Yoga 101 » Yoga

Best Yoga Studio Design Ideas!

musica9999 — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 06:25:29 +0000

If you intend to start a yoga studio, you should remember that the first rule of thumb is creating an environment of tranquility for you and other visitors. The yoga studio is the space for the spiritual practice of yoga, mind and body strengthening and rejuvenation.

In terms of yoga studio design, simple ideas that honor the individual access to space and inner reflection work best. Often this includes principles of feng shui, though they are not absolutely necessary to create an environment conducive to yoga and meditation principles. Often, owners of yoga studios lean toward more environmentally friendly solutions in their design choices. Bamboo flooring or floors made of cork as well as non-toxic paint have been popular choices.

Soft, recessed lighting gives a studio a lot of needed ambiance, since it means the lights are not as harsh as hanging ceiling lights. Guests will need the entire environment working for what they are trying to achieve in yoga practice. Natural light is also a wonderful alternative, so if you have the opportunity to take advantage of large windows, they work well. Wall mirrors also work well in yoga studios so that the body can be seen in different yoga postures by the instructors.

A bikram yoga studio will need to have the capability of providing a heated room. If the entire studio is not intended for this purpose, a side room will need to be designed at the right temperature settings to provide this service. Typically, bikram yoga is performed in a room that is heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 40 percent humidity. Sessions are offered in 90-minute increments and make use of dialogue to guide you through 27 postures. It is sometimes a good idea to use yoga studio software that can generate pre-recorded voice direction if you or another instructor are not available full-time to assist those practicing bikram yoga.

A well-designed yoga studio will also need to make a good plan for prop storage. Mats, ropes, bolsters, blocks, straps, benches, slings and cushions should all have a neat, easily accessible storage place. Not storing them properly will create more chaos in your yoga studio than is necessary. You do not want to spend a lot of time detangling ropes or trying to fish out a mat from among the yoga blocks. Each person who enters should enter into a clean, organized, welcoming space and be able to begin a yoga ritual or routine right away.

For more information on different types of Yoga, be sure to read the other articles available on yoga 101.

True Yoga

Lululemon Pants

musica9999 — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:47:49 +0000

Lululemon pants are immensely popular throughout North America. Easily recognizable by their distinctive style, excellent quality, and the upside down horseshoe logo (which is actually a stylized A, standing for the original brand name title Athletically Hip) that appears on all Lululemon products, the Lululemon pant is worn by athletic and non-athletic types alike.

Founded in British Columbia, Canada, in 1998, the Lululemon brand advertises “yoga-inspired apparel for healthy living.” True to this motto, one of the line’s most popular items of clothing is the Lululemon yoga pant. This pant, as well as all other Lululemon pants, is offered in a variety of styles and athletic materials, but is always guaranteed to provide the height of comfort and flexibility, in and out of the yoga studio.

The variety of Lululemon yoga pants available is astounding; dozens of styles that will accommodate each individual’s personal tastes. These styles include low or high-rise options, slim or wide legs, reversible styles, and the inclusion of hidden waist pockets (no more worrying about where to hide your locker or house key during a workout!) Another great feature of the pants is the built-in gusset, which prevents them from riding up in the middle of a workout.

Owing to their popularity and extremely high quality construction, Lululemon pants are priced slightly higher than other athletic or yoga pants. Owners of Lululemon pants are proud to wear the brand that is known to be reliable, trendy, and to be flattering on virtually every figure always. For individuals on a budget that still wish to own a pair of the versatile and popular pants, it is possible, with a small amount of research, to locate discount Lululemon yoga pants at various online retailers.

One of the first places that deal-searchers should consider looking for discount Lululemon pants is on E-Bay, where sellers will often make brand new clothing available at below market price. With savvy bidding skills, it is possible to obtain designer clothing at non-designer prices. Additional websites that buyers might consider investigating include www.ecrater.com and www.bonanzle.com, although these websites are not officially endorsed or licensed by Lululemon to sell their products at discount rates.

Discover what the world is raving about. Try on a pair of Lululemon pants, to experience their comfort and versatility, and to look good in the process!

Lululemon pants are a type of yoga clothing that is immensely popular throughout North America. Easily recognizable by their distinctive style, excellent quality, and the upside down horseshoe logo (which is actually a stylized A, standing for the original brand name title Athletically Hip) that appears on all Lululemon products, the Lululemon pant is worn by athletic and non-athletic types alike.

Discover what the world is raving about. Try on a pair of Lululemon pants, to experience their comfort and versatility, and to look good in the process!

Yoga Clothing

musica9999 — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 12:08:09 +0000

What Yoga Clothing Should You Purchase?

If you are just starting out in Yoga and have the average American paunch and love handles then skin tight stretch tops and pants are not going to be your best choice. In the beginning you may want to consider just plain old exercise sweats that you can purchase at the local discount store for about $20.00 a set.

As you become toned and muscular from months of practicing yoga then you will be more comfortable in the tight fitting stretchy clothing. Fashion sense has not passed up the yoga industry and you have hundreds of choices when it comes to looking trendy and showing off what you have accomplished with your body.

Just about every retailer in the United States has joined in on the yoga clothing craze and those stylish, utility, or even sexy workout clothes can be found from the most inexpensive discount retailer to the top shelf department store that caters to the fashion divas and women with more discretionary income than most.

Sustainable organic yoga tops and pants are a very popular niche industry that is selling well right now and most of these companies are donating to green and other charities a small percentage of each purchase you make. So you are not only at the cutting edge of fashion you are help others less fortunate at the same time.

Yoga tops are being worn as a part of a persons everyday clothing choice which is creating more demand and creating new competitors so the prices are going to be lower the longer this trend stays alive.

Some of the more popular yoga clothing brands are BeBe, Old Navy, I Love Yoga, Green Apple, Energy Muse, Bhakti Ware, Natural High, Love This Life, Oramomi, Global Ghetto Organics, Hyde, YOGITOES, Spooney’s, Honeydew Intimates, Land’s End, and the list goes on. So you can see that you will have an endless supply of new and unique apparel to wear daily and to your yoga studio or spa.

Plus sizes for women and big and tall men are available as well. They may cost a little extra due to more fabric in the product but you can be just as fashionable and well dressed as the size zero crowd.

Another great benefit of yoga clothing is that they are wash and wear so you don’t have to worry about taking them to the drycleaners or pressing them. Just hang them up to dry or out of the dryer and they will be ready for your active lifestyle in a flash.

If you are just starting out in Yoga (aka yoga 101) and have the average American paunch and love handles then skin tight stretch tops and pants are not going to be your best choice. In the beginning you may want to consider just plain old exercise sweats that you can purchase at the local discount store for about $20.00 a set.

As you become toned and muscular from months of practicing yoga then you will be more comfortable in the tight fitting stretchy clothing, a popular option being lululemon pants. Fashion sense has not passed up the yoga industry and you have hundreds of choices when it comes to looking trendy and showing off what you have accomplished with your body.

Another great benefit of yoga clothing is that they are wash and wear so you don’t have to worry about taking them to the drycleaners or pressing them. These clothes are also good for pilates workouts, yogalates, and just about any other sport you want to use them for. Just hang them up to dry or out of the dryer and they will be ready for your active lifestyle in a flash.

Yogalates

musica9999 — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 05:40:52 +0000

One of the newest yoga and Pilates trends has been Yogalates. As the amalgamated name indicates, when yoga and Pilates meet, you get Yogalates, an awesome east-meets-west kind of union. Founded by Judith Solomon, Yogalates was developed when she realized that Pilates lacked the ambiance of the yoga room, but that yoga lacked the core strengthening of Pilates. Hence, a new lineage was born. Yogalates is not to be confused with Yogalate, which is just a Karmically enlightened cup of coffee.

You can find Yogalates DVDs with a range of foci from Yogalates for weight loss to relaxation. However, a comprehensive Yogalates workout should be able to encompass both. Solomon Yogalates can be found on DVD, as well, if you want to learn from the founder, herself.

Judith Solomon currently has six different Yogalates DVDs. The Breakthrough Workout is designed with the meditative elements of yoga and the muscle toning and strengthening of Pilates. It has two 25 minutes workouts and comes with a complimentary resistance band. Total Body Toner includes four workouts which each target different parts of the body. Ultimate is designed specifically for morning practice and is divided into three 20-minute workouts. Solomon also includes nutritional advice on this DVD. The forth DVD, Energize, includes a bonus of “meditation basics, to compliment the high-heat regimen of resistance band training.

Firm, Fit and Flexible focuses entirely on flexibility and creating long lean muscles that are strong without being bulky. As an added bonus, she includes a stretch guide booklet, which helps you alleviate tension along common tension points on the body. Last, Weight Loss, hit the market and was instantly popular. This Yogalates DVD encompasses two workouts—one that tones, and the other that burns fat. The Core Toning Workout is designed to target belly fat, by creating more fat-burning muscle cells in your core. The Cardio Enhancer involves quick vinyasas that truly raise the heart rate, hence shrinking fat cells. It ends with ten minutes of relaxation techniques, which many do not realize are integral to weight loss.

Expanding your existing yoga or Pilates practice to encompass Yogalates can be a fun way to explore new parts of both forms of fitness. And if you have moved through all of Judith Solomon’s books and DVDs, you will be happy to know that there are rising stars in the Yogalates world, meaning you have many more DVDs to try.

Judith Solomon currently has six different Yogalates DVDs. The Breakthrough Workout is designed with the meditative elements of yoga and the muscle toning and strengthening of Pilates. It has two 25 minutes workouts and comes with a complimentary resistance band. Total Body Toner includes four workouts which each target different parts of the body. Ultimate is designed specifically for morning practice and is divided into three 20-minute workouts. Solomon also includes nutritional advice on this DVD. The forth DVD, Energize, includes a bonus of meditation basics, to compliment the high-heat regimen of resistance band training.

Expanding your existing yoga or Pilates practice to encompass Yogalates can be a fun way to explore new parts of both forms of fitness. If you go to a local yoga studio you will certainly find classes that focus on it. And if you have moved through all of Judith Solomon’s books and DVDs, you will be happy to know that there are rising stars in the Yogalates world, meaning you have many more DVDs to try.

Kundalini Awakening

musica9999 — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:43:42 +0000

The term Kundalini refers to the energy that lies dormant within each living being. A Kundalini awakening is an individual’s mental and physical discovery of this energy, and can occur in multiple different guises, either conscious or unconscious.

In Hindu mythology, Kundalini is a female serpent that sleeps at the base of every human’s spine. The serpent represents a primal force; a condensed energy that is waiting to be released. According to the myth, when one discovers how to awaken Kundalini, the serpent is free to move throughout the body, beginning with each vertebra of the spine.

Whether Westerners believe in the serpent Kundalini, or just in the abstract concept of contained energy within the body, there is a great deal of fascination with the Kundalini awakening process that is known to occur to individuals under certain circumstances. This fascination is evidenced in the dozens of books written on the topic of Kundalini awakening. One very popular book written on the topic is Robert Morgen’s Kundalini Awakening for Personal Mastery, which discusses the many ways in which individuals might awaken Kundalini within them, and how the harnessing of this energy can significantly change and improve one’s life.

A Kundalini awakening can be trigger for a variety of reasons. Some of the most well-known and holistic methods of accessing this energy is through yoga and meditation, which focuses on the spine, where the energy is said to be contained. Other causes of Kundalini awakening can include fasting, stress, trauma, near death experiences, and psychedelic drugs, although these means or causes are likely to have negative mental and physical side effects that could potentially release only negative energy.

Physical Kundalini awakening symptoms are also extremely varied, and each individual that has experienced a Kundalini awakening will have a different story to relate. Some common indications that you may be experiencing a Kundalini awakening may include tingling sensations throughout the body or brain, flashes of hot and cold sensations in localized areas of the body, twitching muscles, pinching or burning sensations in the body and head, and unexpected bursts of energy which appear to manifest out of nowhere.

Most people agree that a Kundalini awakening is a positive experience that enriches their lives and relationships. To explore the topic further, refer to the many books available for purchase, or speak with a yoga instructor or Kundalini expert.

Is Yogalates For You?

musica9999 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:41:51 +0000

Yogalates, also alternately spelled as yogilates in other places, is the practices of Pilates and Yoga combined for a better workout of the body. It was created by certified Pilates and Yoga instructor Jonathan Urla in 1997. Yogalates helps to integrate the Pilates work out with hatha yoga for a better workout of the body.

Sessions are often 75 minutes long which can change from one yoga studio to another, and is usually taught in a yoga or pilates studio. Music is a usual accompaniment, as the sounds will helps more people to relax and feel comfortable. Music can also provide energy to the attendees while doing either mat work from Pilates or breathing and meditation techniques from Yoga.

If some people can find the time or motivation to go to a studio they can purchase a yogalates DVD for home use. Some people find it easier to work by themselves, without the paranoid feeling of someone watching you. Yogalates DVDs can be found in most stores that sell DVDs, or specialty online shops that cater to Yoga or Pilates. An example, Solomon yogalates DVDs can be found online, and helps combine eastern and western, modern and ancient techniques for a better workout.

There are great benefits you can gain from practicing yogalates, as yogalates for weight loss is one of the main driving forces. Better balance and self-awareness lead to making someone feel better about themselves, gaining self-esteem.

The yogalate work out might help other better than just doing Pilates or Yoga by itself. It is a full workout that helps you feel better about yourself, and promotes weight loss and better balance.

Choosing The Right Yoga Pants

musica9999 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:40:14 +0000

Having the proper attire is an important factor when you are doing a yoga workout. You don’t want to be pulling down your shirt or pulling up your pants in the middle of a workout. This can be distracting to you and to others that are working out around you. Yoga pants are a great place to start when searching for your yoga workout outfit. A great yoga pant for women is fitted to the waist and hip, with a breathable fabric. You want to be able to move and bend with ease and not be worrying about your pants rolling down. A particularly great brand for this is lululemon pants.

Yoga pants women wear can be tight everywhere, or can have a slight flair at the bottom of the pant. Depending on your style and your size, choosing a yoga pant is pretty easy if you know what looks and feels good for you. Men’s yoga pants are usually looser than women’s pants but are still breathable and comfortable. The end of the pant towards the foot us often set with a band of material to keep closer to the body for a great fit during constricting movements.

A popular type of yoga pant is the foldover yoga pants. These pants are most common with women. The waist band of the pants has an extra piece of material that fold down around the waist. This adds a bit more security around the waist and also helps with the concealing of any extra you want to hide around your waist.

Hardtail yoga pants is a great brand of yoga wear that can be found on the internet. Hardtail creates many different types of pieces that can supply all your yoga needs.

Yoga Mats Get You Off The Hard Floor

musica9999 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:29:23 +0000

When you are practicing yoga, a great yoga mat when protect you from the hard floor and also give you the comfort you need during your poses. A yoga mat can be made from various materials and with different lengths and widths. A yoga mat can be any color, with any design sprawled across it. Many people choose a yoga mat for comfort purposes, but others choose their mat for the way it compliments their personality.

Before making your choice on what mat is best suited for you, make sure that it will be the best option for the type of yoga that you are pursuing. The different yoga types may require a specific type of mat or no mat at all. Make sure to check the class for equipment information or the back on the DVD sleeve for a list of the things needed for your yoga course.

Many yoga mats do come with a yoga mat bag. A yoga mat bag is a carrying case for your yoga mat, towel, cell phone, and even keys. Yoga mat bags may match your yoga mat or look completely different. Many times you will need to purchase a yoga mat separately, but there are those times when you can look for a deal of a yoga mat and bag together.

If you purchase a thick yoga mat, make sure you do get a bag that will fit the size of that mat. A great type of a thick yoga mat is the ones with a sticky surface. The sticky surface is what you use for extra resistance and support while on the mat. A jade yoga mat is one of the best types out there for natural and durable yoga equipment.

Yoga Mats Enhance Your Workout

musica9999 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:27:36 +0000

Yoga mats are an important aspect of the yoga experience. You need a mat that you are comfortable with and that will support you during the more strenuous positions. Yoga mats can be found in many different ways from online to athletic stores. Yoga mat bags often come with the purchase of a yoga mat. These are specially made bags that are for the purpose of protecting your yoga mat and for the convenience of carrying it around.

Thick yoga mats are more of a cushion that will support all of your body weight during extreme yoga workouts. You want to have your back, arms, legs, and neck supported with a great yoga mat. If you are looking for that extra cushion, you may also want to look at mats with the sticky surface. This sticky surface is what you will put your body on for extra slip resistance. It’s a great way to add extra support and safety to your workouts.

A yoga mat and bag can be found in matching colors and designs. Some places are available for creating your own designs. Many bags are found in a variety of material, like cotton and even hemp. If you are looking for cheap yoga mats, then certain places are great for your financial needs. Walmart, and Target are great places to start comparing prices doe your new yoga mat and accessories. Don’t be afraid to look at many stores for the best prices on your yoga gear. If you can save money, then save it!

Choosing The Right Yoga Mat

musica9999 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:24:39 +0000

When you are practicing yoga, a great yoga mat can protect you from the hard floor and also give you the comfort you need during your poses. A yoga mat can be made from various materials and with different lengths and widths. A yoga mat can be any color, with any design sprawled across it. Many people choose a yoga mat for comfort purposes, but others choose their mat for the way it compliments their personality.