The Yoga rules

By Aazdak Alisimo

What's the best thing about yoga? It can have an amazing impact on your physical and mental well being, but won't cost you an arm and a leg to get going.

The first thing that you will need to purchase before attending any class is a yoga mat. There are many different types of yoga equipment that you will come across when searching for your mat ... just make sure you find one that is comfortable for you. There are extra thick mats, yoga towels, extra long yoga mats, yoga rugs, cotton mats and covers, mat rolls, mat blankets, yoga blankets, mat bags, and aero mats. More often than not, you can find some great mats that are not too expensive. Next, look to your wardrobe to find some great yoga gear.

For the most part, you really don't have to buy any type of special clothing for your yoga course. Still, if you want to be super comfortable, you can check out Malaika Padma cotton shorts, women's yoga shorts and pants, women's t-shirts, and men's yoga clothing. Essentially, you want to make sure that your clothes are loose and comfortable, so skip the restrictive clothing. Finally, you should become acquainted with the follow props, though you won't have to purchase all of them right away.

You can buy yoga blocks, straps, bolsters, balls, sandbags, zabutons, wedges, wood blocks, and zafus to help your poses, though not all yoga types will require these props. If you intend on joining a yoga class at a local gym or yoga center, you'll find that most of these courses provide certain types of yoga equipment and props for you to use. Really, all you will need to bring is your mat and yourself.

The great thing about yoga is that you can practice your poses nearly anywhere. Once you figure out the basic movements (along with the type of yoga that you want to work on), you can really just plop yourself down on any surface and get to work. Of course, if you have the right props and accessories your body will suffer less, but this is entirely up to you.

The most important thing to think about when you are shopping for various types of yoga equipment is to find items that are comfortable, easy to use, and portable. You'll find that simply signing up for a yoga class will help you on your way to figuring out which items you really need. Yoga is for everyone, so don't worry if you don't have everything mentioned above.

Aazdak Alisimo writes about yoga supplies for YogaEquipmentSupplies.com