How to Buy Yoga Clothes
♫ Wednesday, May 12th, 2010There are scores of benefits that can be drawn from performing yoga. Increased flexibility, increased cardiovascular conditioning, an improved mental state, and an overall enhancement of heath and welfare are all benefits that can be procured. Of course, these benefits are only possible with regular and proper practice. And there is a sphere to proper practice that needs to be effectively pointed out. Specifically, you need to wear the right clothes during your yoga sessions. With the right clothes, you can get the most out of the yoga session. That is a guarantee!
Is it difficult to select the right yoga clothing? No, it is fairly easy to make the right clothing purchasing decision provided you apply a few criteria to the purchase. Here are some of those criteria to follow:
Look for lose fitting clothes that are not restrictive. A great deal of yoga lessons entail performing poses and stretches. If your clothing is pulling your range of motion back then you will not be getting the proper benefit out of the session. This is why you need to stay away from jeans or other casual wear that is not designed for exercise. It simply will not help the cause as far as getting the most out of your exercise session is concerned.
Also, you need to get the blood flowing in order to get the most benefit out of a yoga class. Restrictive clothing does not exactly promote this all that well. Again, that is why the clothing is dubbed restrictive! In all seriousness, you want to stick with yoga clothes that are loose. Anything else will undermine the ability to properly move or experience the benefits of the yoga class.
Loose clothing generally goes hand in hand with comfort. Can you get the most out of any exercise session if you are not dressed in a comfortable manner. This can certainly undermine the potential to take a lot of fun out of yoga. And what would a yoga class be when it is not fun? Probably not something you would want to invest time in. That is why it is necessary to look towards purchasing the right clothes. One way to make sure you do this is through trying the clothes on prior to purchase. However, if you have a clear idea of what size you are, you could buy online simply by matching the proper size on the online catalogue.
You would definitely also wish to purchase sweat absorbent clothing since this will enhance your ability to have fun in the class. Yoga is really not all about being drenched in sweat. Save that for the ‘pumping iron’ days. Certain styles and brands of clothing are better designed for absorbing sweat than others. Look towards those types of clothes when you are looking to make a buy.
It is not tough to make the right decisions when you look to purchase yoga clothes. Again, you just have to be a little careful in your approach but you can make the right decisions with the proper planning.
Yoga For Women – Three Basic Breathing Exercises to Beat Stress
♫ Monday, April 13th, 2009Your breath is your link to improved health, emotional stability and well-being. Learning how to breathe correctly is vital to help keep you balanced and calm. Ancient yoga philosophy says we are all born with a set number of breaths – therefore, it makes sense to use the breath we have efficiently.
Practice the following three basic yoga breathing exercises anytime during your day, when you feel stressed, tired or exhausted. Better still, why not try waking up a few minutes earlier, picking a breathing practice and trying it out before you engage with your day. That way, you start the day on a much clearer and more focused way.
As with all yoga breathing exercises, be gentle, respect and listen to your body. If you feel uncomfortable, stop the exercise and return to normal breathing.
1. Counted Breath
Sit comfortably, with a nice straight spine and your feet firmly resting on the floor, close your eyes and take a long steady breath in through your nose and slowly breathe out through your nose. Do this for 3 more times as it helps to calm and clear your mind. Next breathe in slowly for a count of three and slowly breathe out for a count of six. Repeat this sequence of breathing in for 3 and out for 6 for 3 – 7 rounds. Slowly open your eyes and be aware of how calm and relaxed you feel.
2. Rainbow Breathing
Sit in a comfortable position, with your spine straight and body relaxed. Close your eyes and visualise a rainbow. See all seven colours of the rainbow. Choose any colour or combination of colours from your rainbow. Imagine slowly breathing in this colour/s through your nose and slowly breathing it out. Allow each breath to gradually deepen and travel throughout your body. Feel the tension in your body leave you as breathe your colour in and around and through your body. Continue with this practice until you feel ready to get up and reconnect with your day.
3. Deep Yogic Breathing Either sit comfortably, arms relaxed, nice straight spine and feet resting firmly on the floor or lie down on your bed. Place your right palm on your lower abdomen and your left palm on your upper chest, just below your collar bones. Breathe slowly in through your nose and as you do so, consciously focus on sending your breath from your right hand up to your left hand, be aware of the hands raising on the in-breath and slowly lowering on the out breathe. Repeat this deep yogic breathing for 3 – 7 more times, each time, allowing the breath to be fuller and deeper.