Yoga mats are sold in nearly every variety imaginable. They are made of synthetic materials, all natural materials, and combinations there of. Plus yoga mats can be purchased to compliment any persons taste or style.

There are a few basic categories of yoga mats: sticky mats, natural fiber mats, and natural rubber/vinyl mats. Each mat has its benefits depending on the type of yoga, the person’s individual preference of feel, and the budget allowed for the item. Every store or website a person will search for yoga mats will be faced with many products that all look the same, each claiming to be the best. The best yoga mat is really in the eyes of the beholder.

Some people which are interested in the mat for power yoga (also known as hatha yoga) will be doing more physical activity and are likely to sweat more. For this reason a natural fiber such as cotton or other natural woven fibers would give a better grip while sweating. People interested in using the mat for complete forms of yoga that include relaxation and meditation will want a longer and possibly thicker mat designed for lying stretched out flat. Many of these mats will be made from natural rubber or vinyl depending on the manufacturer.

For stretches and balancing poses many people prefer the security of a sticky mat. These mats are made of PVC a synthetic material which is designed to help people keep their grip. The mats are often light weight and easy to carry.

Buying Basics

Regardless of the exact material to be used for the mat, there are a few basic considerations to be taken with any yoga mat. The yoga mat should be durable; to test the durability some people use a quarter to rub away at a sample of the material counting the strokes. At the end of the test, this person can deduct that the mat that was able to withstand the largest number of strokes is the most durable.

A yoga mat should also be easy to care for. Much like clothing, yoga mats which are machine washable are preferable to mats which require hand washing or other special care. Yoga mats are frequently used on public floors, for sanitation and personal comfort machine washable mats will fit the bill.

Most machine washable mats cannot withstand the spin cycle, for maximum life of the mat it should be removed and allow to air dry flat or hanging. Rolling the mat or folding it before it has had time to dry can also affect its longevity.

[tags]yoga, yoga mats[/tags]

The most common form of yoga practiced in the United States is hatha yoga. Hatha yoga differs from other disciplines of yoga as it is more exercise than mental preparation for meditation. All yoga stretches are designed to relax the body on the path of spiritual enlightenment including meditation; however most Americans practice the poses for the fitness benefits.

Hatha yoga is a gentle exercise which strengthens the existing muscles without adding unwanted muscle bulk. Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, and yogis do seem to enjoy good health. If you’re stressed, yoga is particularly valuable, because it’s an excellent way of clearing your mind, and getting rid of the effects of adrenaline before you become ill.

Hatha Yoga and Illness

There is no conclusive scientific evidence that hatha yoga has any positive or negative health benefits. However, the technique is thousands of years old and the people which practice the poses and meditation claim a variety of health benefits. Hatha yoga is said by some to be able to ease every discomfort from bowel problems to headaches. The stretches and poses are said to massage the inner organs balancing the body’s chemicals naturally.

Even if there is no conclusive evidence supporting the claims that hatha yoga does in fact have health benefits beyond physical exercise, many people who practice yoga have better self esteem, are more in tune with their bodies needs, and take a more active role in their health by exercising regularly and eating healthy foods.

Menstrual Discomfort

Many medical facilities are dedicated to women’s health alone because of a woman’s unique anatomy and life changes. Hatha yoga is able to promote women’s health by providing an outlet for daily exercise which is recommended by most doctors. Also the massaging of internal muscles, the poses and stretches are thought to ease menstrual pain or other discomforts associated with the menstrual cycle.

Yoga during Pregnancy

Some poses of hatha yoga are known to be safe exercises for women while pregnant. However, not all poses should be preformed while pregnant; poses which would require a woman to press on her stomach for instance would not be recommended.

Also during the third trimester, only gentle stretches and poses of hatha yoga should be practiced. Any poses which would require a woman to lie on her back or stand on one foot should be avoided late in pregnancy.

There is a reason for each of these points; in the first case, there is a large system of veins that supply blood and oxygen to the baby that runs by the spine. The added weight of the baby on this system of veins can slow blood flow to the baby and deny it oxygen. The other is because during pregnancy, usually sometime in the second trimester, a woman’s equilibrium changes and she may have trouble maintaining her balance while on one foot.

[tags]yoga, hatha yoga, pregnancy, exercises, women[/tags]

Mala Beads For Yoga

Want a mind that’s clear and calm like water, but prepared to deal with anything? Mala meditation helps you to achieve this state. When I first started to meditate, I found it almost impossible to calm my mind. “Monkey mind” never stopped jumping around.

Then a teacher suggested that mala meditation would help. A mala is string of beads, and you repeat a mantra as you count each bead. For example, your mantra might be “Om”, so as you pass the beads through your fingers, you say Om at each bead. Malas have 108 beads, with an additional large Meru bead, which lets you know when you’ve reached the end of your count. When you get to the Meru, you reverse the mala, and keep counting your mantra again.

Malas Can Be Simple, Or Beautiful

Malas are available in many different forms. Semi-precious stones are popular, because stones are said to have specific effects. A rock crystal mala, for example, is said to be healing and protective, while a sandalwood mala brings calm and tranquillity – and smells wonderful, too.

Tips For Mala Meditation

* You can say your mantra aloud, or silently to yourself. Keep up a steady pace as you work your way around the mala – don’t rush. If your mind wanders from the mantra, bring it gently back;

* You can spend as much time as you please in mala meditation. Start off with five or ten minutes. Even just a single round of counting your mala will focus and relax you – great if you’re going for a job interview or are giving a presentation;

* Keep your mala in a safe place. Some people choose to wear their mala, so that it’s always handy, and they can take time out for stressful situations;

* End your yoga practice with a few moments of mala meditation – then get up ready to take on the world.

Mala Beads For Yoga

[tags]yoga, mala, mala meditation, beads, mantra [/tags]