Do you want to start? practice yoga from the comfort of your home and you don't know what is needed. Today, from Sincronia Yoga, we tell you what material is necessary for doing yoga at home.
Do you need any equipment to do yoga at home?
Well yes and no. It all depends on the type of practice we want to do, ours capabilities Y limitations current, if we have any known injuries and how far we want to go in the physical investigation of our body. Let's put it in context.
Far away is the sadhu that practiced barefoot Y half naked, wearing only a loincloth, on the grass, in a fresh meadow with a sheep shawl. In the Transit of yoga practice between East and West, has been incorporated specific technical material to do yoga.
The expansion of the practice and its mix, on the one hand the world of fitness and physical activity, and on the other hand, with the world of health and Recovery, have resulted in the creation of materials that help us in the ultimate goal of yoga: The body as an instrument to calm the mind.
The first teacher who incorporated material into the practice, and the best known, is BSK Iyengar. Seeing the difficulty of certain students to perform the postures completely and thus benefit from the breathing and opening of the same, was incorporated material which allowed the student to reach the posture without harming himself. The additions were the result of his own need, the constant observation of thousands and thousands of different bodies and his love for the perfection of posture.
Belts, blocks, blankets and mats began to appear. But the material has been expanded as new needs have appeared and/or different teachers, with new visions of yoga, have incorporated these elements. For example, teachers of more restorative lines use material to expand, relax and soften the bodies; on the other hand, teachers with more fitness visions will use it for strengthen, compensate and add new challenges.
We have already spoken to you a few times about the Advantages of practicing yoga online, in the comfort of your home or at your favorite vacation spot. Let's see what material is necessary to be able to do the practice of yoga at home, comfortably and safely.
Material for doing yoga at home
In order to be able to continue your practices, whether online, streaming or deferred, self-practice or guided by a teacher, we propose the following: material and possible adaptations in case you do not have it:
- A a mat that doesn't slip and fits your bodyThere are endless options, materials, thicknesses, weight. We recommend asking in a specialized store or your trusted teachers. For me, a key aspect is that it does not slip and therefore has weight to adhere to the floor. But if you want to use it outside the house, you may need something lighter. If you have joint pain, padded ones are better. Adaptation: a large beach towel.
- Cushion or block to sit on. Zafus are meditation cushions that we can sit on while keeping our back straight. They can be replaced by a yoga block, or even a meditation stool if the crossed-legged posture is not suitable for you. Adaptation: a folded blanket or sitting without a cushion, activating the legs more to achieve the posture without support.
- Blanket or shawl to cover yourself. During relaxation or meditation, due to the activation of the parasympathetic system, your body temperature will drop. In yoga, a lot of emphasis is placed on raising the internal fire and maintaining it even during relaxation. That is why a blanket can help you not to get cold and be able to enjoy your well-deserved rest.
- Comfortable clothes. Traditionally, the hatha-yoga It is practiced in loose, comfortable clothing so that you can perform all the movements without discomfort. It is true that some very vigorous and intense practices require that there be no clothing that could get caught in the movements. Adaptability: practicing in pajamas is a pleasure for early risers.
Optional depending on your practice
- Yoga belts. They are used to reach where hands and legs cannot reach. They are used both in Hatha practice, such as Iyengar, and in more restorative practices, to provide support and avoid joint rotations. Adaptation: you can use a shawl or the belt of your bathrobe.
- BlocksCork or foam blocks are useful both for completing poses and for sitting on. If you have two, you can use them as support for both hands in semi-inverted poses or to raise the body higher, giving it double height in chest-opening poses on the floor. Adaptation: use a couple of large books.
- Bolsters. This is a long, rigid and comfortable cushion that allows you to do restorative and yin postures in a pleasant and comfortable way. Adaptation: use several folded blankets or the blocks with blankets on top.
- Knee shock absorber. It is a silicone square with a slightly sunken center that you can place between your knee and the floor, in case you have an injury that prevents you from supporting your knee directly on the floor. Adaptation: place a folded blanket.
- Stiff balls. Of different sizes, they allow you to do myofascial release massages in restorative practices. Adaptation: you can use a tennis ball.
- Masks. In relaxation, a mask made of seeds or rice that has some weight and perhaps a soft lavender scent, will help you easily enter into relaxation with the weight of the mask on your eyes.
- Non-slip socksIf you share a mat or have cold feet, you might want to practice with them. With or without toes, they are designed to provide grip and safety during practice. But we can tell you from here that they are nothing like going barefoot. Adaptation: take off your shoes and experience the contact with the ground.
We're sure to leave something out, as yoga is still in evolution such as: proprioceptive logs, weights, resistance bands, benches for doing inversions, wheels for column expansion, soft bars for the back, fabrics to hang from, and a long etcetera.
Experiment before you invest
In yoga there is no written rule that works for everyone. It is about experience on oneself to find what works for us and brings us closer to our goals.
People with disabilities do not need the same material. injuries or inflammation in the knees, that someone who wants to practice the vigorous Ashtanga-Yoga. Sometimes it is more important to find a favorable space at home where you can practice, without having the latest equipment on the market.
I only have to invite you to Try Sincronia Yoga's online classes where you can see what equipment is necessary for practicing yoga at home and how our teachers use it creatively on each occasion.
