The Yoga rules

By Jeffrey Meier

Yoga

Yoga is a great exercise for our minds and our bodies. It helps to teach our bodies how to relax. It helps us to develop strength and flexibility. Plus, it tones and tightens our muscles. Yet, to practice this ancient art as effectively as we would like there are some must have yoga accessories we all should have.

First, begin with a good mat.

A yoga mat is considered an essential part of most people's yoga routine. It helps to make sure we do not slip. If we slip, we don't just loose our pose, we may injure ourselves. A yoga mat can also help us to achieve the stability to not only hold a pose longer, but to deepen it.

A good yoga mat is one that is:

Nonslip

Lightweight

Washable

One that provides transaction

Comfortable for standing or lying

It doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, you can find a quality mat for fewer than twenty dollars. Plus, they come in every color imaginable.

Yoga straps or belts

Yoga straps or belts are used to help us to reach our limbs. Yoga practices of all levels find these beneficial.

When searching for a good belt or strap looks for one that is:

Made from high quality fabrics
A width of at least 1.5"

These come in a variety of colors and fabrics

Yoga balls

You have seen these balls everywhere. They help a person practicing yoga or dance moves to create many more poses and stretches. They are especially beneficial in such poses as: back bends, hip openers and restorative poses.

A good yoga ball is one that is:

Easy to inflate

Durable

Made from anti burst material

Textured, slip free surface

Able to hold several hundred pounds of pressure

Size of the ball should be based on the height of the individual. A person who is under 5'6" should use a 55 cm size yoga ball, a person who is between 5'6" and 6' should use a 65 cm size yoga ball and a person is over 6' should use a 75 cm sized yoga ball.

Yoga blocks

Yoga blocks come in many different sizes and designs. They are used as a way to help a person with support and extensions on various poses and yoga movements. They can be placed under ones hips, hands, heels or between one's hands.

When buying these yoga blocks, you should make sure they all are:

Durable

Lightweight

Soft

Scratch resistant

Yoga wedges

These are used as yoga blocks are, to help one achieve a boost while performing a deeper stretch. Works great when performing the downward dog by placing under one's heels.

Yoga sandbags

Similar to punching bags. These bags are filled with sand, beans, rice or grains. Generally, they will hold about 10 pounds.

There are some yoga accessories that are being bough ten that aren't particular used during the practice of yoga, yet make the yoga experience or life in general much more peaceful, rewarding and make the user feel more special by owning. Here is an example of some of these types of yoga accessories.

The yoga neck pillow

This is used for relaxation or mediation purposes. Generally these are covered in silk covers that are removable and feel luxurious to touch.

Sometimes you will find these filled with such items as unscented organic buckwheat or wonderfully scented lavender.

Eye Pillows

These are used to help one's sleep. They are used to help block out light and to relax one. Generally, you will find the covers made from glorious silk. The pillow itself can be filled with flax seed and then an array or herbs used for relaxing purposes such as lavender or rose scents.

Mat towels

These are placed right on your yoga mat. What is their purpose? They are used for when you are working out hard and you are sweating. They are used to soak up your sweat, keeping your mat firmly in place and help keep your pose straight and poised.

Aluminum Water Bottle

The green way to stay hydrated. Leave those old plastic bottles at the store. Fill your own aluminum water bottle up at home, bring it along. Save the planet and give your body the water it deserves and needs.

Fashionable mesh bags

You will need one of these to carry your gear, if you are planning on taking a yoga class or practicing outside in the sun.

Yoga is a great benefit for your body and mind. Must have yoga accessories, makes your yoga practicing more enjoyable.

Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.Jam727.com offers information articles on a wide variety of subjects including Yoga at http://www.jam727.com/yoga2/index.php