"Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can't sleep with the window shut, and a woman who can't sleep with the window open."George Bernard Shaw
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The Heart of a Yoga Practice: Dedicating your Efforts
Copyright 2006 Alanna Kaivalya There are a variety of reasons people begin practicing yoga. Many wonder what all the fuss is about, some have heard that it can help with flexibility and strength, and others wonder about the stress relief benefits. More ...
Yoga is a Safe Solution to Weight Control
One more study tells the world, that Yoga can help with weight control and weight loss. The latest study was held by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. The study involved 15,500 healthy, middle-aged, men and women. This is ...
Yoga Position – What Does Each Type Do?
I often wondered what the value of each type of yoga position is, so I did some research to find out. All yoga positions help to develop strength and flexibility. Yet the type of yoga position that you do also offers some very specific benefits. Standing ...
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Some people may wonder if using a yoga prop can help them get more out of their
practice. My personal opinion is yes.
B.K.S. Iyengar introduced the yoga prop as a means of supporting proper
alignment of the joints and bones during postures. Maintaining proper alignment is key to reducing the possibility of injury and to allowing you to get deeper into the poses. Props are especially useful for beginners, for people who do not have a great deal of
flexibility, for those who are recovering from injuries, and for those with special physical
needs.
Typical Yoga Props
Yoga Block – I use this yoga prop often, especially when I am doing a
Forward Bend and my hamstrings are not yet flexible enough to allow me to comfortably touch my hands to the floor. Yoga blocks are a great aid to help you maintain proper alignment in challenging poses. You can stack several blocks to gain height or use them to support you in certain poses.
Yoga Strap – Another yoga prop that I use often is a strap. Straps can
help you reach limbs such as feet and hands during certain postures where you have limited flexibility. They help you maintain proper alignment and help you lengthen your body. I always use a strap for one of my favorite poses – Cow Pose – because I am not yet able to grasp my hands behind my back. The use of the strap allows my arms to be
comfortable so I can fully relax forward in the pose.
Yoga Ball - This yoga prop is extremely versatile and it is one that I use several times each week. It is great for developing core strength because you need to recruit significant muscle fibers when doing postures in order to keep the ball from rolling and you from falling. It can be very useful for beginners and those recovering
from injuries because it helps with support and alignment. A yoga ball is also great for stretching because you can get an extended range of motion.
Blankets - Although I don't often use them, blankets can offer many
benefits. They can help support you in poses, they provide padding, and they also provide warmth so you can be very comfortable in restorative poses.
Less Common Yoga Props
Backbend Benches - They help to support you during backbends.
They reduce straining and allow your spine to maintain proper alignment while
increasing flexibility in your shoulders, chest and the front of your body.
Eye Pillows - They are soft cushions that you place on your eyes to help you focus inward and achieve a greater sense of peace and calmness during relaxation poses.
There are times when using a yoga prop can help you deepen your practice, and
during those times, you might want to consider using one or all of these props. At other times, you might not feel the need to use them. The important thing is to pay attention to
your body and to respond to what it needs each time you practice.
About the Author
Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast who has been involved in fitness for over thirty years. Here website http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/ is filled with practical information about how you can make yoga and fitness a positive part of your life.
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