely a yoga product made just for you. It just may take some time looking, but eventually you will find it. a variety of yoga accessories have sprung up. in yoga having the right accessories are vitally important, so you will want to make sure you choose the best made materials and well known brands.

Natural Accessories and Yogawear

A wide range of fashionable prints and natural fabrics (hemp and cotton) are available in yoga clothing and other unique yoga products. There is a large amount of design and natural cloth products that are natural and heavenly yogawear. from quality thick sticky yoga mats, to crescent moon cushions for meditation and seated postures (during your poses), you will also find bolsters and straps for restorative poses, eye pillows, essential oil candles and spiritual blends for blissful relaxation any time. As you advance, you will very likely decide to purchase some other yoga accessories to help you develop and grow.

Green, Natural and Essential Yoga Accessories

Teaching Yoga for Stress Management

Why do most of your students come to your Yoga classes? If you conducted a student survey, you would be surprised at how many arrived to your classes for the same reason. Surveys reveal much about the needs of your students.

Granted, there are a variety of reasons why students attend Yoga training sessions, but many people participate in our classes because they are seeking solutions to stress management.

It has been estimated that 75%, and possibly more, of doctor visits, are stress related. Stress is a major culprit in illness. Worse yet, stress will make a pre-existing illness worse. If you are seriously ill, one of the last things you need is an extra serving of stress, or anxiety, to go with it.

Most Yoga teacher training courses barely scratch the surface, when considering the needs of stressed-out students. More often, attention is paid to the technical aspects of Pranayama (yogic breathing), asana (yogic posturing), student safety, teacher ethics, teaching methodology, anatomy, physiology, philosophy, and much more.

So, how, in the world, could a Yoga instructor be prepared for the needs of the anxiety-riddled masses? It all comes down to the needs of our students and our continuing education efforts.

For example: If most of our students are young, flexible, strong, alpha-type personalities – our student’s needs – will be geared toward physical prowess. In truth, this is fine, because there is a legitimate need for it.

On the other hand, if most of our students are feeling the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual effects of excessive stress and anxiety, there is a need for us to learn much more about effective Yogic stress management solutions for the sake of our students.

Yoga Outside – Back to Basics? Think Again

mats Yoga Outside Back to Basics? Think Again

Yoga and nature do have a very close connection. Yoga meaning “union”, and sometimes it feels like a union between ourselves and the world around us – especially when we are practicing yoga outside. Many of the yoga poses are named after natural features such as tree pose and flower pose. Animals names are also very common such as snake, cobra, turtle and butterfly. just a very simple example to show the connection between yoga and nature.

I do feel that practicing yoga outside takes some extra preparation including perhaps sunscreen, bug spray, water and a different mat that you would normally use. I would question that it’s “easier” than practicing inside. Practicing outside can also take more focus as it’s harder to find a level piece of ground to work on and little bugs or dust can easily make you lose your concentration. also the temperature isn’t as predicable so I find myself taking extra layers on and off throughout my practice. Airplanes overhead or motorcycles passing by certainly don’t help either. The sun coming and going behind clouds can change your mood at a moments notice.

The rewards are unbelievable though. So all that aside, practicing outside can be amazing as well rewarding; the sun, the breeze and the trees just to name a few. The experience freeing, free of walls, barriers, mirrors, house dust, toys, dirty dishes and unfolded piles of laundry. Can’t we all benefit from some free extra vitamin D? Depending on the scenery and location, you can get lost in the moment a lot easier than inside your living room! making us aware of our really small part in this really big world. The experience can bring you closer to nature, and that can benefit our bodies, our mind, our soul and nature itself. making it less likely that we would hurt or damage our natural environment. Bringing us more in tune with ourselves and the world around us.

There is also something to be said for practicing in a studio setting too. some studio’s create an unbelievably serene and restful atmosphere complete with fountains, natural products, controlled temperatures and unbelievable sound tracks.

I think each location has it’s time and place. each one has it’s charms and detractions. This summer pack your essential outside yoga supplies (sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, mat), or at least sunscreen and give it a try.

Yoga Outside – Back to Basics? Think Again

UE’s summer stretch

picture 163 1 UEs summer stretch

Kavon Lacey laughed about it this week, and truth be told he and his University of Evansville basketball teammates might have initially thought it was a joke.

But yoga has, nonetheless, become a part of their offseason routine.

“It was the coaches’ idea,” the senior guard said. “Coach Simmons wanted us to do it. When we first tried it, it was horrible — we were all sore. But now everybody enjoys it.”

The Aces didn’t enjoy last year’s 9-21 season — far from it. so while the thought of yoga might have had them scratching their heads at first, they’re quite serious about improving on that mark, even if it means trying something new and different to turn things around.

With the entire team on campus for summer classes, daily weight lifting and pick-up games, but organized basketball instruction from coaches still months away, it’s the perfect time to mix things up, try out something new and work on their team dynamic in a different and original way. in comes yoga as part of the workouts for eight returning players — counting center Clint Hopf, who is a bystander for now while recovering from knee surgery, but is also one of four returning starters. The four newcomers include Derek Johnson, who played in one game as a freshman last year but needed knee surgery and was granted a medical hardship so that he has four seasons of eligibility remaining.

Freshman Jordan Jahr has already established himself as a “lights-out” shooter according to Lacey, and junior college transfer Matt Peeler is expected to help offset the team’s most significant loss, that of transfer James Haarsma and his 10.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

But the yoga program, which is designed to make the players more flexible and as a result help reduce the many injuries that plagued the Aces a year ago, is hardly the only new aspect of Division I college basketball for them.

“It’s going good,” said junior college swingman Kenny Harris, the most versatile of the additions. “The weights are different than juco, it’s harder, so I’m getting stronger already.”

“We’re in the weight room every day, getting bigger, putting on weight,” said junior Denver Holmes, one of the veterans who averaged 10.7 points per game last year and is expected to be a leader on this year’s team. “And we’re on the court five days a week, plus everybody’s working on their own game on the side, too.”

So far he likes what he’s seen.

“It’s good,” Holmes said. “Everybody’s clicking, the chemistry’s here and we’re just really busting our you know.”

In the weight room, on the court and even on the yoga mats.

“Everybody knows what happened last year, and it’s just driving people to work harder,” Holmes added. “I think this has been the most competitive summer I’ve been here.”

UE’s summer stretch