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