Yoga (cont.)
What equipment and props are needed for yoga?
Mats. You don't need much to practice yoga, but in modern yoga studios with
hardwood floors, you will need a sticky rubber mat to keep from slipping. In the
good old days, there were studios with carpeted floors where you just brought a
towel, but mats are now a necessity in most studios. You can find mats online
from $20 to $60. You pay more for more sweat resistance, more padding, more
stickiness, or different materials. The $20 dollar ones work just fine. You can
usually rent a mat from the yoga studio for $1 to $2 if you're just starting
out.
Towel. Bring a towel to your first class. You don't know if they will
supply you with one and you might want it to wipe away sweat, or even roll it up
for support under your neck.
Blanket. Most studios supply these. A blanket is
helpful to fold up and sit on if you have difficulty sitting flat on the floor
with legs crossed like in a pose called sukhasana. A blanket is also
useful to cover you when you lie still during savasana if the room is cool.
Blocks and
wedges. Blocks are brick-sized pieces of foam that help with body alignment and getting
into some of the poses. Most studios supply these, but if you want to buy your
own, expect to pay $10 to $15 per block.
Straps. Straps are made of cotton and
useful for stretching and holding poses, particularly for poses with your legs.
They come with a D-ring or quick-release buckle to adjust the length. Both work
fine, the quick release is just a bit easier to adjust (you probably won't
adjust your strap all that much, so either will do). They cost around $10, but
again, check with your studio to see if they supply it. Order an 8-10 foot strap
if you are taller than 6 feet.
How does a yoga class work? What can I expect?
A typical yoga class lasts 75 minutes. There is a 15-20 minute period of
breathing, chanting, and warming up (it varies by type of yoga and instructor),
followed by the asanas and then 15-20 minutes of relaxation (savasana) at the
end.
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