yoga for beginners
If you're new to yoga or thinking of beginning, congratulations on taking the the first step into a world that can keep you both mentally and physically fit. It doesn't matter what shape or size you are, yoga is and always has been for everyone. Yoga has become popular worldwide for its holisitic approach to mind, body and spirit. So whether you use it to keep fit, reduce stress or for spiritual reasons, yoga has something for you.
A yoga mat is important because it provides a stable base on which you can practice. Your choice of mat will depend to some extent on what style of yoga you have chosen to practice, though if you are a beginner most mats will be suitable to get you started. A good choice of yoga mat, suitable for most types of yoga would be the Asana Yoga Mat or the Rishikesh Yoga Mat. These mats are classed as classic 'sticky mats' and so have great grip, are durable, offer good cushioning, are machine washable and great value. We have many other yoga mats available with different designs that you may prefer as your mat is a very personal choice. Call us for yoga mat advice, or ask your teacher if you have one. You can view our full range of yoga mats here. . .
You will find having a yoga mat bag extremely useful. Not only does it protect your mat and make it easier to carry, it is also useful for storing your valuables during your yoga class. Some of our mat bags are suitable for carrying just your yoga mat and your valuables but others are larger and will carry two mats, a change of clothing, perhaps some blocks or bricks (yoga props) or a blanket, it just depends on your personal taste and practice. Make sure you look at the dimensions of the bag to give you an idea or the bag's capacity. All of our bags will carry a standard yoga mat. The Street Yoga Mat Bag is a great choice if you walk or cycle to your class as it is compact, weather-proof and stylish. You can view our full range of yoga mat bags here. . .
Like most forms of exercise, you need clothing that will allow you to move and stretch easily without being restrictive. You may wish to choose clothing that won't ride up to reveal bits of you that you'd rather keep fully clothed. Bear in mind that some yoga poses eventually require you to be inverted. Some styles of yoga make you sweat more than others and some people tend to wear a vest or camisole style top for this reason. Generally, people prefer to be able to move their arms and legs freely without excess fabric getting in the way. Natural fabrics or clothing made up of mainly natural fabrics with just a little bit of elasticity seem to work the best as they allow your body to breathe. Man made fibres can be 'slippery' and are not always ideal, particularly if your teacher is trying to adjust you in a pose. We have chosen our range of yoga clothing with all of the above in mind and have tried and tested all of our clothing both for men and women. You can see our range of yoga clothing for men and women here. . .
We have an extensive range of downloadable mp3 yoga classes for beginners, relaxation, meditation, mindfulness and weight loss to name but a few. All are available for immediate download at the checkout and can be played on your smartphone, tablet or computer. We also have some handy articles about yoga here
There are many other pieces of equipment available that may be useful and may support you in your yoga journey. For example, some teachers may advise the use of props, blocks or bricks to help you to achieve a pose or straps to help you 'bind' in a pose. There are blankets which are useful for relaxation after your yoga practice, for mediation or for rollling or folding to use as a soft 'bolster'. As your yoga progresses, you may well find out for yourself what type of equipment and clothing you prefer. Don't forget, if you'd like some advice about any of our products, you can either email or telephone us and someone will be always happy to help you.
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