We all want that lifestyle wherein we are mentally and physically at peace.
Can there be a better way to keep one fit than to practice Yoga?
Yoga is a practice that saw its origin in ancient India. It aids in controlling the healthy state of physical, spiritual, and mental disciplines. Now, how can one resist not taking up the discipline and doing a regular regime of yoga? You certainly want to be a part of it, isn’t it?
Yoga needs a couple of Yoga equipment that will ease your yoga routine. We have the following list kept ready for you to enhance your yoga experience.
Yoga equipment List
1. Mat Bags or Slings
A yoga mat is an essential component for performing yoga. Tucking it under your arms can be tacky, smelly, and awkward to carry. Mat bags or slings top the Yoga equipment list for it eases out to carry and keeps the yoga mat clean. Look for wide horizontal bags comfortable enough for you to keep the mat, extra pair of clothes, towels, water bottles, and other accessories. The market offers sling bags up to 28 inches wide making it comfortable to sling over
2. Blankets
One of the Yoga props is the yoga blankets. These blankets are useful during yoga poses like Paschiomottanasana. It benefits the posture and provides cushioning for bones, joints, and the head. It benefits in keeping the nervous system calm. It makes you stay warm in lengthened yoga poses. When you buy yoga blankets look for soft but firm fabric. You will find Mexican blankets ideal. They are easy to store, roll and carry. These blankets are visually appealing and durable.
3. Yoga Pants and Leggings
Whether you opt for yoga pants or leggings, it is completely your choice. You must consider the durability and the comfort level. It must be of soft material and easy to wear daily. A combination of spandex and cotton is apt. Yoga pants and leggings are available in different styles, colours, and shapes. Yoga pants can be loose to your skin as compared to leggings as they tend to be skintight. Most of the yoga pants and leggings are stretchy.
4. Resistance Bands
A resistance band is an elastic band. What was used as a physiotherapy treatment in the early 1990s is now an essential part of yoga for strength training. It is easy to use for the upper and lower body. To clean, you just have to rinse it or wipe it with a clean towel. Look for TPE-free, latex kind of attribute fabric. The use of resistance bands aids in connecting cues from yoga to the body. Finally, it is a great source to stabilize joint activities.
5. Foam Roller
A foam cylinder shape lightweight roller is useful while doing yoga. These foam rollers are thick and dense too. It is used to manage deep tissue massage. Amongst many yoga props, it is excellent support as it assists in bringing flexibility to the body, especially for back and joint pains. You can use it for yoga stretches. Many yoga instructors use it for warm-up or cool-down exercises too. For faster fitness results, foam rollers serve the best effect.
6. Massage Guns
We all know massage guns as percussion massagers. These are handheld operating devices. It uses vibration and deep oscillation to treat muscles. You can accommodate massage guns for your post-workout regime. Using massage guns gives you a sense of happiness and a calmer mind. It helps out in releasing serotonin from the body. Apart from this, it resolves bowel issues and insomnia. Yoga practitioners find that they have better sleeping patterns and encourage a faster rate of metabolism.
7. Meditation Pillow
A meditation pillow serves well as support equipment when doing a hardwood floor task of yoga. It upholds your spine straight when you sit cross-legged. Meditation pillows are of two kinds- Zafu pillows and Zabuton pillows. Zafu pillows are mainly to lift hips. They are small cushion-like structures. Zabuton pillows are more like mats. These are useful to keep the knees comfortable when you are on the floor. Meditation pillows help in maintaining good posture during yoga.
8. Sandbags
Sandbags are perfect for asanas like tadasana, forward bends, backbends, reclining poses, and breathe work, Viparita Karani, Virasana, and similar other poses. When you use sandbags it increases the consciousness of your body and the body part it is placed. The whole objective of using sandbags is to restore, mend muscles and reduces muscle tension. The sandbags are either filled with play sand or grains (rice, wheat) it is light in weight and easy to carry.
9. Eye Pillows
As the name suggests, eye pillows are for the comfort to cover the eyes. This Yoga equipment blocks the light entering your eyes. Thus, it works best during mediation and you can focus and concentrate 100%. An eye pillow is like a bag filled with flax seeds. Eye pillows stimulate the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is known to regulate the heart rate and the digestive system. As follows, placing an eye pillow lights the pressure and lowers the heart rate.
10. Yoga Chairs
You must think about what on Earth would yoga chairs do in yoga! But yoga chairs help in supporting legs when they fall weak. Some people cannot perform yoga by sitting on the ground. Yoga chairs are a blessing for them to practice in their comfort zone. Alternatively, you can hold the back of the chair to do standing poses or upper body poses. A yoga chair has no way had any hindrances towards the performance of yoga asanas.
11. Wall Ropes
Wall yoga is in vogue. It uses the wall and the rope for resistance and support. Wall ropes help in poses that demand standing or leaning against the wall. This kind of yoga perfects the posture of a person and resolves spinal issues. All you need to install wall rope is to bolt the wall. It depends on whether you wanted it to bolt to the side walls or the ceiling. It is excellent for performing asanas related to backbend, shoulder opener, hand upside down, and balancing your body.
12. Aerial Swings
Yoga aerial swing is made up of fabric that is used in parachute making. It should be soft and durable. Aerial swings benefit in doing inversions and poses that require suspension from the ceiling. It is a good way towards traction and joint decompression. Such kind of yoga claims to improve the flexibility and strength of the body. It brings stability to life. What’s more, it works as a detox method for those who indulge much in drinks and junk food.
13. Power Plate/Vibration Plates
Vibration plates use vibration to stimulate the body muscles. It works at a high speed. It rouses the muscles and relaxes them. A yoga practitioner has to stand on the power plate and it is a 30 to 45-second vibration that eases out the body muscles. You may use it as a part of a warm-up session or post-workout. The power plate is easy to carry and you can do it at home too. It is good for blood circulation and improves the supply of oxygen to the body.
14. Yoga Mat
Define your personal space in the most complacent way. Yoga mat creates traction for your hands and feet so you don’t slip. You can select a mat-based on specific features like material, durability, comfort, thickness, and length. If the mat is too thin it will hurt you and if it’s too thick you will lose your balance. It should be portable to store and easy to carry along with you. High-quality mats can be easily found these days that have moisture resistant technology and can be washed easily with soap and water.
15. Yoga Mat Cleaner
Every day your yoga mat will encounter sweat, dirt, and grime. If you are not cleaning your yoga mat it may catch bacteria. Take a few spritzes of mat cleaner and wash it with a cloth. This cleaner comes in soothing scents that disinfect and rids your mat from dirt, sweat, and germs. Make sure you clean both sides of the mat. Disinfecting the mat once in a week is recommended. If you are spending on a yoga towel your mat won’t get too dirty.
16. Water Bottle
Staying hydrated before, after, and during yoga is very important. It is our responsibility to carry a reusable water bottle and do our part towards protecting Earth. Many options are available in these too. An insulated water bottle is a good choice as it keeps cold beverages cold for 24 hours and hot beverages hot for 6 hours. Filter water bottles remove 99.9% of waterborne bacteria and parasites. It’s ideal for yogis who travel a lot. Leakproof fruit infuser water bottle is also a good pick for those who want to enjoy delicious water with added benefits.
17. Yoga Towel
It a great addition to your yoga gear collection. Sweat during yoga can turn your mat into slip and slide. A yoga towel is designed to solve the same. It absorbs the sweat and increases the grip. You can select slip-resistant padding at the bottom of the towel. It is different from a regular towel. You can even spray a little water on the towel before class and experience the increased grip. These towels are easy to clean, simply launder them and keep your yoga area clean and hygienic.
18. Yoga Strap
Also known as yoga belts acts as an arm extender. It’s a tool that offers help to yogis at all levels. It is used in poses where you have to hold your feet but cannot reach them. It makes stretches safer and accessible. It is very useful for poses where you have to bind your hands behind the back. It is popular in Iyengar yoga as they help to maintain alignment. You can use a cotton strap to avoid cuts/injuries. The strap is selected according to height. They are also available with a buckle or a loop.
19. Yoga Blocks
Yoga blocks are made from foam, cork, bamboo, or wood and used as an extension of the arms. The range of motion is supported by these blocks as they shorten the distance between you and the floor. They improve alignment and make you more comfortable. They are mostly used in standing poses where hands are supposed to be on the floor. They can be placed at a low, medium, or high position to accommodate more or less support.
20. Yoga Wheels
It a cylinder made of plastic, wood, or a combination of material, 12 inches in diameter, and about 4 inches wide. It deepens your stretches and improves flexibility and releases tension. It’s a new prop and gaining a foothold in yoga. It can be used in advanced practices. It offers support during challenging poses. You can lie, roll, lay, and breathe on it.
21. Yoga Bolster
It’s a cylindrical cushion that provides comfort, support poses, and increases stretching. This is for the ones who require some extra help in keeping themselves propped up. It aids in opening certain body postures, makes yoga easier, and attains flexibility in the long run. The bolster is restorative yoga’s best friend. It provides a deeply soothing effect on the mind and nervous system. The bolster provides firm yet comfortable support for the same. It is super helpful in pregnancy yoga also.
22.Yoga Knee and Wrist Pads
Once you will be used to yoga you will realize how stressful it can be for your knees, elbows, and wrists. Thick cushion pads are a solution to this. These pads provide ease and comfort in your yoga poses. It will enhance your hold time for each pose.
Summing It Up
Above was a list of yoga props that this day needs. The products are readily available in the market. We suggest you read the reviews and buy the accessories from the site you trust. Always look for yoga accessories that are easy to carry, durable, and have value for money.
Do write to us about your experience with yoga equipment and which products worked best for you. Last thought- health for mind, soul, and body is the truth of life. Let us not play with it.
