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Posted at 02:49 PM in Home Practice | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted at 04:20 PM in Hatha Yoga's Benefits | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
A few days ago, I visited my mother and stayed overnight at her house. I didn't bring a yoga mat (I own three) because I recalled she had an exercise mat tucked away underneath my childhood bed. After using that exercise mat which was not designed for yoga but for other types of stetches and perhaps calisthentics, I definitely realized you actually do need a yoga mat for your yoga practice. My mother's mat is made of urethane foam and while it provides cushioning, it doesn't help you avoid slipping and sliding when you do certain poses!
Fortunately, nowadays, outfitting your home studio with the right type of yoga mat is very easy. The myriad types of yoga mats of all colors and designs and materials that you can choose from is almost dizzying. All you have to do is flip through magazines such as Yoga Journal, search online or get catalogs from companies such as Gaiam or Barefoot Yoga.
Most yoga mats are rectangular (although you can also find some newer circular yoga mats that are 4 to 8 feet in diameter and designed to allower freer and more fluid range of movements - at least for certain poses) and most range in length from 68 inches to 75 inches. I am a "shortie" and so the standard 68 inch mat suits me fine, but if you are tall, be sure to buy a long enough mat. Most yoga mats range in thickness from 1/16 inch to 1/4 inch. The thicker mats clearly provide more cushioning, but also are heavier and bulkier to roll up.
I bought my first yoga mat about 4 years ago when I took a yoga class at my Federal agency. The young lady in charge of registering class participants bought a bunch of mats for us at Marshalls. They only cost about $15. The problem with inexpensive mats, however, is they are the least environmentally friendly because they are usually made from materials such as PVCs (don't know what that stands for) that initially emit unpleasant, toxic odors at least the first few times you use them. I actually didn't have this problem with the Marshalls mat but I definitely noticed an unpleasant odor with another mat I bought from a catalog. The next mat I buy will be made from thermal plastic elastomer which is more environmentally friendly and recyclable or I will buy one made from natural latex or organic natural latex. Yoga mats can range in price from the $15 inexpensive type to over $100 depending on the material. I think your standard mat will run you between $30-$60.
You can also buy "mini" yoga mats - that is, grippy yoga "toe sox" to put on your feet and yoga "paws" for your hands that reportedly allow you to practice on any surface. However, in my view, they don't offer cushioning which is most important to me for those supine poses. In short, although I did yoga for years without a mat, I have learned that a yoga mat enhances your practice and provides your body with protection. Invest in one for your home studio.
Laura's corny Wisdom of the Day: ~"Your yoga mat is where it's at!"
Posted at 02:55 PM in Home Studio | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
For years, I practiced yoga without a mat. I usually did my poses on a carpet in the living room or my bedroom and I would spread out a towel for the face down poses such as the child pose you see here. Like DVDs and videos and podcasts, "yoga" mats were not readily available then. Other mats yes, but not the kind that abound in yoga marketplace now. The back cover of my first yoga book, Yoga for Beauty and Health, by Eugene Rawls and Eve Diskin, shows a yoga class of women doing the cobra. Most are stretched out on beach towels. Only a handful are using some rather funky looking mats!
In my opinion, a yoga mat serves three key purposes: 1) to avoid slipping as you stretch; 2) to cushion your body parts (especially neck, back, knees, ankles, and wrists) as you hold certain poses; and 3) to provide a clean barrier between your face and the rest of your body when you are holding a pose face down. Outfitting your home yoga studio or spot with a yoga mat can definitely enhance your practice. The next posting will provide some pointers on what to consider when you invest in a yoga mat.
Wisdom of the Day: The yoga mat is a good place to turn when talk therapy and antidepressants aren't enough. ~Amy Weintraub
Posted at 01:31 PM in Home Studio | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
This variation of the "Tree" pose is challenging for the beginner because of the considerable focus and balance required to do it successfully without wobbling from side to side or completing losing your balance. I do this asana periodically and I took a mini-break today during my lunch and sneaked in a few moment of this pose in the ladies' room when no one was looking!
Yoga definitely teaches the art of stretching and when you finally do at least an acceptable form of yoga stretches such as the above tree, your body feels s-o- o- o- o good! Whenever I do any yoga stretches and really synchronize my breath and my attention to the pose, I definitely can feel the wonderful release of pent-up energy. Sitting for hours in front of a computer or being involved in any other sedentary activity takes a toll on our bodies causing us to feel tired and tight. Although any type of stretching will benefit you, what I like about hatha yoga is that the stretches are based on an ancient science that is 4,000 to 5,000 years old.
When I really move into a stretch and visualize extending myself to the max - for example in the above tree pose I imagine that I am stretching my arms upward gently and energetically to touch the sky. I feel my muscles gaining flexibility which is so important to moving easily about in the flow of life. Sounds too "airy fairy." Just try it. I dare you to stretch and feel so - - - o good.
Wisdom: A daily regime of yoga stretches makes you feel s-o-o-o good and enhances your ability to enjoy the flow of life." ~Laura Venecia Rodriguez
Posted at 02:12 PM in Hatha Yoga's Benefits | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The above is a photo of a yoga class. Looks like dancing to me! Supposedly it's yoga dancing! I love to dance to fast music. Can I dance? Ah - not any formal type of dancing like ballroom, salsa, or tango. No, I just like to dance freestyle because again, I am a bit of a klutz.
About two years ago, I took a drop-in hip hop class. I loved the energy of the class and the twenty-something instructor really had her steps down. She appeared so natural! But, as for me, I continued to feel that sense of awkwardness I have typically experienced in taking any type of class. I am slow at following on and feel really self-conscious when I get out of sync with the rest of the class. So, you probably would not find me in the above yoga dance class.
The point of the above photo is that yoga practitioners' use of music with their yoga practice has changed significantly. Whereas 20 or 30 years ago, many people practice in silence or maybe with just the quiet, synthesizer sounds of new agey type composers like Steve Halpern, nowadays you will find many more yoga classes and practitioners blending poses with musical selections that run the gamut from rap to loud rock to you name it.
In your home studio you can follow the recent lead of yoga classes and have a wide variety of musical selections on hand to fit your mood or need of the day. Some people may still find music of any kind distracting. Some days I crave absolute silence when I have had too many issues on my mind. Other days, I want the extra energy boost that music gives my practice. Play it by ear!
Wisdom of the Day: .."In terms of opening into a heart space, yoga and music complement each other beautifully."~Yoga instructor Nicki Doane
Posted at 01:33 PM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted at 09:28 PM in Hatha Yoga's Benefits | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted at 09:02 PM in Hatha Yoga's Benefits | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)