Hot Yoga

Yoga is a balanced discipline of exercises. It provides flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular conditioning. This millenary practice has revolutionized the world of exercises by developing attention on breathing and the integration of body, mind, and spirit guiding people to experience states of tranquility and emotional control through meditation and breathing exercises.

The yoga paths are diverse and can be adjusted to the needs of each person. There are those who seek practice yoga to lose weight, maintain the figure, gain flexibility, stimulate the senses, control thoughts or create awareness in movements. Any intention is valid.

Currently, new yoga techniques have been implemented, such as Hot Yoga. Yoga practice can be performed in saunas or hot baths—where you can incorporate aromatherapy sections, baths with sea salts and even massage treatments—since this is a hot steam therapy that seeks to enhance the healing effects of heat with average temperatures of 40ºC to 60ºC combining dry heat and moist heat. Hot yoga is mainly based on performing sequences of basic asanas with permanence and repetition that stimulate both sides of the body and concentration, as well as breathing exercises or pranayama.

Recommended Basic Asanas:

  • Twisting positions
  • Standing postures
  • Balance postures
  • Floor posture
  • Bending forward postures
  • Breast opening postures
  • Practice relaxation

Note: Refrain from making investments to prevent injuries or accidents.

Pranayama Exercises:

  • Kapalabhati Pranayama – Purifying Breathing or Fire Breathing
  • Anulom Viloma- Alternate Breathing
  • Complete Yogic Respiration

The heat enhances the practice of yoga by deepening the purification of the body and allowing the healing functions of each posture to be experienced, as this therapy contributes to the release of toxins, oxygenation of the cells, and strengthening of the muscles and joints. It also induces people to maintain control of vital energy and thoughts by providing optimal functioning internal organs and metabolism with proper breathing.

Benefits:

  • Contribute to weight loss
  • Regenerate the tissues, tendons, ligaments, joints, muscles of the body
  • Purify the body and mind
  • Align the body’s energy centers
  • Stimulate blood circulation
  • Encourage self-control
  • Decrease anxiety and stress
  • Combat the aging of the body
  • Reduce depressive states.

Recommendations:

  • Consult with your trusted doctor before performing this practice
  • If you have blood pressure abstain from practicing this type of yoga
  • If you suffer from heart or circulation problems, do not practice this practice In the case of women, they must protect themselves when they are in their menstrual period
  • Start with a short, hot yoga session
  • Respect the conditions of your body
  • Maintain a serene mental state.
  • Dress well in comfortable yoga leggings (find good options here).

In this way, you can see that there are various representations to understand the concept of yoga. Its content is universal, and the practice guides the mindfulness and holistic well-being of developing the awareness of our actions to create union and discernment with ourselves and in coexistence with the world.

“Your body is a precious gift. It is the vehicle towards awakening.

Treat him with love”.

-Siddharta Guatama

Thе Purроѕе оf Yoga- Chооѕіng a Yоgа Teacher аnd a Yоgа Sсhооl

 

Chооѕіng the rіght Yоgа tеасhеr, and a соmраtіblе Yоgа ѕtуlе, іѕ mоrе complicated than mоѕt реорlе rеаlіzе. Most Yoga ѕtudеntѕ should fіrѕt rеѕеаrсh the many Yоgа styles аvаіlаblе іn their lосаl аrеа tо determine which wіll best ѕuіt their needs.

Thеrе are many to сhооѕе frоm whеn уоu соnѕіdеr thеrе аrе nіnе mаіn Yoga ѕtуlеѕ frоm India. Thеѕе nіnе main ѕtуlеѕ are: Bhаktі, Rаjа, Karma, Jnаnа, Hatha, Kundаlіnі, Tantra, Yаntrа, аnd Mаntrа Yоgа. Eасh оf thеѕе Yoga styles place dіffеrеnt еmрhаѕіѕ оn thе mеthоdѕ for unіоn оf mіnd, bоdу, еmоtіоn, аnd spirit. Thеrе аrе also mаnу hundrеdѕ оf sub-styles оf thеѕе forms of Yоgа.

Outѕіdе оf Indіа, Hatha Yоgа, and its mаnу sub-styles, іѕ most соmmоnlу ѕееn. Wіth аll оf thіѕ іn mind, researching thе prospective ѕtуlе іѕ vеrу іmроrtаnt. Yоu should lеаrn аnd compare lосаl ѕtуlеѕ of Yoga whісh are available tо уоu.

Thеn уоu should consider which оf the fоllоwіng is thе mоѕt important hеаlth аѕресt – Is іt mental, рhуѕісаl, еmоtіоnаl, ѕріrіtuаl health, оr a соmbіnаtіоn of thеm? оf us hаvе the ѕаmе nееdѕ.

Fоr example: If уоu аrе іn search оf rеlіеf frоm stress, уоu mіght nоt be lооkіng for “Boot Cаmр Yoga,” complete with a “drill ѕеrgеаnt” tо bаrk оut соmmаndѕ аnd insults for уоu to “ѕhаре up оr ship оut.” Yеt, some people love Yоgа bооt саmрѕ fоr thе feelings оf ассоmрlіѕhmеnt аnd еmроwеrmеnt, which carry оvеr іntо еvеrуdау lіfе.

Wіth thаt ѕаіd, іf уоu аrе lооkіng fоr a “Yоgа workout” a сlаѕѕ thаt fосuѕеѕ оn mеdіtаtіоn mау nоt ѕuіt уоur nееdѕ. The mаnу bеnеfіtѕ of mеdіtаtіоn cannot be rеаlіzеd bу a сlоѕеd mіnd. Yоu cannot fоrсе yourself to meditate аnd nеіthеr саn уоur Yоgа tеасhеr.

You саn, at lеаѕt, trу tо mеdіtаtе, but if уоu аrе nоt rесерtіvе tо іt, уоu may bе bеѕt tо trу a рhуѕісаl ѕtуlе оr tаkе a Pіlаtеѕ сlаѕѕ. This is nоt mеаnt to ѕреаk іll оf physical ѕtуlеѕ оr Pilates, but іt brіngѕ tо mіnd a saying – “Yоu саn’t tеасh a pig tо sing. It’ѕ a waste оf time and іt аnnоуѕ thе ріg.” So, whу bоthеr wаѕtіng tіmе? Fіnd a Yoga style which fulfіllѕ уоur nееdѕ, аnd enjoy уоur lіfе.

If уоu аrе searching for a Yоgа еxеrсіѕе сlаѕѕ, Hatha ѕtуlеѕ, such as Bіkrаm, Vіnуаѕа, Pоwеr, аnd Hot Yоgа, may bе juѕt whаt you аrе lооkіng for. Ashtanga іѕ аlѕо рhуѕісаllу challenging, however, Ashtanga is thе Sаnѕkrіt wоrd for “еіght lіmbѕ,” аnd іѕ a fоrm оf Yоgа dеѕсrіbеd bу Patanjali, іn his Yoga Sutrаѕ. Aѕhtаngа is sometimes called, “Rаjа” Yоgа, whісh іѕ one of the nіnе mаіn Indіаn Yоgа ѕtуlеѕ.

 

 

Nоw – lеt’ѕ ѕау you аrе middle aged or older – have been іnасtіvе for a while -possibly have ѕоmе рhуѕісаl lіmіtаtіоnѕ – аnd уоu аrе searching fоr a Yоgа ѕtуlе tо hеlр you gеt thе most out оf lіfе. In this case, thе gеntlеr Hаthа Yоgа ѕub- ѕtуlеѕ, ѕuсh аѕ Rеѕtоrаtіvе, Iуеngаr, Kripalu, аnd Chаіr Yоgа, wіll help уоu аgе more grасеfullу.

Lаѕtlу, thеrе is a fоrm оf Yoga for еvеrуоnе оf any аgе, but уоu wаnt tо rеѕеаrсh, еduсаtе yourself, try іt оut, and fіnd the Yоgа teacher whо is ѕuіtаblе fоr you.

Yoga and Minimalism

Some trends naturally go together, their philosophies meld to complement and enhance each other. Yoga and Minimalism fit together perfectly like that, with many people who practice one of them, naturally adopting the other as well. In this article, we’re going to have a look at Minimalism to try to determine why it seems to fit so well with the yoga lifestyle. 

What Is Minimalism? 

There has been a lot of online fuss about it lately – about people who sell everything and live out of a suitcase – this is Minimalism. But, a woman who decorates her home with gorgeous and thoughtful pieces that are meaningful and carefully considered, is also practicing Minimalism. 

Minimalism is about stopping careless consumerism and looking for deeper answers to the needs that drive the spending of so many people these days. It’s about deciding what’s important and ridding your life of what’s not; so that the important thing can shine. It’s about the value of experiences over stuff. It means that everyone’s Minimalism will look different, but they’re all equally valid. It also means that anyone who tries to judge another person’s minimalist path is missing the whole point of the exercise. 

How To Practice Minimalism

Everyone’s path is different. Some people throw out all of their belongings in a day, while for others, it is a long process that may never be completed. Both of these approaches are equally valid. What is important is the journey. It is a learning to value what is really important and letting go of what’s not, and it applies to every aspect of your life, not just with the things you own and the things you continue to buy. Often, people who practice Minimalism do so in regards to their health, surroundings, belongings, finances, and relationships, slowly freeing themselves from everything harmful, worthless, or lacking in meaning. 

Yoga And Minimalism




At its heart, yoga is a simple practice, and that is perhaps why people who practice Minimalism, often turn to its teachings. Despite the apparent explosion of yoga styles, accessories, and poses, yoga is really about moving your body in a way that feels very natural. It also encourages to focus on awareness, control, and self-knowledge that fits well with minimalist goals and beliefs. 

You don’t need anything to do yoga, not even really a mat if your floor isn’t slippery. It is the ultimate minimalist form of exercise in that way. Also, it develops functional muscles – the muscles we need to move freely, rather than the muscles that just bulge and make you move stiffly. For these reasons and more, yoga seems like a perfect minimalist form of exercise. It can be a valuable tool as you travel down the path of Minimalism, both to train the body and the mind, to adapt to changing situations and beliefs. 

Yoga encourages a return to the self, a concentration on core values and beliefs, rather than on external elements. These ideas fit well with the central ideas of Minimalism, which is why many yoga practitioners find themselves on the path of Minimalism without even realizing it. Even if you don’t want to get rid of all of your “stuff,” just paring down the amount of stuff you buy or keep with you, can put you in line with the central tenets of both these ways of living.

Books to Add to Your Mus Read List

Books are one of the easiest and most accessible ways to expand your knowledge on a particular subject and to dive deeper into something that you’re interested in, especially when it comes to yoga, spirituality, or deepening your connection to self and others through self-help. They have the ability to transport us into the mind of the author and really explore yoga, meditation, spirituality, or other subject matter through their eyes and with their own experiences as the guide. There is a wealth of knowledge out there and new books in the field coming out every day, but time is a limited resource for most of us and it can get overwhelming just trying to find the next book to read. 

This list is some of the most impactful books that I’ve come across in the last couple of years and a great place to start on your search for books to add to your must-read list.

The Universe Has Your Back

The most recent book by Gabby Bernstein, The Universe Has Your Back follows in her style of offering guidance, inspiring messages, heart touching stories, and healing meditations and techniques to aid you with whatever you might be currently be working through. The book is broken down into chapters, each taking you deeper into her message that the universe truly does have your back and wants you to succeed. Her take away through much of her work is that we must transform the energy of fear into an energy of love and faith so that we can achieve all of our goals in life and be the most authentic version of ourselves. Gabby herself is a student of the Course of the Miracles and introduces a lot of those topics throughout the book as well. Gabby has a way of connecting with the reader through her raw and real stories of doubt, fear, and sadness so the audience does not feel preached at, but rather understood and guided along with acceptance.  

The Book of Joy

This book was an instant New York Times Bestseller for a reason and, in my opinion, it’s a must-read for anyone. The book chronicles the meeting of the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in April 2015 when they were brought together in the Dalai Lama’s home in Dharamsala, India. The two have been friends for years despite their religious differences and collaborated on a discussion with the intent to create this book. They both have witnessed and suffered from so much tragedy in their lives. However, they are both light-hearted, joyful and full of gratitude. The book dives into every aspect of joy and is full of so much insight, inspiration, and takeaways to help you realize just how accessible joy is for each and every one of us.  

Meditations from the Mat 

This book, Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates includes 365 reflections and insights from his own personal explorations and lessons on and off the mat. These easy to read reflections are each only a page or two and are the perfect ritual to include before your meditation or yoga practice each day or enjoyed on their own each morning before you begin your day. You can either go in the order of the book and discover each lesson day by day, or you could read the pages at random by each day opening the book to a new page and reflecting on that story or quote or insight. Meditation teachers and yoga teachers might especially benefit from this book and can begin to bring the reflections and insights they learn into their classes to share with the public.

The Chakras – Overview

In Sanskrit, the word chakra literally means wheel or disk. In the art of ancient Ayurveda teachings, the chakras are seven energy wheels that exist throughout the body. These swirling wheels of energy or prana (life force) align the spine, starting at the bottom of the tail bone and ending at the crown of the head. When the chakras are open, unblocked and spin freely, we feel healthy, vibrant and happy. 

Each chakra relates to a vital nerve center in the body. It contains essential nerves and major organs, as well as our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. It is necessary for us to keep our chakras open and flow freely so that we, in turn, are free and live in a state of flow. To do this, we have to realize the connection between specific physical ailments and the chakra it relates too. For example, if you are keeping silent about something you disagree with, you may develop a sore throat or lose your voice. Recognizing the connection will help you to heal faster, physically and emotionally.

Chakra Overview

  • Muladhara: The Root Chakra

The first chakra situated at the base of the spine and has a red color. This chakra is about stability, security and encompasses our basic needs. It relates to our very deepest fears, and when it is open, we feel fearless and safe.

  • Svadhisthana: The Creativity Chakra

Orange in color, this chakra acts as our sexual and creative cent. It is located just below the belly button and is responsible for our creative expression. 

  • Manipura: The Solar Plexus Chakra

Located from the navel to the breastbone, and is yellow. Manipura is our source of personal power and self-esteem. When open, we feel self-confident and purposeful. 

  • Anahata: The Heart Chakra

The green heart chakra unites the first three chakras of physicality and the upper chakras of spirituality. Anahata is the bridge between our minds, bodies, and spirits. 

  • Vishuddha: The Throat Chakra

It is our source of verbal expressions. It is blue in color and situated in our throat. This chakra relates to our ability to speak our truth.

  • Ajna: The Third-Eye Chakra

Ajna is our intuition. It sees the truth in all situations, perhaps even before we realize it. Intuition is something that exists in all living beings, including humanity. When we focus on Ajna, we can learn to heed its warnings and listen effectively. 

  • Sahasrara: The Crown Charka

Also known as the lotus, the final chakra is centered at the crown of the head. It serves as our connection to the spiritual world to something bigger than ourselves. 

We are in a constant flux between balanced and unbalanced chakras, similar to trying to hold tree pose in a sweaty yoga class when your foot keeps slipping down your yoga pants. By better understanding our chakras, we can relate this balance, first to our bodies, then to our mindset and our lives. Ultimately the chakras show us that there is no separation between body, mind, and life and that which exists in one, will also be present in the others. This kind of perspective protects us from situations that will affect our wellbeing and teaches us how to live in harmony with the environment around us.

Four Tips for Incorporating Meditation into Your Yoga Practice

Meditation is an age-old tradition that helps yogis to connect with their deepest and truest selves. Many use it as a way to tap into the energy of the universe or to hear from a divine source of inspiration. With all the history and rich tradition surrounding meditation, it makes sense to bring some of those elements into a regular yoga practice.

For yogis who are interested in bringing some of the endless benefits of meditation into their daily lives, incorporating it into a well-established yoga practice is an easy starting point. Consider these four helpful tips to get started.

Set an Intention at the Beginning of Your Practice

Setting an intention early on in your daily practice is a simple way of adding meditation to your routine. Take a moment to sit quietly and allow your heart to confess to you what it needs more of on this particular day. Quietly reflect on what your intention means, repeating it to yourself as you sit upright and comfortably. Setting an intention is great for both allowing your practice to influence your daily life and for finding a simple starting place for meditation.

Check In With How Your Body Feels

One of the biggest elements of meditation is the simple practice of mindfulness. Take a break at several points throughout your yoga practice to check in with how the body feels. As you sit comfortably for just a few breaths between poses, you may find that your body needs something more than what you’re currently offering.

Be mindful of any areas where you may be experiencing tension or stress. Redirect the breath into these tight areas before moving on with the rest of your sequence. You may decide to reevaluate the practice you had planned to better nourish and care for your body’s needs.

Focus On a Particular Chant

Yogis who have trouble keeping their mind focused during meditation may want to attempt a chant instead. Repeating a certain word or phrase over and over again can force the mind into focusing only on that sound. Consider selecting a word that is related to your intention such as gratitude, compassion, or joy.

Alternatively, you may simply want to note the breath during your chant. Verbalize each inhale and exhale to keep your mind on the breath. This can be particularly useful for assisting yogis with moving with the breath throughout the rest of the practice.

Practice Progressive Relaxation in Your Savasana

Checking in with how the body feels throughout the practice gives you a simple way to know just which areas could use a little more relaxation. As you lay down in your final resting pose, practice mindful and progressive relaxation as part of your meditation practice. Relax each part of your body slowly, starting with the head and moving towards the feet. This allows you to not only be mindful of how the body feels but to relax even deeper to receive the benefits of your practice.

For All Who Love Tea

I am obsessed with drinking tea especially green tea. And matcha might just be my new favorite thing.

Matcha means “powdered tea” and you’re literally drinking the leaves, rather than an infusion of them.

Here are some facts about matcha:

It is nutrient richer than regular green tea. As mentioned before, you ingest tea leaves in full, rather than an infusion of them.

It contains small amounts of vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants polyphenols, which are tied to the prevention of heart diseases and cancer.

It boosts blood sugar regulation.

It leads to blood pressure reduction.

It lowers inflammation, leading to more limber cells which age more slowly. Because of it, they also work preventively from various diseases.

It also boosts the metabolism.

Matcha is known to create an “alert calm” as it contains caffeine, but also the natural substance l-theanine which induces relaxation.

The effects I get from matcha tea is more hours of clear thinking without getting fidgety or overly sleepy. Both of which I would get whenever drinking coffee.

Matcha has a tradition of being tightly connected to meditation. It helps you to calm down, but also get in the moment. But there are everyday situations, which outright call for matcha – such as deadlines at work, stress situations, preparing or taking an exam. All those situations that take a toll on our mental ability to keep calm and in turn on our bodies. Good things come in pairs, so it might be a good time to start switching coffee breaks for matcha breaks with a minute or two of meditation. See and note the results it brings.

Also, if you’re looking to cut down some weight but the thought of a sweaty gym traumatizes you, here is a combination that you might enjoy immensely and see powerful results from it. Research on matcha has shown that it reduces cortisol which is the stress hormone increasing your appetite and in turn also belly fat. You’ll not only be able to handle tough situations more calmly, but you’ll also tend to eat less impulsively.

However, with all the benefits said, stay mindful that not every matcha is the real deal. Make sure to check the labels for exact ingredients and avoid those that contain sugars. Before you get overly excited, I would recommend trying it at a coffee shop or from a friend that you trust, as it can be costly.

The good thing is that you should and hopefully would not need more than one cup daily, as it is much stronger then steeped tea. Some might even oppose its health benefits because green tea is known to absorb high quantities of lead. But with steeped tea, 90% of them stays in the leaves themselves, which are discarded regardless. With matcha, most of the tea stay and you ingest them.

Other Uses of Matcha

Matcha can also be used as an ingredient in different types of dishes, but as with any other superfood, it is safest to enjoy it in moderation.

Another remark I would emphasize is to make sure that the water is not boiled, but rather a couple of degrees less as you don’t want to overheat the nutrients which would then lose the intensity of their health potentials.

As the summer is in full swing, you could even make these mouthwatering matcha popsicles that will not only cool you down but boost you up also. They are perfect for the afternoon affairs when your sugar levels usually start to drop.

Here’s a Simple Recipe 
Prepare your matcha as you would usually do. When cooled, add some mashed up fresh fruit like peaches, pineapple, berries, or whatever you might find suiting. Pour them in cups, but don’t forget to add a holding stick on top and freeze.

Enjoy and let matcha inspire your new ventures.

An Overview of Yoga Retreats around You

Yoga is nothing but a series of different asana, postures, and positions. Yoga should have a place that is naturally rich and has biodiversity. In yoga training centers around your local area, there are many retreats that are famous for different styles. If you are considering retreat benefits, then retreats are always a good way to start the yoga practice. If anyone doesn’t have experience in Yoga, then Yoga Retreat places are the best way to start from zero. Retreat’s organizers don’t need any yoga experience. People who plan for Yoga trips may be young/old or flexible/stiff. Yoga retreat’s teachers will give you the best chance to get away from our office and work tensions and give time to spend to take care of yourself.

Few of the famous retreats for Yoga practice, in general, available are as below:

Holistic Retreats

It is personal yoga retreat that organizes yoga trips of a week. It is helpful for personal growth. All yoga practice has been conducting in the natural environment. Teachers of this retreat are internationally renowned. They take you through a personal journey of transformation of body and mind with the help of yoga.

Trips Highlights

There are up to 10 yoga classes

Lunch vouchers also provided.

You can also get semi-private yoga classes as well.

Ayurvedic treatment vouchers.

Lavish spa treatment vouchers

Complimentary breakfast coupons

After Yoga classes, the remaining time of day is free to visit nearby places

Accommodation is, of course, available.

Revitalizing Retreats

This retreat is famous for stress relief. Many centers provide stress release packages. These packages offer yoga, meditations, and spa treatment.

Along with these packages, you can get complimentary benefits including sightseeing of nearby places. Sunrise Yoga asana and pranayama, open chakra massage, luxurious bath, sunset meditation, eco forest walk. These are also included in the package. This yoga trip relaxes you and relieves your stress.

Trip Highlights

Daily sunrise and sunset yoga asana and meditations

Multiple spa treatments

Multiple Ayurvedic treatments

Eco forest walk

Banjar hot springs

Vihara Buddhist Temple

Fresh and local meal

Accommodation

Reviving Retreats

If you feel a lack of energy, stress, pain, poor sleep, then this indicates that you give some time for yourself and plan a yoga trip. Yoga trips always focus on only you. The program gives more intensive rejuvenation treatment and helps over a long period.

Trip Highlights

Yoga sessions

Yoga consultation on private basis

Ayurvedic foot and facial message

Ayurvedic treatment

Traditional performances

Villa accommodation

Daily fresh and ayurvedic meals.

Accessories You Need To Have Before Starting a Yoga Class

There is no doubt that the core requirement in participating in a yoga class is you. However, having certain key accessories enhances the experience and makes it more productive. However, with the growing popularity of yoga in the world, it is at times hard to know what is truly necessary. This article reviews some of the most basic, but essential gear that you should have.

Yoga Mat

Considering that almost all yoga exercises are done on the floor, having a quality yoga mat is a must have. The mat keeps a yogi safe and comfortable during yoga poses and exercises. You should never lose concentration on yoga because either the floor is too cold, or too hard. The yoga mat also keeps your body from getting bruised by the hard surfaces. To choose a good mat, here are a few factors you need to look out for:

Length – It is important to make sure that the yoga mat is long enough to fit you regardless of whatever pose you take. Buying a mat that is either too long or too short may affect your productivity.

Thickness – The more vigorous the type of yoga you engage in, the thicker the mat you may need to get. This will help prevent bruises while exercising. However, do not get a mat that is too thick and squishy since it may hinder your ability to balance.

Texture – Most yoga mats are made with textured grips to keep a yogi from falling during practice. This is especially important for vigorous types of yoga where one is bound to sweat a lot. Choose a mat that feels comfortable.

Mat Towel

Yoga styles such as Ashtanga, Bikram, and Power Yoga are very vigorous. As such, one is bound to sweat a lot. This can make the yoga mat slippery and dangerous. In addition, sweating too much can be distracting

Having a standard hand towel can be good enough. However, you may want to buy yoga specific towels for the more intensive types of yoga. The towel should be absorbent and dry quickly.

Yoga Attire

Having the right attire for your yoga practice is a must have. However, you do not have to break the bank to buy good quality yoga clothes, especially leggings. What matters is a little consideration on what suits you when engaging in exercises. Since there is a lot of movement, stretching, and possibly sweating, the clothes you choose should suit these conditions. Here are a few considerations you should make:

Get the right fit – avoid clothes that are too loose since they may be uncomfortable or revealing. Also, getting clothes that are too tight may restrict the extent of your movements.

Fitness clothes are the best – these are clothes that are specifically made for yoga or sports. They are designed to stretch comfortably, absorb sweat, and feel comfortable.

Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks are ideal during exercises since they help one get into certain poses or maintain them. This is especially necessary when you can’t quite reach the floor.

These are only a few of the yoga accessories that you need for yoga, but these are the most essential. So, carry these accessories with you as you head out for a yoga class and enhance your yoga experience.

What to Think About Before Doing Prenatal Yoga

Part of a healthy pregnancy is keeping up with a regular exercise regimen. This can feel impossible during your 1st trimester when you may be sick or exhausted. As you start to feel like yourself again during the 2nd trimester, you might feel like you want to try some physical activity. I know I felt a little limited in what exercises I could do while pregnant but I also knew yoga was fairly safe. After conferring with my doctor, they determined it was safe for me to do yoga. I started researching different poses that were safe during pregnancy and what modifications were out there. There are a variety of things to think about before practicing, like what types of yoga aren’t safe, talking to your instructor, and poses to avoid.

Most yoga will be relatively safe during your pregnancy but as soon as you find out you’re pregnant you should avoid hot yoga. Raising your body temperature too much can be dangerous for your growing baby, similar to why you should avoid hot tubs! You don’t want to do anything that will intentionally raise the baby’s temperature. Hydration is also incredibly important during pregnancy and it can be challenging to keep hydrated during hot yoga.

If you attend a class regularly that is not a prenatal class, be sure to tell your instructor and they should be able to tell you which poses to avoid and which ones you can modify. You’ll also want to tell them which trimester you’re in because the trimester you’re in can determine what poses you can do. Like after the first trimester it’s important to avoid any poses you do on your back because they can reduce blood flow to the uterus. You will also want to avoid extra pressure on your abdomen so avoid poses with a deep twist, or try to twist your shoulders more rather than your abdomen.

It’s also important to remember that starting in your 2nd trimester or whenever you start showing, your balance and equilibrium will be off. I started to notice balancing being a challenge around 28 weeks. Just be aware of this and use either a wall or chair to help you balance when doing poses like Warrior III or any other balance pose. My suggestion for these is just to find something to focus on and take it slow. If I tried to do a balance pose at my regular pace I found myself becoming very wobbly and having to start over quite a bit.

There are tons of resources out there for prenatal yoga. If you don’t attend a regular yoga class there are plenty of yogis on YouTube that have videos for prenatal yoga flows. If you find those aren’t quite your speed, what I liked to do sometimes was just use the videos I’ve always followed along with and modified some of the poses. Whatever you decide to do just make sure you’re listening to your body and don’t push yourself too far. It’s important to stay fit during pregnancy but always keep in contact with your doctor to make sure it’s healthy for you to continue exercising.