This is an interesting article about Yoga and dieting.

You can read it here.

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Selecting a yoga mat is about as individual as choosing which workout to do. There is no “one right type” for everyone. In fact, choosing the right mat depends on many different factors such as the type of yoga or the specific level you are at. If you are just starting out in yoga for weight loss, you will need a different mat than someone else who has been practicing for decades in, say, Ashtanga yoga.

The biggest factor when choosing a mat is your personal level. If you are just starting out, a “sticky” mat, or a mat that doesn’t slip when you are practicing your poses, would be your best bet. The reason is that if you are still learning the poses, you don’t exactly have the coordination it takes to keep the mat still, which could be dangerous should you happen to fall. It really is for safety purposes. A great example of this type of mat can be found here. This mat is designed to keep you in poses without slipping around!

However, if you are at the “pro” level, relying on a sticky mat is not optimizing your workout. This is because it defeats the purpose of what yoga is really supposed to be–a balance between mind and body. Having a sticky mat when you know what you are doing does not help you to achieve that level of awareness where you let your body just “fall into the poses”. Having a mat that doesn’t stick to the floor will help you achieve greater balance of body, as well as your mind–which is the main purpose of yoga. Of course, you don’t want your mat to be slippery, but it needs to be about as naturally slippery as if you were to be outside on the natural earth. Blankets made for this purpose are great for you and can be found here.

The type of yoga also determines what type of yoga mat you select. If you tend to sweat alot during yoga, such as in Bikram or Ashtanga yoga, then you need a mat that will absorb your sweat. While a natural slipping is good in yoga, slipping because the mat is wet from sweat is another matter altogether. You want a mat that will act almost like a towel.

Another type of mat that can be helpful in yoga are the extra thick mats. These are for people who may have some need for extra cushioning, such as older people or people who are recovering from a major illness or surgery. Or even people who have arthritis, sore joints, or just like extra cushions.

Whatever you choose, be sure to get what is right for you and your personal level and abilities. If you have the right mat, you will be able to make your yoga be more effective…which is what you want, right?

Yoga towels are a simple solution to slippage off the yoga mat that might occur from too much sweat while practicing yoga. Also called yoga mat towels, they’re designed to fit on top of your yoga mat and be absorbent, not only helping you stay in place but wicking up excess moisture, as well. These towels are soft on one side, and generally have grippers on the other, whether that be in the form of rubber dots or a latex-free coating that keeps the towel from sliding around.

Often times, people try to use beach or bath towels, but these are most always the wrong size, or not as absorbent as necessary. You want your towel to not only fit your mat, but take up as little room as possible, especially working out in a class with other people around. Yoga towels can also be a substitute mat in a pinch, and can be used in place of a regular towel, as well – especially after working out to hot yoga, like Bikram. They help you stay put by using your body weight to evenly distribute the gripping agent, meaning you get a steadier, more stable yoga experience every time.

The super absorbent material that comprises yoga mats is better at soaking up water and sweat than regular towels, dries quicker than a regular cotten towel, and the lightness of the towel means it can be rolled up and stored easily, without bulky excess in your yoga bag. Available in an array of colors and styles, yoga towels coordinate with your personality and style, without becoming an overwhelming accessory. Brightly colored towels might signify motivation for you, or a lighter color might help with relaxation during the meditation period.

Yoga towels are a little more expensive than regular towels, but many yoga practitioners feel they’re a good investment. It’s a good idea to have several yoga towels on hand at all times, so you always have a clean one and one that fits your mood. You can purchase discount and wholesale yoga towels and yoga blankets at SunShineYoga.com.

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Yoga exercise balls are constructed from soft PVC and elastic and filled with air. The diameter usually ranges between 14 to 24 inches. They are similar to medicine balls, however, they are much larger and far lighter. These yoga exercise balls can be inflated or deflated by removing a valve stem and adjusting the air pressure.

Yoga exercise balls are also known as stability balls, exercise balls, Swiss balls, gym balls, physioballs, Pezzi balls, sports balls, Swedish balls, therapy balls, birthing balls, fitness balls, pilates ball or gymnastic balls.

An Italian manufacturer named Aquilino Cosani first developed the stability ball in 1963. He was able to develop a process whereby plastic balls were molded to become large and puncture-resistant. First called Pezzi Balls and Swiss Balls, these exercise balls were adapted by a British physiotherapist, Mary Quinton, for use in treatment programs in newborns and infants in Switzerland. Dr. Susanne Klein-Vogelbach, who worked as the director of a Basel, Switzerland school for physical therapy, found that yoga exercise balls were beneficial for neuro-developmental treatment. She found that the exercise ball was highly beneficial for treating adults with orthopedic and medical problems. This is known as functional kinetics. A number of physical therapists from North America began to utilize the stability ball in their own physical therapy programs. Athletic training now uses exercise balls as part of a standardized fitness routine. Other forms of exercise such as yoga also use the stability ball as an incorporated factor in the program.

Using an exercise ball has a number of advantages over direct exercise on a hard flat surface because the body is forced to remain balanced despite the instability of the ball. This utilizes a number of muscles not normally worked in standard exercises, primarily abdominal and back muscles.

Yoga exercise balls can be used instead of a chair. This has become very commonplace in offices, for example. The proper posture needed in order to make this happen constantly works the back and abdominal muscles. Many physical therapists recommend the use of a stability ball for patients that work in sedentary jobs.

These yoga exercise balls can also be used in the birthing process. They aid in the process whereby the fetal head descends into the pelvis. Being seated in the upright position is also more comfortable for a woman during the childbirth process as it helps with fetal positioning. This is usually accomplished by having the woman sit on the exercise ball. She places her arms on the bed or table and rocks her hips. This has been found by natural physiologists to assist during the contractions and overall aid in the process of birth.

SunShineYoga.com is an excellent place to buy Yoga Balls at a discount.

Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats

It is important to consider the materials one consumes, particularly when considering how to live in a more sustainable way on our planet of limited resources. Yoga, while a great form of exercise, also is useful in developing respect for one’s body and the space one occupies, leading to an increased awareness of the need for sustainability and responsibility with one’s resources.

Ironically, most commercially-produced yoga mats are made from PVC, hardly a sustainable or organic material. There are, however, a wide variety of organic and eco-friendly yoga mats available. The cost of these mats is well worth it, given the lesser impact they have on our planet’s health.

Natural yoga mats are those made primarily from plant or animal sources, but are not necessarily produced according to organic standards of no pesticides or chemicals. Organic yoga mats are entirely produced without any chemical pesticides, fertilizers, or dyes. Sustainable yoga mats, or eco-friendly yoga mats, can be produced from a variety of materials, but must be either made from renewable resources or be completely biodegradable.

Often, eco-friendly yoga mats are made from natural rubber, or from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), a biodegradable type of plastic. Natural and organic yoga mats are usually made of jute fiber, hemp, or cotton. Sometimes, those wishing to use a sustainable yoga mat use an organic cotton towel instead of a mat, or layer a natural yoga mat on top of a standard one for extra padding and traction. Consider whether you are going to practice yoga on a carpeted surface or a smooth floor, as some natural mats can be slipperier than others. Eco friendly yoga mats made of natural rubber or TPE will provide better traction than those made of cotton.

An important consideration in choosing an organic yoga mat or an eco friendly yoga mat is the environment in which you will be practicing yoga, as well as the type of yoga you wish to practice. Sometimes natural yoga mats can be slipperier than their PVC counterparts, despite the many benefits of pvc free yoga mats. Organic cotton yoga mats are often filled with cotton or wool batting to provide extra cushioning and support. Jute or hemp yoga mats have a much different feel than a standard yoga mat, but their weave is better for more rigorous yoga, as it will prevent slipping even if one is sweating.

Professional natural rubber yoga mats and TPE yoga mats are much more similar to standard yoga mats, in their feel and design. They are almost always latex free, since many have allergies to latex, and TPE is a fantastic alternative for those who may have an allergy to natural rubber. These mats are produced without any toxic materials, and without releasing any toxins as by-products during production. They are sustainable, renewable, recyclable, and a great choice for practicing premium eco yoga.

Sunshine Yoga carries a selection of eco conscious yoga mats, including some made of natural rubber and TPE. These eco friendly yoga mats are a wise choice for the environment, and provide the same or better traction, padding, and support as a standard yoga mat. They come in standard sizes (72″ x 24″) and are available in a variety of thicknesses, providing the comfort and support you need for your yoga practice, without the toxins, allergens, and impact of a standard yoga mats. Eco friendly yoga mats, whether organic, natural, sustainable, or all three, will help incorporate your values into your yoga practice, for a more holistic and respectful experience.

Yoga balls are large balls made of elastic soft PVC, first developed in 1963 in Italy by Aquilino Cosani. Originally known as “Pezzi balls,” their original purpose was for physical therapy of infants and newborns, and later uses included using them to treat adults with medical or orthopedic problems. These balls are now used as part of a general fitness routine, or for specific types of exercise such as yoga or pilates.

One benefit of exercising with a yoga ball is balance. On a flat surface, fewer muscles are engaged, while using a yoga ball instead requires the body to remain balanced, using many more muscles than the particular exercise demands. In yoga, the yoga ball also provides stability and support for more complicated poses, allowing the user to develop flexibility and balance. Yoga balls can be anywhere from 35 to 85 centimeters in diameter; the size of the yoga ball may make a difference in some of the exercises done with it.

Many traditional yoga exercises can incorporate a yoga ball; for example, Warrior I to Warrior II can be performed by lunging, with the yoga ball underneath oneself for support, and then switching to a side pose, still with the front leg bent and the back leg straightened. The presence of the yoga ball assists not only with balance, but also acts as a stabilizer, helping prevent wiggles and wobbles.

The yoga ball also presents a stabilizer and a balance challenge in the upward and downward facing dog poses. Start with your legs on the floor and your hips centered on the yoga ball in front of you, pressing into the yoga ball with your hands, in a version of the upward facing dog position. As you exhale, roll forward and push your body into downward facing dog, an inverted “V” position. Use the yoga ball to support your chest and upper thighs.

Yoga balls can be incorporated into many other yoga exercises and poses, including Bridge, Child’s Pose, Seated Stork Pose, Scissor Kicks, and Quadruped. It is easy to use and integrate into your yoga routine, providing stability and challenging balance.

You can buy wholesale and discount Yoga Balls at SunShineYoga.com.

Yoga Blankets and Bolsters Yoga has become the fitness exercise of choice for millions of people around the world. People of all ages are benefiting from this ancient method of circulating positive energy throughout the body. Yoga puts us in a state of balance and the body aligns itself with the mind. While some people find Yoga poses exhilarating, others have a difficult time achieving the poses, so Yoga Blosters and Blankets have been created to assist those who need a little extra help.

Bolsters support the abdomen, spine, neck and legs during difficult poses. Yoga Bolsters are shaped cushions and can be used in different styles of Yoga like Ananda, Bikram and Kripalu. Yoga Bolsters act as a support to straighten the backbone. Yoga Bolsters come in the Standard Round, the Standard Rectangular, the Pranayama Rectangular and the Junior Round Yoga Bolster. Each style is unique and has a different purpose. Yoga Bolsters are portable, easy to store and are used for meditation as well. Yoga Bolsters can retail anywhere from $28 to $68. SunshineYoga.com has a great selection at special sale prices.

Yoga Blankets are another item that enhances different poses. Mexican Yoga Blankets are versatile Yoga props. Yoga Blankets can be substituted for Blosters in some poses and are also great for providing a stable but giving surface for shoulder stands. Yoga Blankets can be used in restorative and Pranayama poses. They also provide warmth and relaxation for the body at the end of a Yoga routine. Mexican Yoga Blankets come in several colors and designs. The premium Yoga Blanket measures 76” long x 57”wide. It is machine washable, weights 3 pounds and is made in Mexico. The Classic Mexican Yoga Blanket measures 74’x 54” wide. It’s machine washable and is a blend of Acrylic, Polyester and Cotton. It weighs 2.25 pounds. Yoga Blankets retail for $16 to $30, but SunshineYoga.com has both designs and they can be purchased at special prices.

Yoga Bolsters and Yoga Blankets are two of the products that assist in achieving Yoga poses. Both of them can be used as tools to connect the body to the mind.

Many people associate Yoga with flexibility and watch the Yoga “experts” in envy, thinking they can’t possibly will their bodies to bend and stretch into these seemingly difficult positions. They quit before they even start. Are you one of these people who think about Yoga, then tell yourself that you are not flexible enough? Flexibility is not a beginner’s requirement. Yoga is first and foremost meant to strengthen the body, mind and spirit. Flexibility comes later. Or it can come sooner with the aide of our Yoga straps!

Our popular yoga straps are designed for comfort while preventing constricted circulation. Useful for the beginner, the intermediate and advanced Yogis alike, these straps help to lengthen the reach while maintain alignment in poses such as the Cow Pose, Seated Forward Bend and the Downward Facing Dog.

Our Yoga straps are made with comfortable, durable 100% cotton, designed to provide optimal support while stretching. Available in different lengths, these straps come in three buckle closure options; the d- ring, pinch and cinch buckles; all are easy to use.

Yoga straps are a highly beneficial prop allowing it’s user to hold a pose longer than they could previously, and is especially helpful for stretching in hard to reach positions. Even common stretches are easier to do with the Yoga strap. You will be able to pull yourself closer to the floor and deepen your stretches further than you thought possible.

Yoga straps are becoming more common as people realize their many benefits. If you are a beginner, these help with postures that you aren’t able to conform your body to on your own. If you are an experienced Yogi seeking a challenge, they are just the right prop for you too.

The Yoga strap has so many uses for Yogis at every level. Do your mind, body and spirit a favor; begin Yoga today; be more flexible tomorrow! You can buy yoga straps at a discount at SunShineYoga.com.