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An Overview of Yoga Equipment
Most people don't need much in the way of yoga equipment, with some folks getting by using nothing more than a comfortable pair of sweats and an open floor space in their house or apartment. If you really want to put yourself in the mood for yoga, or just want to look the part, here is some yoga equipment to consider.
Mats
Sticky yoga mats can provide a safe and comfortable non-slip surface to go through your yoga routine upon. Mats made specifically as yoga equipment tend to be thinner than Pilates mats and are usually easily rolled up to place in your gym bag for easy transportation and storage. Most places selling yoga equipment will even offer a variety of mat styles and colors, so you can express yourself in the gear you choose.
Blocks
Yoga blocks and bricks are used by many yogis to modify poses in their workouts whether they want to deepen their stretches, lessen the strain on a particular muscle set when easing into a new pose, or just to attain better body alignment. Most yoga equipment stores will sell different sizes of blocks that can be used in both simple and advanced poses.
Yoga Straps
Another useful piece of yoga equipment is simple nylon strap with a plastic or metal buckle. These are usually light-weight and available in several colors. The yoga strap is used by most people who just can't quite reach a specific goal in a pose yet, such as the Seated Forward Bend or Paschimottanasana where you sit with both legs in front of you and attempt to lay your torso flat over your thighs. If your hamstrings are particularly tight, a yoga strap can be looped around the bottoms of your feet and used to pull your torso gently forward until you feel that distinctive stretch where you need it.
Videos
Yoga workouts on DVD and video are a popular choice among folks shopping for yoga equipment as these videos cater to those that are too busy to attend a regular class, or don't feel the need for a full on teacher anymore. This is less conventionally thought of as yoga equipment, but can set a mood for the home-based yogi that they might be hard-pressed to get otherwise.
Of course, almost any yoga equipment shop is bound to have full on yoga "kits" as well. Such packages will typically include one or two blocks, straps, a mat and possibly a video or flash cards of different poses and can be a wonderful starting point for the yoga enthusiast that doesn't quite know where to begin.
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