| Yoga Equipment, Tools, and Props may not be | | | | Yoga Belt: Made of cotton or nylon, these |
| required when practicing Yoga but they have | | | | wide belts help support and align your back |
| always been useful aids to practitioners. | | | | and also to extend your grasp. They really |
| Take note that it is essential to feel | | | | aid in the stretching of your muscles |
| relaxed and comfortable when doing the poses | | | | especially the hamstrings |
| | | | |
| The most commonly used and most easily | | | | Blocks: Like blankets, blocks are props to |
| recognized piece of yoga exercise equipment | | | | make yourself more comfortable and improve |
| is a yoga mat. Of course, there are many | | | | your alignment. Blocks are great for standing |
| other types of equipment that exist, | | | | poses in which your hand doesn't reach the |
| including blocks, bolsters, straps, grips, | | | | floor. |
| inversion slings, and more. | | | | |
| | | | Straps: Straps are particularly useful for |
| Yoga has been called one of the fastest | | | | bound poses if your hands do not reach each |
| growing sports. However, it is | | | | other, and for poses where you need to hold |
| non-competitive and each individual "player" | | | | onto your feet but cannot reach them. |
| works at his or her personal level-increasing | | | | |
| strength as they continue | | | | Another piece of yoga equipment you may want |
| | | | to consider is a book or DVD for beginning |
| Basic yoga equipment comprises of equipment | | | | yoga students to walk you through the |
| like mats, blankets and eye bags. Then the | | | | different exercises. Even if you are taking a |
| second type of yoga equipment that includes | | | | yoga class, it can be nice to have a |
| supportive tools like belts, blocks and | | | | reference at home in case you have questions |
| bolsters and even specialized tools that | | | | or aren't clear on how to assume a particular |
| provide support for the designs they were | | | | posture. |
| designed for. | | | | |
| | | | Serious yogis may want to invest in the |
| Your yoga mat can either be a large thick | | | | following yoga equipment: |
| towel or rug, or a special yoga mat that is | | | | |
| designed by different companies and sold in | | | | * An inversion sling is a specialized piece |
| sports shops. The majority of yoga mats that | | | | of yoga equipment that helps to relieve back |
| are used are made from cotton or polyester | | | | pain by facilitating low back muscle |
| latex. There are more expensive mats and less | | | | stretching and providing additional spinal |
| expensive ones, so you have to search around | | | | traction. Slings can also be used to stretch |
| for the quality and type you want to invest | | | | shoulder, chest, and groin muscles. |
| in. | | | | |
| | | | * Yoga ropes are wall-mounted devices that |
| Foam Block: Foam blocks are used for | | | | help you develop strength and flexibility. |
| beginners to extend their reach. Foam blocks | | | | They assist in the practice of backbends or |
| should be dense enough to support your full | | | | forward bends, make it easier to stretch your |
| weight. | | | | shoulder muscles, and help to create spinal |
| | | | traction. |