When it comes to exercise routines that promote better health and better figure, nothing beats yoga. It simply provides people a way to connect with themselves and their well-being simply through exercise and a series of breathing routines. Unfortunately, despite the popularity of yoga, there are still some who are unaware of its effectiveness in promoting overall wellbeing. What’s worse is that they don’t know the things used in doing a yoga exercise. So, if you’re dealing with confusion on what yoga is as well as what things are used in doing a yoga exercise, you’re in for a treat. In this article, we’ll share with you all the things you need to know about yoga as well as what yoga equipment and tools you need to perform yoga exercises.
What is yoga?
Whenever you see people stretching out their joints and muscles on the mat, and performing a series of poses while breathing slowly, chances are, they’re doing a yoga exercise routine. Generally, yoga is an old practice of promoting overall well-being using physical poses and exercises. It also involves breathing exercises as well as concentration and medication to regular blood flow as well as energy flow within the body.
It is a popular exercise in the world and is a preferred exercise by old people simply because of its slow pace and easy to perform routines. At first, performing a yoga routine may be difficult and painful due to stiff muscles and joints however regular practice and exercise make the routines much easier and comfortable.
Some of the known types of yoga include Ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga, Hatha yoga, Iyengar yoga, Kripalu yoga, Kundalini yoga, and many others. each of these types focuses on a particular output or result and features its yoga routine or exercise. If you’re unaware of which yoga type is best for your needs, simply consult a doctor or a yoga shop for advice.
Yoga essentials
So, what do you need to start doing yoga? Here are some of the yoga essentials.
Yoga pants and yoga outfit
While any attire or wear can be used while doing yoga, it doesn’t ensure full access to the routines, and your body may be limited to certain exercises due to the clothes you wear. Clothes that are too tight and hard such as jeans can get in the way of your stretches and bends and may even be damaged or torn while you do the exercises. Clothes that are too loose on the other hand may get in the way and can cause discomfort while performing exercises.
You need to make sure you’re wearing the right yoga outfit such as yoga pants or yoga shorts and tops so you can move freely without worrying about your clothes getting damaged, or being unable to perform certain exercises because of what you’re wearing. The proper yoga outfit also provides enough breathability for your skin to relieve moist and hot temperatures.
Yoga mat
Of course, if you’re doing yoga, you’ll always need a yoga mat. A yoga mat provides you with comfort as well as efficiency while performing yoga poses. A yoga mat is made out of soft and sturdy material which provides comfort to the joints, especially to the knees when performing yoga poses. While it is soft and smooth, the mat ensures zero slippage when doing yoga exercises – this is what makes a yoga mat safer when doing yoga exercises than doing yoga directly on the floor.
Yoga exercises also involve lying on the ground which makes yoga mats perfect equipment to have.
Yoga props
Among the popular yoga props and accessories, you’ll need when doing yoga exercises include medication stands, bolsters, yoga balls, meditation cushions, yoga bags, and others. these accessories and props provide you with added comfort and ease whenever performing difficult yoga routines. While these props provide comfort, they also ensure that you’re doing the pose or exercise routine correctly and safely.
Now there are countless other yoga essentials that you’ll need to consider to be fully prepared and ready for your yoga class. A good way to know which things you need for your yoga class is to ask your yoga coach or instructor directly. Or, you can also ask a reputable Yoga online shop to help you find the things you need.
While you’re in the market for the things you need for your yoga class, you may want to consider always going green. Yoga is all about keeping your body and mind healthy – and also making sure that the environment is. Choose environment-friendly yoga items and equipment and try to stay away from items made from harmful materials.
Apart from the things that you need for your yoga class or routine, you’ll also need to prepare your mind and heart. At times, you’ll face challenging poses or routines that can hurt or cause much pain to your body. You have to be prepared for such things and simply bear in mind that “without pain – there is no gain.”