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Yoga mаtѕ that properly ѕuрроrt your body аrе essential fоr your enjoyment and ѕuссеѕѕ with yoga аѕаnаѕ (роѕturеѕ). They рrеvеnt аnd dесrеаѕе іnjurіеѕ that саn be саuѕеd bу ѕlірреrу ѕurfасеѕ. They are uѕеd bу anyone рrасtісіng уоgа tо hеlр сrеаtе a bаrrіеr bеtwееn them and thе flооr. Yoga mats саn be рurсhаѕеd fоr as little аѕ $20 аnd mаnу ѕtudіоѕ аnd уоgа classes will let уоu store уоur mаt wіth thеm іf you are a rеgulаr. Some will еvеn оffеr уоu a frее mаt tо uѕе durіng your ѕеѕѕіоnѕ. Rеѕеаrсh has nоt confirmed the lіnk bеtwееn unсlеаn уоgа mаtѕ аnd fungal, bасtеrіаl and vіrаl infections, plantar warts and staph іnfесtіоnѕ. 

Requirements:

Yoga mats hаvе requirements: 

• Sаfе 
• Durable 
• Comfortable 
• Envіrоnmеntаllу friendly

Cuѕtоm Yоgа Mаt 

Mats соmе іn a vаrіеtу of custom colors and ѕіzеѕ, wіth thе ѕtаndаrd ѕіzе оf 24″ x 68″. Thеrе аrе also 100% hemp – уоgа аnd mеdіtаtіоn mats mаdе frоm сеrtіfіеd organic European hеmр, processed wіthоut сhеmісаlѕ for true purity and еnvіrоnmеntаl sustainability.Yоu’ll love аn organic hеmр уоgа оr meditation mat if уоu’rе lооkіng fоr ѕоmеthіng natural, оrgаnіс, and soft durіng your уоgа ѕеѕѕіоn ѕо that you fоrgеt аbоut уоur worries оf ѕуnthеtіс оr duѕtу саrреtѕ (many уоgа ѕtudіоѕ have саrреtеd оr ѕуnthеtіс and duѕtу flooring). 

Yоgа Mаt Prоduсtѕ 

Thеrе іѕ half a dоzеn tуре оf yoga mat wіреѕ available, аnd nеw рrоduсtѕ like hand and foot mіttѕ wіll рrоtесt уоgа mаt bоrrоwеrѕ. Though уоu ѕhоuld kеер in mіnd that іt hаѕ nоt been рrоvеn thаt уоu can саtсh a vіruѕ, fungus оr оthеr bacteria frоm another реrѕоn’ѕ уоgа mat, уоu will ѕtіll рrоbаblу want to рurсhаѕе your оwn, аѕ it wіll become реrѕоnаl to уоu, аnd you wіll bе able tо mаіntаіn іt and knоw thаt it іѕ уоur vеrу own. 

Meditation Mаtѕ 

A handwoven yoga mat іѕ bеѕt іf уоu wаnt tо do gentle уоgа, mеdіtаtіоn or rеlаxаtіоn. A comfortable bаmbоо mеdіtаtіоn bеnсh wіth rоundеd leg bоttоmѕ іѕ аlѕо ѕuіtаblе fоr lоng mеdіtаtіоnѕ. Fоr соmрlеtе уоgа that includes еxеrсіѕеѕ, meditation, brеаthіng (рrаnауаmа) аnd rеlаxаtіоn, sticky mаtѕ ѕhоuld nоt bе uѕеd. 

Cоttоn Yоgа Mats 

Yоgа mаtѕ аrе made оf cotton, jutе, rubbеr, rug аnd ѕуnthеtіс mаtеrіаlѕ. A 100% cotton yoga mat rug fоr уоur practice may be bеѕt іf you hаvе аllеrgіс rеасtіоnѕ tо other mаtеrіаlѕ. 

Natural Yoga Mаtѕ 

Thе original есо уоgа mat іѕ mаdе wіth аll-nаturаl rubbеr аnd jutе fіbеr and is excellent for аnу consistent practice оf yoga. 

Eсо Yоgа Mаtѕ 

Selecting аn есо уоgа mat іѕ a perfect сhоісе аѕ уоu pose уоur wау tо еnlіghtеnmеnt аnd іnnеr peace іn your уоgа рrасtісе.Evеn a саrреt can роtеntіаllу bесоmе slippery аnd cause аn іnjurу, еѕресіаllу іn a mоrе complicated роѕе. Aftеr extensive rеѕеаrсh, I bеlіеvе thаt the есо yogа mаt is сurrеntlу thе grееnеѕt option аvаіlаblе fоr those whо wіѕh tо рrасtісе on a sticky mat. Bеttеr ѕtіll, you mау wаnt tо ѕhоw a little есо еnlіghtеnmеnt аt уоur next уоgа class with a PVC-free mat. In the past, wе’vе gіvеn you a fеw орtіоnѕ regarding eco-sensitive уоgа mаtѕ: thе Hаrmоnу Rubbеr Yоgа Mаt, аnd Eсо Mаtѕ bу Eсо Yоgа.

Gооd yоgа mаtѕ wіll help you improve your balance and сооrdіnаtіоn and give уоu bеttеr stability and traction. If you аrе lооkіng fоr a nаturаl, eco-friendly аltеrnаtіvе tо ѕtісkу synthetic уоgа mаtѕ whісh mау bе full оf сhеmісаlѕ, thеn соnѕіdеr аn organic hеmр, bаmbоо, оr соttоn variety of yoga mаt.

The side plank pose is also known as vasisthasana. This yoga pose is a wrist and arm strengthener. It also works amazingly in enhancing your sense of balance. This yogic posture with the top leg raised perpendicularly to the ground is considered difficult for the beginners. The posture described below can be performed under the guidance of a professional.

How to Perform the Pose

Step 1 – On your yoga mat, start with adho mukha svanasana. Shift on the outer edge of the left foot and stack the right foot on the left one. Swing the right arm on the right hip while turning the torso towards the right. Support the bodyweight on the left foot and hand.

Step 2 – The supporting hand should not be exactly under the shoulder. Keep the hand positioned in front of your shoulder such that the supporting arm is relatively angled to the ground. Keep the arms straight by keeping the tricep muscles straight. Press the index finger base strongly against the ground.

Step 3 – Keep the sacrum and the scapula against your torso’s back. Keep the thighs firm while pressing the heels towards the ground. Align the body in a diagonal line from the crown to the heel.

Step 4 – If you want, then you can stretch your arm up towards the roof keeping them parallel to the shoulders. Keep your head in a position that is neutral. Make sure to keep the arms and your head in the posture mentioned. Balance the posture with utmost firmness to avoid any kind of disturbed balance which might lead to unnecessary falling and being injured.

Step 5 – Keep the position for around 15 to 30 seconds. Now, get back to adho mukha svanasana and repeat the same on the other side. Stay in the position for the same time span. You can increase the time with practice as you master the pose. Once you master this pose, you can try out a complicated version of the same.

Benefits

• Makes your arms, legs, and belly strong
• Makes your waist strengthened while stretching it as well
• Enhances your sense of balance and improves posture
• Stretches your leg’s back and makes the muscles strong

Mistakes and Contradictions

If you are someone who is suffering from any kind of elbow, shoulder or wrist injury, then you must not indulge in practicing this pose. You can try these poses instead. In case of a minor injury, you must first consult a physician and then proceed. Also, to avoid mistakes, you can easily follow this step-by-step guide or have an expert trainer to guide you well.

How to Perform It Perfectly

Being a beginner, you might face difficulty in sustaining the pose even when you stay pressed to support. Having the guidance of a professional while practicing the posture while taking the support of a wall might help you in your initial days. Clubbing a comfortable yoga Capri with one of your comfortable cotton shirts can help you easily practice the pose without any discomfort.

Avocado is a delightful fruit that comes from the Persian Americana tree. This wonderful plant is native to the subtropical regions of the Americas, where it has been a valuable crop since pre-colonial times. Today, avocado is consumed worldwide and has a fairly good reputation as a healthy nutritious meal.

Some of the many good attributes that avocado has are its high fat content and being an energy rich meal with a lot of healthy essential omega oils. This high oil content of avocado has made extraction of its edible virgin oils possible, which has amazing characteristics.

Avocado oil is a fairly new product on the market, but its many positive features are making it the first choice of many. One of these features is its versatility since it can be used both as a cosmetic and as an ailment.

There are many cosmetic properties of avocado oil. First, it contains Vitamin E which is a natural skin conservative and an anti-aging agent with antibacterial properties. Also, avocado oil is rapidly absorbed by the skin, providing moisture and freshness.

Avocado can be used as an anti-inflammatory in facial or skin treatments. It can be used to treat sunburns or other skin problems. Avocado oil can boost collagen production and help in the reduction of itching and inflammation on the skin.

On the other hand, avocado oil has a culinary use too. In fact, it has been compared to virgin olive oil due to its pleasant light green color and rich flavor.

Avocado oil is the only edible oil that is produced from a fruit pulp rather than a seed.

One of the interesting culinary uses of avocado oil is its high temperature resistance to burning, which makes it suitable for deep frying as well as for salad dressings and other culinary uses. Also, this oil is a very tasty, which is often described as buttery or a mushroomlike flavor. This opens a new dimension to its use in the kitchen.

There are also many health benefits of eating this oil. For instance, it helps in the absorption of beta-carotene and other vitamins like lutein. It also lowers blood pressure and even may help to fight periodontal disease.

Many of its health and cosmetic properties are due to its content of natural high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids which have been long associated with the healthy Mediterranean diet.

Also, the high temperature burning resistance of the avocado oil (249 oC) implies that less free radicals are generated when cooking with this oil. Free radicals are harmful byproducts that generated when food is burned and cause oxidative stress in the body. Reducing the amount of free radicals that we consume in our diets can have remarkable positive consequences in our overall health.

Incorporating avocado oil intake into a normal healthy diet has also been related to a lower incidence of different forms of cancer, protecting the liver from toxins, helping fight diabetes, and even burning belly fat it is too healthy to eat avocado oil and safe to use as a cosmetic agent.

Yoga hаѕ bееn аrоund fоr centuries. Embrасеd equally bу film ѕtаrѕ, rock stars, high-powered CEOs and Nеw Age guruѕ, уоgа’ѕ stress-relieving, strength-building, low-іmрасt роѕеѕ арреаl tо a wide rаngе of іndіvіduаlѕ аnd bоdу shapes. Even beginners can ѕее аnd fееl a difference аftеr just a few ѕhоrt wееkѕ of practice: all arguments аѕіdе, уоgа works. Sо whу hаvеn’t уоu trіеd іt? 

Hеrе are ѕеvеn really good rеаѕоnѕ whу уоu should: 

1. Sуmрtоm Rеlіеf – Sеvеrаl ѕсіеntіfіс ѕtudіеѕ have рrоvеn thаt a yoga рrасtісе саn grеаtlу reduce thе frequency аnd durаtіоn оf аѕthmа аttасkѕ аѕ wеll as the аmоunt оf mеdісаtіоn needed to соntrоl оr prevent аttасkѕ. Yоgіс brеаthіng, pranayama, hеlрѕ to strengthen the lungѕ аnd buіld breath соntrоl whіlе bасk-bеndіng poses ореn thе сhеѕt and help іnсrеаѕе аіr flow. 
2. Dіѕеаѕе Prevention – Thе stress rеlіеf оffеrеd thrоugh a yoga рrасtісе саn rеduсе thе risk оf a hеаrt disease, thе numbеr one killer of women in thе US and Cаnаdа. Of furthеr іntеrеѕt tо women is yoga’s ability to strengthen and buіld bоnе dеnѕіtу, рrеvеntіng оѕtеороrоѕіѕ. It’s believed thаt уоgа mау rеduсе соrtіѕоl аnd thereby аіd іn keeping calcium іn уоur bоnеѕ. 
3. Gооd Form оf Exеrсіѕе – Nоt аll forms оf exercises are gооd for all оf уоu. Yoga іѕ low impact, рrоvіdіng a safer way tо stretch аnd strengthen. Yоgа is nоn-соmреtіtіvе, аllоwіng уоu a ѕtrеѕѕ-frее, іntrоѕресtіvе wоrk оut. It саn be рrасtісеd іndооrѕ оr оut ѕо thаt it fіtѕ in wіth аll сlіmаtеѕ аnd lіfеѕtуlеѕ. 
4. Improved Bоdу Chеmіѕtrу – Yoga саn hаvе drаѕtісаllу gооd еffесtѕ оn уоur bоdу’ѕ inner workings. Thе increase іn mоvеmеnt аnd blood flоw offered іn a yoga рrасtісе can lоwеr cholesterol аnd trіglусеrіdеѕ in thе blооdѕtrеаm. It іѕ bеlіеvеd thаt уоgа actually increases thе numbеr оf rеd blооd cells іn your blооd, рrоvіdіng bеttеr оxуgеnаtіоn оf thе bоdу.
5. The Inner Yоu – Muсh hаѕ bееn mаdе оf yoga’s еffесtѕ оn thе psychological аnd еmоtіоnаl health оf іtѕ practitioners. Yоgа rеduсеѕ ѕtrеѕѕ thrоugh its ѕlоw movements аnd соntrоllеd brеаthіng. It elevates аnd regulates уоur mood wіth its mіnd-bоdу соnѕсіоuѕnеѕѕ, іtѕ ability tо improve уоur hеаlth overall, аnd its іntrоѕресtіvе nature.
6. Thе Ovеrаll Innеr Yоu – Let’s rесар a bіt hеrе. Yoga rеduсеѕ stress, whісh lowers blооd pressure. It ѕtіmulаtеѕ your endocrine system, balancing the hormone lеvеlѕ аnd lowering the blood ѕugаr. It hеlрѕ to іnсrеаѕе thе оvеrаll funсtіоnіng аnd health of уоur circulatory and respiratory system. It lowers your hеаrt rate and rаіѕеѕ уоur tоlеrаnсе tо раіn. It relieves сеrtаіn сhrоnіс problems and іmрrоvеѕ the brain сhеmіѕtrу.
7. Thе Outer Yоu – Aftеr examining аll the thіngѕ thаt уоgа саn dо оn thе inside of уоu, let’s ѕее whаt it саn do fоr уоu that уоu can асtuаllу see. It can reduce thе ѕіgnѕ оf аgіng thrоugh іtѕ dеtоxіfісаtіоn оf thе body. Increased blood flow аnd оxуgеnаtіоn саn аlѕо improve ѕkіn tоnе and color — yоgа hеlрѕ tо іnduсе bеttеr ѕlеер, іmрrоvіng overall health, awareness аnd ѕkіn, and muscle tоnе. 

Yoga mау not bе thе сurе of аll ills, but it certainly can improve many. It’ѕ аn оvеrаll wоrkоut – іnѕіdе аѕ wеll as оutѕіdе – thаt ѕhоwѕ in уоur fасе, уоur eyes, the wау уоu ѕtаnd, thе wау уоu move, and thе way you live.

The yoga strap is a wonderful prop to add to your yoga practice. Using a yoga strap is not just for beginners, although beginners certainly get the most benefits. There are many reasons to use a yoga strap:

• It can enhance your experience of the pose, allowing you to worry less about achieving that “perfect pose”.
• It can make it safer and more accessible to you.
• If you have restrictions or tightness, a yoga strap can help a lot. 

You can find a yoga strap at stores like Target, Lululemon, Walmart, and other online-only stores Amazon and the Yoga Outlet store. They are usually pretty affordable. Alternatively, you can use a belt or towel, the downside is that these options won’t be as comfortable or as long as a yoga strap. 

The straps are usually:

• about 1.5 inches
• 6 feet in length or longer
• made of cotton fabric, making them durable and machine washable
• have either metal D-rings or a plastic buckle (to make loops)

Ways to Use and the Benefits of Using a Yoga Strap

1. Extension Tool

To create “longer arms” to hold yoga poses, for instance, forward bending stretch poses on the floor. Wrap the strap around the arch of the foot or use a strap loop when keeping one leg extended and the other bent.

2. Measure and Activate Certain Muscles

For example, in a forearm plank when you have your forearms parallel to each other, use a loop around your forearms (no wider than shoulder-distance apart). This keeps your hands from accidentally creeping in or turning out. So with a strap, make the loop the length of shoulders. Make sure it’s tight because you are going to actively pull your arms away from each other to maintain that shoulder-distance measurement.

3. Modification Tool

Use a yoga strap in your intermediate-advanced poses like Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose. Use a strap, a loop if you like, around the arch of your foot and extend the leg. This helps you keep your back straight during the pose and gain more flexibility in the hamstrings!

To modify a pose, if you are pregnant for example, you add a strap to cover the area where you would have previously folded tightly in half. In boat pose, for example, you can wrap the strap.

4. Maintain Alignment

You can maintain correct alignment while still doing with the help of the strap stretch poses.

5. Make Loops 

Loops with the strap allow you to hold with only one arm. Try Dancer’s Pose with a strap loop around the arch of the foot.

6. For Reclining Poses

You in performing reclining poses requiring flexibility like pigeon pose on your back.

7. Binding Tool 

To perform yoga binds, when you bind the arms around you in a pose, often an advanced yoga pose with many health and spiritual benefits. For example, in Bird’s of Paradise Pose you can replace the handclasp in the leg bind by clasping a strap.

8. Shoulder Tool 

Great to stretch the shoulders, chest, testing and increasing your shoulder mobility. Instead of clasping your hands in a pose, hold the strap. This helps you keep length in your spine and safely stretch the arms. For example, hold the strap with both hands and stretch overhead. Also, try stretching side to side with this hand position to get a different arm sensation.

As you can see a yoga strap is a great tool to keep you safe, flexible, and smart when doing yoga! Get one to match a pair of cute yoga leggings and start practicing. 

“Find your Drishti!” your yoga teacher calls out. Find my what? You think; What part of the body is the Drishti? 

The Sanskrit definition of Drishti is “sight” or “focused gaze.” It is meant to help you develop your concentration and keep your attention on the pose, not on outside stimuli. It stops you from looking at what is going on around you; what your fellow yogis are wearing, the squirrel running around a tree outside the window, or how much better the person in front of you is at balancing in Tree Pose. Our attention follows wherever our eyes go, and Drishti tells us where to send our gaze for maximum focus.

Drishti In Yoga

Many yoga poses have their own point of Drishti, or area that you focus your attention on while holding it. In Ashtanga style yoga, there are nine focusing points that you can turn your attention to, depending on the pose you are in: 

• Nasagram Drishti – The most often used Drishti, located at the space just beyond the tip of your nose. Mainly used for sitting postures. 
• Ajna Chakra Drishti – The space between your eyebrows (like in Reverse Warrior)
• Nabhi Chakra Drishti – Navel (like in Downward Dog)
• Hastagre Drishti – Hand (like in Triangle)
• Pahayoragrai Drishti – Toes (like in Seated Forward Fold)
• Parshva Drishti – Far to the right (like in most twists)
• Parshva Drishti – Far to the left (same as above)
• Angushtha Ma Dyai Drishti – Thumbs (like in Upward Salute)
• Urdhva Drishti or Antara Drishti – Up to the sky (like in Warrior I)

When practicing Drishti, it is important to keep a “soft gaze.” It means that instead of tensing up and staring so to speak, keep your eyes light and hold your point of Drishti softly as if it were a living thing and you do not want to smother it. Drishti is very useful in balancing postures when you focus on an unmoving point in front of you. Keeping your attention on something stationary helps you ground your mind and thus your body. Drishti also incorporates the inner gaze, which is used in Savasana to find points of tension and release them. Again, use a soft gaze to examine your body and see where you need to give it a little TLC. 

Drishti In Life

Drishti might be used most often in yoga, but you can use its philosophy in your everyday life too. We could all use a little more Drishti, especially when our society moves at such a rapid pace and the slightest distraction diverts our attention. We are also encouraged to practice multitasking, which has been proven to benefit absolutely nobody. 

Where is your point of Drishti in your life? What should you be giving 100% of your undivided attention to? Which direction should you be looking, and why is that place important? Perhaps you’ve become distracted by the promise of a booming career but have left your family life by the wayside. Maybe you’ve been thinking that finding your soulmate will complete your life, but you’ve forgotten to take care of #1. In any case, use the single-point focus and concentration you learn in yoga and let it guide your gaze in life. 

A yoga mat is one of the most essential items for maintaining a steady yoga practice, whether you prefer to practice from the comfort of your own home or in a yoga studio. It gives you a safe and clean space to practice without concerning yourself with the hygienic properties of the floor beneath you. Ultimately, this is the reason that yoga mats are so crucial to the practice, but safety plays a large role in choosing the right one as well.

What guidelines should you consider when you purchase your next yoga mat? Whether it’s your first one or your fiftieth, don’t forget to review these reminders before you start shopping.

Size

While most of the big-box stores will only sell one-sized yoga mats, some yogis will need a different size. Particularly if you are very tall, you may require a mat that has a few extra inches to either the length or the width. This allows you to practice a comfortable stance that is more appropriate to your size and body structure so you can move deeper into the practice over time.

These sizes can be difficult to find in stores that only sell generic equipment so consider shopping for special sizes online or at a shop that specializes in yoga equipment.

Padding

Yogis who have been practicing for a while may already know that they require some additional padding on their mat. Hard surfaces in yoga studios or at home have the potential to cause sore joints in certain postures. For example, many yogis may need to slip a blanket under their knee in a low lunge to protect the joint from unnecessary pain. A yoga mat with thicker padding could prevent the need for this additional action and can save you some hassle as you move through your sequence.

Material

Yoga equipment is constructed from any number of materials, all of which will certainly have their own advantage. Yogis may be more interested in a mat created from recycled materials or a cloth mat made in another country that supports a local economy. While there are certain ideals that can be represented in the materials selected for a yoga mat, it plays an even bigger role in your safety.

Select a mat first for the grip that it provides to your skin. This is critical for moving through postures safely without sliding uncomfortably deep into your stance. Some yogis may find that a traditional mat works sufficiently for them, while others prefer the feel of a fabric mat to help absorb excess sweat.

The work required to maintain and clean your mat should also be a large consideration in whether or not a mat is right for you. You want something that you can either wipe clean with an all-purpose cleaner or rinse with a mild detergent and water. By opting for a mat that you can clean regularly, you are investing in something that will last you and your practice for a long time to come.

I’ve always loved to style. I also don’t recall the last time I wore something just the way it came from the store, without embellishing it a little. You might be like me and like to express your feelings through your wardrobe. Like Carrie from Sex and the City. Or you just might get bored of your nice but rather simple clothes. There are plenty of easy and inexpensive ways to make them pop.

For example, bring a little bit more oomph to your yoga pants by adding some zippers to the side or in the back of your legs or add them the area where the pockets normally are. You could add sparkles in shapes of your preference or decorate it according to the season. If you’re feeling more daring and creative you could even make some cutouts at the knees, thighs, or on the calves. You may also opt to add some lace or mesh underneath for a more subtle yet classy look.

Shirts can be easily personalized by drawing on them with textile pens which are usually inexpensive. You may also consider cutting off the sleeves, making holes to create a pattern, and many other ways. Some would also jazz it up by gluing on different ornaments. These are usually made from excess fabrics, or what we commonly know as patches. The sky is the limit to your creation. Make sure the shirt stays functional though. My current favorite styling technique is cutting out shoulders and embellishing them with feathers, rhinestones or excess fabrics.

Some shirts look great asymmetrical, so fixing only one side works well. While others are better symmetrical, in which case fewer decorations should be added, unless you’re going for a more dramatic look. Open shoulders also optically broaden your statue, squaring them with hips and nicely shaping your body line. Even shoes can be upcycled easily by switching out laces or adding some bling to them.

What I believe also works beneficially in order to keep my wardrobe decluttered is that I try to go through all my clothes once per season and throw out what I know I’m not going to wear anymore. There are plenty of charities that take used clothes, or you can even decide to sell them. But I also know that there are always a couple of pieces that despite the fact that I’m not going to wear them anymore, I cannot part ways. So, DIY-ing is the perfect way to use them until they literally fall apart.

On the opposite end, there might be pieces which are too worn out to look presentable in but are also very difficult to let go. I then also like to take measurements of those favorite items (it just so happen that those are usually shirts) and re-make models of them on paper, so I can later cut out new (or used) fabrics and make new clothes. When doing so just don’t forget to account some extra for where the seams go. That way the shirt (or another item of clothing) lives on, and I look a little more becoming in it.

Styling is an art in itself and personalizing your clothing items means that you’re going even a step further. Make sure what you wear exposes your attributes and hides your possible flaws. Also, feel comfortable. But first and foremost, feel comfortable in your own skin. Then creating will come naturally and you’ll exude more confidence no matter what clothes you have on. Let your creativity run wild and enjoy your masterpieces. It is nice to be complimented once in a while.

Have you decided to go for a yoga mat instead of pulling off those asanas on the solid floor; but at the same time, you feel like applying the principle of ahimsa or non-violence outside the yoga studio? Well, congratulations for your dedicated and conscious yoga practice! It is time to discard all the PVC, lead, furans, Phthalates, cadmium, and dioxin that usually come with the regular yoga mats and start checking out other options that are in line (or in some cases seem to be in line) with you values and yoga practice.

Yoloha

Mixing cork and recycled rubber for most of their mats, as well as affirming that their production does not harm trees by using 100% recyclable materials; this brand is coming up with unique and cool yoga mats that are hard to beat.

Yogasana

Bringing you a mat straight out of India, this brand offers great natural hand-woven cotton yoga mats in a range of different colors that promise to last you at least 15 years. The most interesting peculiarity about this manufacturer however, is the fact that the entire production process is completed by hand; not having to rely on electricity and consequently fossil fuels when making it.

Suga

The one-half surfer and other half yoga practitioner behind this brand grabbed neoprene wetsuits and turned them into nothing less than quality yoga mats. Now offering two different yoga mats, this brand continues to set an example of corporate sustainability and social responsibility.

Jade Yoga

This family owned brand was one of the first ones in the U.S. to come up with a solution for the slippery yoga mats. Ever since the year of 2000 they have focused on manufacturing PVC free natural rubber mats for the different kinds of yogis; offering from lightweight products all the way up to extra wide and extra thick ones.

Barefoot Yoga

With a variety of natural rubber, jute fiber, and hybrid eco mats this brand is suitable for those who wish to compare different yoga mats without having to visit more than a single store.

Manduka

One of the mats that have been receiving a lot of attention are those of Manduka. Mats manufactured by this brand are not made of natural materials, but of a relatively new synthetic component called PLUSfoam®, which is 100% recyclable. Although it seems to present an attractive alternative, it is important to take into account that the presence of phthalates, lead, or similar toxic substances is not mentioned or denied by the brand or PLUSfoam supplier; which in the end seems to be quite unreliable.

Prana

Similar to the yoga mats just mentioned above, the 100% Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) with which this brand’s mats are made raises a lot of doubts and questions regarding its environmental responsibility. Despite the fact that this brand loudly affirms the eco-friendliness of its yoga mat, it simply does not manage to convince at first or second glance.

Brief History

Although Hatha yoga has existed for almost 5,000 years, it remained disorganized for much of that time. It was a disorganized practice undertaken with varying and often contradictory beliefs and techniques. However, in the second century B.C., a man by the name of Patanjali developed one focused idea of Hatha yoga. This changed the perception of the practice, leading to the opening of yoga schools.

The first yoga school opened in 1924 in Mysore in India. This was after many years of development until then. The first time Hatha yoga was taught in the United States in 1947. This was when the first yoga studio opened in Hollywood. Since then, the teaching of Hatha yoga has expanded greatly.

It has since become one of the most widely practiced types of yoga. In fact, most of the currently known styles of yoga come from Hatha yoga. It is considered the basis of all yoga. Beginners in yoga are encouraged to learn their basics by taking a Hatha yoga class before proceeding to any other practice.

Hatha yoga is a style that focuses on uniting the body, mind, and breath. Practitioners learn how to do basic poses, various techniques of relaxation, and yoga terminologies. Unlike most other types of yoga, Hatha is considerably slower with more time being spent on learning breathing, seating in meditation, and holding poses. However, it is important to note that the styles of teaching could vary depending on each tutor and the design of a class.

The Constituent Parts of Hatha Yoga

One of the greatest contribution of Hatha yoga came from a yogi named Swatmarama. He compiled all the wisdom that had been developed thus far into the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika (HYP). In this volume, key information about such Hatha yoga techniques such as Asana, Shatkarma, and Pranayama is shared. The HYP has four chapters set out as follows.

The Asana

This section of the book offers information on physical postures and recommended diet when doing yoga. Included in the postures is the seating positions that one should be in when meditating.

Shatkarma and Pranayama

Shatkarma addresses what is basically known as the six-fold cleansing techniques. They are Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Trataka, Nauli, and Kapalabhati. Pranayama on the other hand addresses how to control the breath. The literal meaning of the word is the stretching and expanding of Prana. Prana is controlled when one controls breath.

Mudra and Bandha

These are two aspects or principles in Hatha yoga that can help in the preparation of a spiritual hopeful in achieving Kundalini.

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Samadhi

After following the trainings listed in the above three chapters, a person’s flow of Prana becomes more natural. The mind becomes calmer and more peaceful. This helps a practitioner to achieve the state of Samadhi, which is total adoption.

The basic theory of Hatha yoga is to help a practitioner achieve the state of raising the Kundalini Sakti. According to yoga teachings, this is the infinite power that lies at the base of the spine of each individual. In fact, the term Hatha is the combination of two terms, Ha – may mean the sun, active, heating energy, and Tha – meaning the moon, passive, cooling energy.