Hot Yoga and the Yoga Towel
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
So, what’s so darned important about a yoga towel? A towel is a towel, right? No, not really. But, before we applaud the many rewards of a good yoga towel, let’s discuss a bit about Yoga, itself.
What Yoga Practice Can Do for You
Yoga practitioners find that habitual yoga practice awakens both mind and body! As you clear your mind to give your complete attention to each pose, you stimulate your “inner body” awareness of the present moment. Consistent yoga practice advances a healthy body through proper breathing for more oxygenation, greater flexibility for ease of motion, added muscle strength for confident movement, and perfect alignment for enhanced energy flow. The goal of yoga practice is to create a union between the body, mind and spirit.
Patience is not only a virtue, it is the “key” to mastering a yoga pose, specially when combined with ample time and commitment. No one is a master the first time they attempt to do anything. But, slowly over time, as you practice and make an effort to perform each pose flawlessly, without pushing yourself too far physically or beating yourself up mentally, you will discover that you are developing flexibility, strength, and energy physically and feeling more peaceful and clear mentally.
Choose a fresh, quiet space for your practice area, and if you can, one with a bare floor and an accessible wall. Remove any distractions from your yoga environment. For optimum function, you should not eat for at least 2 hours before practicing. If you find you need to eat, then try to eat something light, such as a piece of fruit, but no more than 1 hour before you start your yoga practice.
Always be mindful with your movements, and if you encounter pain or discomfort as you attempt a pose, pause or stop, and then try again.
Yoga props and yoga accessories, such as yoga mats, yoga bolsters, yoga straps, yoga blocks, yoga mat bags, and even yoga towels are made with the intention to assist you in moving deeper into a pose, in performing a flawless pose, and in practicing in a sound way.
There are many great reasons to think about using yoga props, not the least of which is that they help in relieving discomfort, even pain, during difficult yoga poses.
Sometimes we all “push” rather than “easing” into a yoga pose, and injury sometimes occurs. Yoga props can provide the support and extensions needed to do a pose correctly.
Stress relief and relaxation benefits are an integral part of any yoga practice. Yoga props can offer needed support so you’re not tempted to “stress out” because you’re unable to do a certain pose.
The plumb line, that is, “head-over-heels” body alignment, is important in doing yoga poses correctly. Yoga props help you maintain appropriate alignment.
Yoga props assist in augmenting movement. When your joints move with ease, instead of “rubbing you the wrong way,” your yoga poses are more fluid. Certain props actually open space in the joints.
As we mentioned earlier, yoga practice is about unifying the mind, body and spirit through the development of a deeper awareness and the development of mindfulness. How do yoga props assist in this great goal? When you are able to simply focus your attention on doing your yoga poses flawlessly, rather than concerning yourself with transitory limitations, you will go deeper into that balance of mind, body, and spirit.
The Big, Beautiful Yoga Towel
A yoga towel does precisely what you think it would, and more! Naturally, when you think of a towel, you think about absorbency, expressly in the case of hot yoga (think Bikram) enthusiasts. The capability of wicking away moisture (and sweat!) after a especially energizing routine is very helpful, and there are many super-aborbent yoga towels composed of microfibers that do just that. Plus they dry faster than cotton towels. They are manufactured with ease of washing and drying in mind, and most are made with organic dyes and other healthy ingredients. A mat-size yoga towel makes a hygienic layer between you and your yoga mat.
Absorbency, however, is not all your yoga towel has to offer. Many yoga towels are designed especially to prevent slipping while you practice your yoga poses. There are some distinctive non-slip designs, like one with “silicone eco nubs” on one side, and another with clear rubber dots. Some others have a latex-free “gripping” agent. When placed face down, the nubs or dots, or a similar gripping agent, grip your yoga mat (or the floor if you’ve forgotten to buy a yoga mat and there isn’t one available!). The gripping action actually begins as you dispense your weight in a yoga posture. Yoga towels are crucial for a steadier, more stable practice.
A yoga towel works as a top layer for your yoga mat, as a yoga mat substitute when a mat isn’t available, or as brought up previously above, while performing “hot” yoga, such as Bikram. Because most yoga towels are of super-absorbent components, they are more utilitarian than a regular towel. The same size as a regular yoga mat, the towel is somewhat fashionable and very effective.
There are a variety of yoga towel colors available, but most come in earth tones.
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