If you've ever made an effort to practice yoga without a mat, then you have already discovered how crucial a mat is to performing your poses safely and correctly. But, before we discuss this most essential of yoga "props," as well as discuss yoga mat bags, let's talk a little about Yoga, itself.

Yoga Mind/Body Benefits

Yoga practitioners have discovered that habitual yoga practice awakens both mind and body! As you clear your mind to give your undivided attention to each pose, you awaken your "inner body" awareness of the present moment. Consistent yoga practice advances a healthy body through proper breathing for more oxygenation, greater flexibility for ease of motion, added muscle strength for confident movement, and perfect alignment for enhanced energy flow. The goal of yoga practice is to create a union between the body, mind and spirit.

It takes time and commitment, as well as a whole lot of patience, to master a yoga pose. No one is a master the first time they make an effort to do anything. But, slowly over time, as you practice and make an effort to perform each pose flawlessly, without pushing yourself too far physically or beating yourself up mentally, you will find that you are developing flexibility, strength, and energy physically and feeling more peaceful and clear mentally.

The best environment for doing your practice is a fresh, graceful place with a bare floor and accessible wall. It's important to turn off your cell phone while practicing your yoga routines to avoid any distraction. Preferably, you should not eat for at least 2 hours before practicing. If you find you need to eat, then try to eat something light, such as a piece of fruit, but no more than 1 hour before you start your yoga practice.

If you should experience pain or discomfort as you attempt a pose, pause or stop, then try again with more mindful movement.

Yoga props and yoga accessories, such as yoga mats, yoga bolsters, yoga straps, yoga blocks, yoga mat bags, and even yoga towels are perfect for benefiting you in moving deeper into a pose, in performing a flawless pose, and in practicing in a healthful way.

Yoga prop benefits are numerous, but principally they help to avoid, or relieve, pain and discomfort that can accompany the more challenging yoga poses, particularly in the beginning.

Sometimes we all "push" rather than "easing" into a yoga pose, and injury sometimes occurs. Yoga props can provide the support and extensions needed to do a pose correctly.

Doing yoga releases rigidity, and using props helps with stress relief by giving the support needed for you to relax (but not be lazy) in your practice.

The plumb line, that is, "head-over-heels" body alignment, is crucial in doing yoga poses perfectly. Yoga props help you maintain appropriate alignment.

Ease and flexibility of movement are important benefits to using yoga props. Certain props create space in the joints and allow the body more fluid movement without putting stress on a particular joint.

As we mentioned earlier, yoga practice is about unifying the mind, body and spirit through the development of a deeper awareness and the augmentation of mindfulness. How can yoga props assist in this great goal? When you are able to simply focus your awareness on doing your yoga poses correctly, rather than worrying about transitory limitations, you will go deeper into that balance of mind, body, and spirit.

 

Yoga Mats

There are many benefits to using the slender, rectangular (often rubber) mat, known as a yoga mat, or a sticky mat. Its essential function is to aid in keeping you from sliding as you move into various yoga poses. It provides a stable, non-slip surface for your practice.

It is also made of a composition that gives it the "perfect" texture, the one Baby Bear would use if he practiced yoga. A surface that is too soft, like a carpet, would make balancing and position yourself very difficult. On the other hand, some poses would be too uncomfortable for your hands, knees, and feet if you tried to practice them on a hard surface, such as a hardwood floor.

Nearly all yoga mats are made of lightweight, durable latex-free rubber or natural rubber and jute fiber that provides not only stability as you practice, but protection from cool floors. For those who want a more eco-friendly mat, there are some around.  Specifically, there is a new "environmentally friendly" yoga mat made of PER (Polymer Environmental Resin), a fabric that is ascribed to be more "sensitive" to the environment and your well-being than rubber yoga mats. It doesn't contain phthalates or heavy metals, and its means of production is said to be entirely non-toxic. But, if being "super" green is your goal, there is a rubber and cotton mesh mat on the market that comes right from a “tapped” tree that continues to thrive.

Yoga Mat Bags

Yoga mat bags help to protect your mat and yoga accessories, and make transporting them more convenient. There is a small yoga mat bag, sized only slightly larger than your mat, that is just great if you bring only a few things with you to your yoga class. But, if you're someone who feels the necessity to "take it all" with you, there are big, duffel-style mat bags that will hold extra goodies like yoga blocks, towels, water bottles, extra clothing, and more!

Want to make your own yoga bag and choose a unique material? If so, there are many good online resources to instruct you. Off the rack yoga mat bags are usually produced from nylon, cotton, organic cotton, or hemp.

 

Tags: yoga mats, yoga mat bag, yoga supplies, yoga accessories, Fitness Tips, yoga mat bags, yoga mat

Related posts:

  1. How Can a Yoga Strap Help Your Yoga Practice?
  2. Yoga And The Benefits Of Practice
  3. The advantage of Yoga.
  4. Widely Known Yoga Stretches
  5. How Yoga Stretches Can Help You Relax and Strengthen Your Body

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!