Yoga Tools

YOGA EQUIPMENT & TOOLS OVERVIEW

Yoga Equipment, Tools, and Props may not be required when practicing Yoga but they have always been useful aids to practitioners. Take note that it is essential to feel relaxed and comfortable when doing the poses. Most Yoga Tools are designed to provide extra support to help you get deeper into a pose or do the pose better.

YOGA MATS:

Know the features of a Yoga Mat, how to take good care of it, and choose the mat that will make Yoga more effective and fun for you.

                                                        

Ashtanga Mats - These tightly woven Yoga Mats are made of cotton and are ideal for Ashtanga Yoga, Bikram Yoga, or any form of sweaty Yoga practice because traction on Ashtanga Mats are activated by the moisture build up from sweat or water. The Ashtanga Mat also provides extra cushioning for Seated Postures and better stability for Standing Postures.

Travel Yoga Mats - These are ideal for people who are on the go. These lightweight, highly portable Travel Yoga Mats easily fold and fit in most luggages without hassle.

Universal Yoga Mats - These are the most commonly used Yoga Mats. These are favored by both Yoga students and instructors. Although a Universal Yoga Mat has a high-tack and sticky surface, it is still lightly textured, allowing a smoother, softer feel for you.

Deluxe Yoga Mats - A Deluxe Yoga Mat is a more enhanced form of the Universal Yoga Mat.

Utopian Yoga Mats - These are the probably the best Yoga Mats today. The Utopian Yoga Mat offers only perfection in every aspect: cushioning, durability, and stability. Compared to its counterparts, the Utopian Yoga Mat restores its form faster, hence making any body impressions on the surface disappear quickly. The only downside is that it is heavier and a lot more expensive than the conventional, easy to use Yoga Mat.

Beginner Yoga Mats - These are balanced in every aspect and can be the beginners' initial and temporary mats until they reach the advanced level of Yoga.

YOGA MAT BAGS:

Place your mat in a Yoga Mat Bag when traveling or when it is not in use. You will find that you can extend the life of your mat by taking good care of it.

The Yoga Mat is the most common tool used in a Yoga session. It provides traction to prevent you from slipping when doing a pose. It also serves as a cushion so you will not lie on the hard, cold surface when doing Supine Poses or the Savasana.

                                                    

Since the Yoga Mat is very useful and important in practicing Yoga, make sure to take good care of it. Aside from cleaning it properly after every use, put it in a Yoga Mat Bag to keep it protected while you are traveling or when the mat is not in use.

There are different kinds of Yoga Mat Bags. Some have adjustable straps and zippers, while others offer additional features such as enough space or pocket for your other belongings. You can choose a bag that provides just the right space for your mat, or if you use other props in the class such as Yoga Straps or a towel, there are mat bags that offer enough room for all your items. Choose a Yoga Mat Bag that is lightweight, durable, and has adjustable straps so you will be comfortable when the bag is worn over your shoulder.

Nowadays, Yoga Mat Bags come in different designs with colorful prints that allow you to carry your mat and props in style. Keep in mind, though, that what's more important to look for in a Yoga Mat Bag is its functionality.

Place your mat in a Yoga Mat Bag when traveling or when it is not in use. You will find that you can extend the life of your mat by taking good care of it.

YOGA BOLSTERS:

Yoga Bolster can aid Yogis to properly align the body. It also adds comfort and relieves tension in the lower and upper back, neck, abdomen, or legs during difficult poses.

Yoga Bolsters are shaped cushions which are used in different Styles of Yoga like Bikram Yoga, Ananda, and Kripalu Yoga. Basically, they are designed to provide support for certain parts of the body (particularly the back, abdomen, or legs) so that Yogis could pull off some Yoga Poses easier and more comfortably.

Yoga Bolsters are very useful in performing passive and Supine Postures. In instances when a Yogi needs to properly align the body and stack the Spinal Vertebrae, a Yoga Bolster would act as a support to straighten even the most stubborn backbone.

                                                    

Other than support, a Yoga Bolster used with a Yoga Mat can also serve as a cushion for the lower body making your Yoga Session more comfortable. This could also be used to relieve tension in your lower and upper back, neck, abdomen, or legs in practicing difficult poses.

Yoga Bolsters also come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and materials designed to fit your need and preference. However, you should know which type of Yoga Bolster suits you best as it also has different kinds. Each is unique with different purposes.

Here are some examples of Yoga Bolsters:

Cylindrical Bolsters - Can be used either perpendicular or parallel to the spine, or under the knees to lengthen the lower back. Cylindrical bolsters are also great supports for forward bends and for a whole lot of Yoga Poses.

Rectangular Bolster - This helps you relax and stretch your body in areas that need it most, usually under the knees or to relieve pressure on your lower back.

Breathing Bolster - This assists you to relax and breathe deeper easily. It is usually used to support the long muscles on both sides of your spine and enable them to relax fully. It can also be used as an inclined surface to allow the left and right sides of your chest to stretch and drop towards the floor, allowing slow and deeper breathing.

Zafu - This cushion is used to raise the hips, rendering any type of cross-legged sitting position more stable. This is ideal for people who practice Yoga Meditation.

This Yoga equipment is also best used for Meditation. It can provide the comfort that you need when you are sitting down especially on a hard surface.

Yoga Bolsters are highly portable and can easily be stored at the corner of your room, in a drawer, or in a closet without taking much space. Be sure to check out our collection of Yoga Bolsters and other props in our Yoga Shop.

YOGA BLANKETS:

It is essential to feel relaxed and comfortable when practicing Yoga. Together with a Yoga Mat, use a Yoga Blanket to keep you warm during a class or session.

Yoga is becoming more and more popular in the United States and in other countries throughout the centuries. Its benefits are being sought from Healing Major Illnesses, to improving disposition, to improving sex life. Yoga is a science that aims to create a union between the three aspects of a person - the body, the mind and the soul. It developed different practices that will help achieve this goal, from the execution of different Physical Postures, performing Breathing Exercises, and Meditating. 

 

Different Styles of Yoga also appeared over the years, following the same goal but with difference in the emphasis and modification of the various practices: Bikram Yoga uses heat together with the Asanas (Physical Postures) and Pranayamas (Breathing Exercises). Kundalini Yoga emphasizes on the Breathing and Chanting. Viniyoga or the Yoga of Wellness concentrates on developing practices for individual conditions and purposes.

                                                      

Together with the evolution of the practices, came the development of the different Yoga Props which aim to help each practitioner achieve the utmost result of the Yoga Practice. Among the Yoga Props is the Yoga Blanket. This helps you feel relaxed and comfortable which is essential in the practice of Yoga. Yoga Blankets provides warmth and added cushioning to your Yoga Mat. You can use your blanket to sit and lie on during a Yoga Class or Yoga Session. You can also use it to cover your body while doing the Corpse, Final Corpse Pose or Relaxation Poses, or whenever you feel cold. It can also be considered as the most versatile Yoga Equipment. Yoga Blankets can be used as substitute to the Yoga Bolster.

Yoga Blankets or Yoga Rugs are popular with practitioners of Bikram and Ashtanga Yoga. It provides extra height, absorbs sweat, and help you maintain a pose. These Blankets can also complement your Meditation practice by providing you with extra warmth when you need it the most.

Yoga Blankets can easily be stored in a bag making it easy for you to bring it anywhere. They can also be made of different materials like wool, cotton, polyester blend, acrylic, felt or a Mexican blanket blend. The Mexican Yoga Blanket is the most popular. These blankets are hand woven and ideal for placing onto Yoga Mats.

YOGA STRAPS:

Yoga Straps can either be made out of cotton or nylon. They are helpful when you are doing some poses and allow you to hold a certain pose longer.

One of the reasons why some people stay away from Practicing Yoga is that they think that are not flexible enough. Yoga is not about being flexible but about strengthening your body and your spine in all directions with the goal of creating a union between the body, mind and spirit. All that matters is for you to try to perform the pose the right way without pushing yourself too far. By doing this you will develop flexibility, strength and become more energetic.

You are not expected to do the pose perfectly on your first try. It takes time to master a Yoga Pose and requires a lot or perseverance and patience. You also have to remember that Yoga is not a competition. Do not push yourself too far. If you feel pain or discomfort as you push on a pose, pause or stop and try again next time. Yoga Props, however, are designed to help you in move deeper into a pose or perform a perfect pose.

                                                    

Among these Yoga Props is the Yoga Strap which is highly beneficial for Beginners. Yoga Straps may either be made out of cotton or nylon. These 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 it. It can be used to hold your leg in a Trikosana, stretch your shoulder in the Shoulder Stretch Exercise, and a lot of other Yoga Postures.

Yoga is a highly beneficial tool in achieving a healthier body, as well as a relaxed mind and deeper sense of self-knowledge. Practice may not be that easy especially for Beginners, but through perseverance and patience, you will be able to reap the rewards of Yoga Practice - a relaxed mind, healthier and more flexible body, and positive attitude towards life. It is also proven to be an effective stress management exercise and supplementary treatment to chronic ailments such as Asthma, Diabetes, Arthritis, and Hypertension.

YOGA BALLS:

The Yoga Ball, also called Fitness Ball or exercise ball, is another tool that will help you get the most out of your Yoga practice.

The Yoga Ball, also called a Fitness Ball or exercise ball, is another tool that will help you get the most out of your Yoga practice. Yoga Balls are usually made from durable vinyl and these come in different sizes - from 30 to 85 cm in diameter.

The use of a ball in Yoga combines the ancient practice and modern technique to create a workout that will improve stability, strength, and overall condition of a person. Doing different poses with a Yoga Ball enhances the Yoga practice and lets you create a total body workout since it allows you to engage in several muscle groups simultaneously. The Yoga Ball can provide the support you need when doing certain Yoga Poses such as Backbends and restorative postures. It also serves as an excellent cushioning base so you will feel comfortable during the stretching exercises.

Another good thing about the Yoga Ball is its versatility. It can be used not only in Yoga practice but also in training programs, Fitness workout, and Pilates. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you can use a Yoga Ball to tone your muscles, maintain balance, and improve flexibility and strength.

The size of the Yoga Ball that you can use generally depends on your height. Choose the Yoga Ball that lets you to sit down on it with your feet flat on the floor and with knees bent at a 90-degree angle.

Get more out of your Yoga sessions by using a Yoga Ball. It is an effective and versatile tool that will turn Yoga into a more effective and fun activity that can be done by people of all ages.

YOGA CLOTHING:

Yoga Apparel can provide maximum comfort and ease of movement. It should also be able to absorb sweat so you won't feel sticky and uncomfortable during your practice.

The practice of Yoga entails doing various types of body positions, ranging from subtle poses to more complicated ones. That’s why it is necessary to consider the kind of clothing to wear during Yoga practice so that you can get the most out of it. Here are a few things you may want to consider in choosing what to wear to your Yoga class: 

                                                

The main thing to consider is comfort. Your clothes should allow you to move freely. Otherwise they can obstruct the circulation of blood in your body. Try wearing loose clothing or clothes made of elastic materials like spandex. Aside from Yoga, you can also use this kind of clothing during your Meditation practice.

Consider wearing shorts. This way, you can see if you knees ankles and feet are properly aligned when performing Asanas.

For women, wearing a sports bra is recommended.

Traditionally, Yoga is performed on bare feet. However, for hygienic reasons, some prefer to practice Yoga in socks or shoes. This is acceptable for some Yoga instructors but not for others. So make sure to check up on this with your instructor before class begins.

Sweat absorption is another factor that you should look for in your Yoga clothing. A good idea is to wear shirts made of organic cotton, since they absorb sweat easily and also allows for maximum comfort and breathability.

Before heading to yoga class, put on your outfit and try out a few poses in them. See if it allows you to move freely. Make any necessary adjustments or changes.

How you look in your clothes is also important. Knowing that you look good in your clothes will make you feel more positive about yourself, and a positive outlook can help you succeed in Yoga.

Refrain from wearing jewelry during Yoga practice.

These are just some tips to help you choose the right set of clothing for your yoga practice. Follow them and you’re on your way to getting the full benefits of your Yoga practice. And a constant practice of Yoga will lead you to a healthier and more meaningful life.

There are many tools, props, and pieces of equipment designed for Yoga, Meditation, and other related practices. In general, it is a matter of preference or need. Use only the tools or props that are suitable to the Yoga Poses that you do.