| Some people are attracted to yoga because it seems | | | | covers almost an entire standard yoga mat. The side |
| simple, low cost, and can be done anywhere without | | | | of the towel that contacts the mat has little plastic or |
| the purchase of expensive equipment. While that is | | | | rubber grippers that hold the towel, and therefore |
| true, there are some props and accessories that you | | | | hopefully you, in place. Towels have a couple of |
| can use to make you more comfortable or safer, | | | | drawbacks, at least initially. First, until they are washed |
| allow you to relax more deeply, or allow you to move | | | | a few times they can still let your hands and feet slip. |
| in a way that you cannot naturally due to flexibility | | | | To avoid this, you may want to spray or sprinkle |
| challenges, thereby making your practice more | | | | water onto your towel which will cause your hands |
| effective. Some accessories are virtually mandatory | | | | and feet to stick due to friction. In a hot class, the |
| while others are purely matters of the taste or desire | | | | perspiration will eventually perform this task! In addition, |
| of the yoga practitioner. | | | | until you are used to the towel being there, you may |
| Clothing should be comfortable and allow you to move | | | | "trip" over it a little when moving from pose to pose. |
| freely. You don't want your clothes to be too tight and | | | | Once you get used to the towel, however, it is almost |
| inhibit movement and stretch, but neither do you want it | | | | impossible to think of taking anything but a slow, |
| too loose so that it rides up at inopportune moments. | | | | restorative or serenity class without the towel to keep |
| Plus, closer fitting clothing will allow your instructor, if | | | | you from slipping and absorb perspiration. A final note |
| you are taking a class or personal training session, to | | | | on yoga towels, when you wash them don't use fabric |
| more closely observe your poses and offer | | | | softener; it can make them slick when next you use |
| suggestions for improvement or modification. If you | | | | them. |
| have longer hair, you likely will want to tie it back or | | | | One of the most common accessories or "props" |
| use a "scrunchy" so that it doesn't fly all around or | | | | used in yoga is the block. Blocks can be made of |
| drop into your face and block your vision. You don't | | | | foam, cork, wood, or other substance. Most are |
| want the perfect pose to be interrupted by having to | | | | approximately 9"x5"x3". You can use blocks as an |
| shake your head around to clear your hair out of the | | | | extension of your body to gain more benefit from |
| way. | | | | poses. For example, in a wide legged forward bend, |
| You can practice yoga on almost any surface like | | | | your instructor might suggest that you rest your head |
| grass, the beach, or carpet. However, if these are | | | | on the floor. For me, that result is a long ways away. |
| uncomfortable to you or if you are practicing on a | | | | But I can rest my head on top of a block and get the |
| bare or wood floor or frictionless surface, you will | | | | same relaxation response and relief of pressure in my |
| want to use a yoga or "sticky" mat. The mats are | | | | neck. In doing downward facing dog, you may not at |
| called "sticky" because they provide a certain friction | | | | first be able to get your heals down and stretch your |
| to avoid sliding around. The mat will allow proper | | | | seat bones to the sky to get length in the spine while |
| placement of hands and feet without slippage out of | | | | your hands are flat on the floor. Put your hands on top |
| the poses. In addition, mats can provide protection and | | | | of a block and you may achieve all of this. It might not |
| cushioning for your knees, hips, and lower back. Yoga | | | | be possible to do a revolved triangle with your hand on |
| mats are made in various sizes, normal or wide width, | | | | the floor, but put your hand on a block instead and you |
| normal or long length, and even various shapes, | | | | may get there. Using a block as an aid can allow you |
| rectangle being the most usual but also including round. | | | | to get better alignment, stretch tight areas, and avoid |
| Different thicknesses are also available, adding more | | | | unnecessary strain. |
| or less cushion but also adding more weight as the | | | | Other props that can increase the effectiveness of |
| mat gets thicker--which can be bothersome if you | | | | your practice include blankets, straps, bolsters, |
| have to carry your mat to and from class. | | | | sandbags, eye pillows, and meditation cushions. In our |
| If you are new to yoga, are taking a vigorous power | | | | capitalist society, manufacturers are constantly coming |
| or ashtanga class, or just sweat a lot, your yoga mat | | | | up with new accessories to try to sell you, like |
| may get slippery from dripping perspiration. The solution | | | | backbending benches, calf stretchers, yoga ropes, and |
| may be to use specially made yoga socks and yoga | | | | more. Some of these accessories, like one |
| "gloves." These cover your feet and hands and may | | | | backbending bench I've seen, can cost up to $750. But |
| cover fingers and toes or may be open to allow | | | | adding a few useful, fairly inexpensive accessories like |
| fingers and toes to protrude out through holes. They | | | | well-fitting clothing, a good mat, a non-skid towel, and a |
| have special non-stick pads so that your hands and | | | | block or two can enhance your practice without a lot |
| feet don't slip. Although they are becoming more | | | | of expense. While using some props if you don't really |
| popular, I find them too hot, especially in very vigorous | | | | need them can dull your practice, using accessories |
| classes. Another solution to slippage is a skidless yoga | | | | and props appropriately can make your practice more |
| towel. They come in various sizes from a small towel | | | | comfortable and effective. |
| about the size of a face towel to a large towel that | | | | |