A Guide to the Best Yoga Clothes

When you first start doing yoga you will be tempted eventually to go buy some better fitting shirts to use during your yoga courses. A lot of beginners think that when they start doing yoga they can just use their comfortable clothes and just get away with that, and while it may last for a while, especially for people just starting out, you will no doubt want to get clothes better designed for the things you need to do in yoga eventually.

Here are some of the best logos and styles that I've found.

A good yoga designed t-shirt will have something related to yoga, or simply say yoga in a way that relates. For example, one of my favorites is the one that says Yoga on it in letters that resemble ancient Chinese lettering, but are actually just designed to look that way. You can read it in English, but because of the design it really works well.

Another would be the ying and yang symbol that is so popular. Because yoga is designed to be a way to get closer to the earth, spiritually, but also physically be able to meld your mind and body, and even soul depending on your beliefs, the ying and yang symbol is a perfect representation of that.

Buddha while not specifically related to yoga, is also seen on certain shirts just because of the eastern philosophies and how they translate to meditation and things like that. Many times you will see Buddha or someone sitting like him on a yoga mat and it looks awesome.

To find good yoga clothes you don't have to look far. Fortunately you have the entire web at your fingertips.

Find more on yoga clothing by visiting our site.
Yoga Clothing

Relaxation Through Yoga - Detach Yourself

If you are interested in Yoga there is no better time to jump on board the band wagon and begin to experience the mental and physical healing and strengthening it offers. Yoga shows you how to develop the relaxation response throughout your day by letting go of the worthless things your hold on to. Herbert Benson, MD, was one of the first to point out the hidden epidemic of hypertension or high blood pressure as a result of stress.

When reading his number one bestseller (The Relaxation Response), he refers to the relaxation response as a "universal human capacity" and a "neglected asset." Yoga teaches its practitioners how to tap into that highly underused ability of your body and mind.

Yoga uses nonattachment or simply "letting go" as a means of activating the relaxation response. It is good for people to feel passionate about what they do, especially in comparison to have little or no feelings on the subject.

However, by letting go of ones needless passion in other areas we free our bodies and minds from becoming to attached to other people. Take for example an overly compassionate worker who takes the troubles and trials of his coworkers home with him. By becoming to close to his coworkers he has invited suffering into his life. Now of course it is important to develop close relationships, however, the secret is realizing when you need to step back and protect your own physical and mental health in order to continue a beneficial relationship.

This is a lifelong lesson that for most people must be learned time after time. Yoga goes so far as to recommend taking on an attitude of inner detachment in all matters. This does not mean that you are not vested in other individuals, rather that you are vested but not on an emotional level that you are forced to bring home with you. It is a difficult concept to grasp and an even more difficult task to implement it in your own life.

Written by Severin, Char Griller Smoker

By John Severin
Published: 11/23/2010

Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

Yoga, the age old disciple of exercise originated in India. Although, Yoga has been popular in Asian civilizations for so many centuries, it’s only now that the western world too has realized how beneficial it can be, both for the mind and the body. Speaking of its benefits, yoga is especially known to aid in prenatal care. So, if you are pregnant and wondering what are the benefits of prenatal yoga, here are some of them explained in detail.

Benefits of Yoga During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the best way to exercise and keep yourself physically and mentally fit, is by combining yoga with walking. For doing yoga, you have two options i.e. either you can join a yoga class and practice it under a trained teacher or you can purchase yoga DVDs and do it yourself at home itself. If you are someone who has never done yoga before, it is advised that you join a yoga class so that you know exactly how a particular yoga pose has to be performed. Another of the benefits of joining a yoga class is that you will get the company of other expectant mothers and thus can share knowledge and tips on pregnancy and baby care with them. In the end, whichever way you plan to do it, you will surely enjoy the following benefits of prenatal yoga.

Improves Blood Circulation
Yoga is known to improve blood circulation in the body. During pregnancy, water retention resulting in swelling is very commonly experienced by women. However, if a woman undertakes yoga, it brings down the swelling and inflammation in the feet and legs to a great extent, thus reducing the discomfort of the pregnant woman.

Enhances Flexibility
One of the benefits of prenatal yoga for pregnant women is that it increases the flexibility of the muscles of the body. When a pregnant woman does yoga, it stretches her muscles and tones them. This makes the muscles very strong, which is a good thing during pregnancy. Women who suffer from lower back pain can especially benefit from yoga as it stretches the back muscles, improves the posture which otherwise undergoes a wide change during pregnancy, thus relieving back pain in the process.

Relieves Stress
As everyone knows, yoga not only maintains the physical well being, but also greatly contributes to mental well being. During pregnancy, when a woman undergoes so many physical changes, when hormones are playing havoc with her system, when she is not able to do so many things that she was used to doing before, when she suffers from bodily pains, not to mention morning sickness, headaches and nausea, she is bound to feel very agitated. This is where the various prenatal yoga poses help. They help her maintain a calm mind and reduce any mental and physical stress that she might be going through.

Prepares for Labor
One of the Yoga techniques that is taught to pregnant women is to locate tension in their bodies and then release it. This is one of the main benefits of prenatal yoga when a woman goes in labor. Due to this technique, the pregnant woman does not feel tense every time she experiences a contraction. This yoga exercise makes her labor less painful than usual.

Enhances Oxygen in the Body
As various breathing exercises are also a part of prenatal yoga, a pregnant woman learns to breathe appropriately while doing yoga. This increases the amount of oxygen in the body, which is beneficial for the health of both the mother and the unborn child.

These are some of the benefits of prenatal yoga. During pregnancy, you should be very careful of the exercises that you undertake. First of all, if you plan to start with yoga, consult a doctor. Only once the doctor recommends you to go ahead, that you should start with this regimen. Secondly, choose the yoga poses carefully. Some of the popular prenatal yoga poses are - Cobbler's Pose, Downward-facing Dog Pose, Tree Pose, Warrior Pose, Squatting and Cat-cow Pose. Although these poses are safe during pregnancy, still if you feel any discomfort while doing them, tell your yoga instructor immediately. Lastly, drink enough water throughout the day and during exercise to keep the body hydrated. If you keep these tips in mind, you can definitely benefit a lot from prenatal yoga.

By Aastha Dogra
Published: 1/31/2011