... your head down, or in any other posture where you may slip due to using inappropriate clothes. Shoes are not required as yoga is usually done barefoot. This is great news for those used to sitting or standing for long periods of time, which can cause feet to swell. Consequently, without the need for shoes, it can make things much more comfortable for them.

As part of the exercises are done sitting down, in yoga studios, mats are used. These are called sticky mats which also help to define the personal space of each student, but more importantly, create traction for both the hands and feet.

Optional Equipment

Other yoga equipment consists of blankets, yoga blocks, yoga balls and straps. blankets can be used in certain positions to elevate a part of the body or to achieve a particular position if students cannot do this by themselves. They may also be used purely to make the position more comfortable and to allow students to maintain it for a longer period of time. Yoga blocks are used to align the body properly, for example where the students hand can't touch the floor. Straps are especially designed for maintaining a pose or to stretch muscles more effectively. They are used in poses where you are unable to reach or hold a position for more then a few seconds.

Other Things to Consider

In addition to the yoga equipment necessary in class, you can ...more

Facts on Yoga

...Yoga has become an increasingly popular form of exercise and meditation the last several years. Many people look at yoga as just that, though. But yoga encompasses more than simply exercise and meditation. This article will "enlighten" you to some facts about yoga.

Yoga started out in the East as a spiritual practice focusing on meditation, but in the West it is normally seen as a physical practice, for the benefit of staying healthy and in shape. Hatha yoga is the variation of yoga that describes exercise. It is estimated that around sixteen million north Americans practice this form of yoga. These yoga classes focus on breathing exercises, physical exercises and meditation, which are especially beneficial for people with back, heart, or breathing problems.

In studies, yoga has helped young and old people alike who have heart proble...more

beginning Yoga Breathing - All You Need To Know

...In yoga, breathing is everything. Breathing is more than just an intake of oxygen. It is also a way of cleansing the body and restoring equilibrium. But, in order to gain high quality results from the breathing that you do, you must do them correctly. There is no quick way to learn the right technique, but here are a few pointers to bear in mind while starting out with yoga breathing.

Kapalabhati- basic yoga breathing. In this met...more

Hurricane Power Outages and Yoga

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During the 2005 atlantic tropical hurricane season many people who failed to listen to authorities and a evacuate as required to do so by law found themselves stuck for three to four weeks without power or water. Many of those people who live in the hurricane area know this can happen and they stock up on foo...more

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