...g the asanas and your body temperature heats up. In some types of yoga, such as bikram, shorts are really a necessity because of the level of heat in the room.

Although yoga is usually practiced barefoot, some people wear cotton socks or soft yoga shoes.

Mat
Yoga mats are typically used during practice, especially in a class. They offer some padding so you are not lying or sitting directly on a hard floor. They also provide some level of sanitation, since a number of postures require you to put your head on the floor.

A mat also gives you traction during your poses. When your body heats up, you have a tendency to sweat, which could cause you to slip if you were directly on a floor. The mat helps minimize potential slipping and can add to the safety of your practice. There are a variety of different mats you can use.

Optional Yoga Accessories

Yoga Mat Bag
It helps you carry your yoga mat to and ...more

Yoga for Life

...No matter what your current level of fitness; you can do, and you can benefit from, yoga.

You dont need to renounce your religion, be able to tie yourself in knots or hold your breath for ten minutes. All you need is a desire to improve your physical and mental health and a good guru to guide you.

The word guru is the combination of two Sanskrit words: gu meaning darkness; and ru meaning light. Enjoy this journey from the darkness to the light.

Yoga is a wonderful and relaxing way to lower your stress, increase strength, balance, flexibility, endurance and ability to concentrate.

People who practice yoga can retain full range of motion and excellent balance into their 90s and beyond. I cant stress enough how valuable that is to quality of life.

To give you some idea, think of all the falls not taken, backs not wrenched and ankles not sprained or broken. With good range of motion and the balance to adjust to lifes little missteps, you are less likely to fall and, even if you do, you are less likely to suffer serious injury.

When anyone asks me how to come back to exercise after an injury or depression or many years as a couch potato, I recommend they begin walking and sign up for a beginners yoga class.

When a fit exerciser hits a plateau and asks me wha...more

teaching Hatha Yoga - What Do Hatha Yoga Students Want?

...At this point in time, Yoga has gone "global." Most Yoga students, outside of India, have heard of three of the nine main types of Yoga; the most commonly known are Hatha, raja (Ashtanga), and Kundalini Yoga. Of these three, Hatha Yoga, and its many sub-styles, have received the most publicity.

In general, the public perception of Yoga is classified as a "mind and body exercise." When you ask the average person what that means, he or she will respond by saying, "Some sort of exercise." Hence, the reason why Yoga can be found in many health clubs is that Yoga becomes an exercise class, which is categorized with Tai Chi and Pilates.

With that said, beginner students, with little knowledge of Yoga, have the perception they are entering an exercise class. Their reasons for coming to...more

Beginner's Yoga Guide: Take Asana step By step

...hana and Padmasana that are easier to follow. After first few classes you might be directed to do yoga postures of crouching and stooping.

Beginner's yoga movements are aimed at enhancing body flexibility. Once you get the required flexibility and tolerance, you can go for complex or difficult yogic practices.

In beginner's yoga sessions you also get to know basic body balance postures. There could be various other basic positions ranging from standing poses to various bending and sitting positions.

Once you are through with the first week of yoga classes, you are accorded with a little higher level of exerci...more

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