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Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for years how you prepare for your practice will make all the difference. Yoga is an art and practice that is perhaps the most simple form of physical exercise ever. Your practice only requires you. Yoga is the unity of mind, body and spirit. It is in essence who you choose to be and how you choose to practice. Once you have this basic foundation you can begin to explore the 'material' things that deepen your own art of Yoga.
There are many styles and forms of Yoga. Choosing what feels right to your body is essential. It is suggested that you explore the different types of Yoga before choosing one style. Find what works for you. Styles or Yoga systems range from Hatha, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Power, Iyengar, Sivananda, Bikram, Anusara and many more. It is important to find what works best for you. {SEE HOW TO CHOOSE A YOGA STYLE}
After finding what style works best for you finding a teacher or teachers is important. Finding a teacher requires exploration. Try out different classes and different studios. It is recommended that you choose someone you have chemistry with. When class is over ask yourself how you feel about your teacher. Did he/she pay attention to the needs of the students? Do his/her values match yours? Do you like his/her voice? There are many questions to ask yourself but being comfortable in class is important. Find someone who is supportive and wants to help you grow and expand in your practice. {FINDING A TEACHER}
Once you have found the type of yoga that works for you, having the right gear is integral. When you are practicing Yoga you want to be comfortable. It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothing. Do not wear anything constricting and try to stay away from clothing that does not allow your skin to 'breathe'. I highly recommend Prana products but finding the right fit and right comfort level is your job. You should be able to move freely in your clothing and not feel self conscious. Be in comfort, be with ease. Make your choices an expression of who you are or what you want to feel from your practice. Whether your style is simple and classic or colorful and vibrant let your clothing express you. {SEE MORE ON CLOTHING....ALL YOGA CLOTHING PRODUCTS}
Now that you know what kind of class you will take, you are dressed in how you want to express yourself for the class next is finding what you will practice on. This is extremely important because your mat will be like your foundation. It is what you practice on and what your body will be supported by. Every individuals body is different so once again it is key to explore this for yourself. Do not just take someones word or buy the first mat you see at your Yoga studio. Do your research here and if one mat does not work for you try another one. Yoga mats come in almost as many sizes, shapes and colors as do human beings. Find something that feels right for your body. Make sure that you check the thickness and length of your mat if you are buying online. {SEE MORE ON MATS.....ALL MAT PRODUCTS}
Along with your mat you may want to purchase several basic products to assist you in your practice. There are many Yoga products so for now the basics will be mentioned. Yoga blocks, Yoga straps and Yoga blankets are the three other basics you may need to assist you. Once you get more into your practice you can explore the options of purchasing more products. Yoga blocks, straps and blankets are essentially for assisting you into postures and helping you hold your postures with the correct alignment. They are extremely helpful for beginning Yoga students. {YOGA PRODUCTS....STRAPS, BLOCKS}
Staying hydrated in life is perhaps the easiest thing to do for ourselves but for some reason almost 90% of us are walking around completely dehydrated. During and after class it is important to drink water. Your choice in what you put into your body is your preference. The key here is just do it! Drinking water helps to flush toxins that may build up in your muscle tissue and body. One goal of Yoga is to detoxify the body. When you drink water you are assisting the process of flushing out what your body no longer needs. Find a brand of water you enjoy and drink it! {WATER FOR YOGA....WATER PRODUCTS}
These are simply the basics of what you will need for your Yoga practice to grow. Once you have the basics and are deepening your Yoga practice you will find that changes will happen to you. Your preferences, your body and your styles may change and you will be able to explore more options with your practice and products.
