Next up, we’ve got gear that’s not too expensive, and slightly better quality than the canned tomatoes and bathrobe straps in the previous post. Goldilocks would say these are juuuuuuuuust right. (I’m a little more fickle, I’ve got stuff from all these. But more on that later).

Mat: Jade Harmony Professional $60

Why? Good texture, good grip, decent price, light and portable. Definitely stickier and better feeling than the cheaper mat, and this one should last a little longer.

Cons: For the price, I don’t think it’s that durable. I feel like if you’re gonna spend $60 you may as well spend $90 on the Manduka.

Towel: Manduka eQua Mat Towel $40

Why: Super absorbent, nice and soft, stays flat on the mat even when you’re squirreling around, dries quickly and doesn’t need any pampering in the laundry department. I just got this one (like, a few weeks ago) and I actually like it more than it’s slightly more expensive cousin, the Yogitoes, because it’s softer and doesn’t bunch up as much. Maybe it’s just me, or my mat, but this one seems to lay flatter. And it dries faster!

Cons: Still a little pricey (for a towel), but it’s worth it when the studio’s a cool 90 degrees.

Blocks: Bean Products Professional Yoga Blocks $10

Why: Just like we have in the studio! Firm and sturdy, you can rotate these blocks to adjust the height: whether you need 4, 6, or 9 inches of lift (very handy for settling into splits or practicing the “Yoga Belly bump-up”). Lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. Non-slip surface.

Cons: The look, maybe?

Strap: Hugger Mugger Cinch Yoga Strap $10

Why: Functional, nice sturdy fabric feels strong and secure, I prefer the D-ring to the cinch buckle, but that’s just me. The 6 footer is all I need, but I’m pretty short, so if you’re taller you might need an 8 or even 10-footer.

Cons: Um… more expensive than a bathrobe tie?

We’re back with another yoga gear guide. This time, we’ll be looking at high end yoga gear, the Mercedes Benz of the yoga world. Don’t let the irony of “fancy yoga products” escape you! Again, prices are ballpark-ish.

Mat: Manduka Black Mat Pro $95

Why: Um, well, it’s widely considered to be the best mat out there. Super sturdy, super sticky, this mat will last you your whole life (and if it doesn’t, you get your money back). I bought mine a few weeks ago and am kicking myself for not getting it sooner.

Cons: Very expensive, and pretty heavy to lug around.

Towel: Yogitoes Skidless Premium Mat-Size Yoga Towel $50

Why: Non-slip silicone grippies stick to your mat, towel is super absorbent and can handle a few classes before it gets really raunchy. It stays pretty flat on the mat and doesn’t wrinkle like bath towels do. It has two sides (the side with and without the silicone dots) so you can fold it to whatever side you need. I got mine a few weeks after I started practicing and it totally changed my practice, I sweat like a beast and it took my mat from a slip-n-slide to a yoga mat. No regrets.

Cons: Price, and they’re a little high maintenance. They bleed in the wash, so you’re supposed to wash them separately (but I don’t and still love it). If you forget to take it out of the dryer (I often do, so far it hasn’t seemed like a big deal), you can power a small town with all that static electricity. Weirdly, it really only works when wet, it doesn’t make much difference if you’re not seriously sweating.

Blocks: Hugger Mugger Cork Yoga Block $18

Why: First off, I HAVE NOT actually practiced with these, so this is a bit of a wild guess. But, I have felt them in person, and they feel lovely, nice and smooth and grip-able, and they’re eco-friendly, and pretty. Purists would say they’re more like the “original” blocks (typically made from bamboo or wood). More legitimately, they have 54 5-star reviews on Amazon. But, in terms of functionality, I can’t see much difference between them and their foam counterparts.

Cons: Price, and they’re really heavy.

Strap: Wai Lana Organic Cotton Yoga Strap $30

Why: Functional, pretty, organic.

Cons: Price.

After making the long-awaited switch to my Manduka, I’ve gotten some emails about gear. So, I put together a few “guides” with my favorite mats, towels, and other yoga equipment. I try to hit multiple price points, and speak from my own experience, but definitely try things for yourself and know that everyone has different preferences. Also, the prices are ball-park-ish, and you can definitely find a range of prices for the same product, so keep an eye out!

We’ll start with the cheapest yoga gear out there… aside from the ground and the air, which, when you think about it, is really all you need.

Mat: Bean Products Yoga Mat $16

Why? Decent padding, decent stickiness, great length. I’m only 5’2, but I still wind up all over the mat, so you tall people will really appreciate this extra long mat. The padding was a little too “kooshy” for me, I like something sturdy for those balancing poses, but for the price, this is pretty good. Oh, and it’s non-toxic and phthalate free.

Cons: Too “kooshy,” won’t last forever.

Towel: Free if you bring your own, or use the washcloths in the studio.

Why? Free and decent.

Cons: They don’t stick to the mat, so they wrinkle and clump up as you go through your asanas. If you can deal, or you just don’t sweat that much, no biggie.

Blocks: Free if you have big books at home, $4 for two if you use 2 cans of tomatoes from Trader Joes

Why? Free or really cheap/multi-functional and decent. When I’m at home, this is what I use. Or, I do the “Yoga Belly bump up” with Shakespeare on my left and Chaucer on my right : ) (I knew those Riversides would come in handy!)

Cons: Can’t grip as well, hard to find books that are exactly the same size/height (especially if you’re not an English teacher), cans hurt if you’re using martial arts fists!

Strap: Free if you have a bathrobe, scarf, or belt

Why? Free and decent. I use a bathrobe strap at home. I like it better than a belt (though if that’s your thing… : )), and my scarves are a little too stretchy.

Cons: Can’t tighten it, doesn’t feel as secure or solid as the “real thing,” it’s a little too thin. But, it gets the job done.

Next up: Another gear guide in the mid-price range. Keep your questions and emails coming, I love responding!

xoxo,

Tristen

I received an email from the lovely Laurel Thompson, an ER nurse in Palo Alto who just started practicing at YB. She asked the same questions I was asking a few months ago, so I thought I’d share them on here in case there are any other newbies out there who are curious.

Disclaimer: I am a beginning yogini in EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. If you have serious questions, please direct them to one of our capable, accomplished instructors… I can only speak for myself, and I don’t even have a solid idea of where my hip flexors are, so take all this with a grain of salt.

Anyway, take it away Laurel!

“Today was invigorating, I sweat more than I thought I ever could and was very impressed with William and how friendly everyone was. I will be returning to yoga belly! From a beginners stand point what do you recommend? Would you stick to the yoga belly classes for awhile then move to the power yoga? How many days should I aim to go to a class. Let me know what you think I would love any suggestions!!!”

So, here are my thoughts.

Personally, I find the Yoga Belly classes to be just as much as a cardio workout as the power classes, though the power classes do a little more in terms of technique, and it helps to be familiar with some of the basic poses because we move through them really quickly in power. I don’t think the power classes are HARDER (some people do, but I still sweat my brains out in Yoga Belly), but instructors will say things like, “Come up into Warrior 2″ instead of “Turn your front foot to face the mirror, square your hips to the parking lot, relax the shoulders, tuck the pelvis under, find the 50/50 weight distribution, and gaze over your middle finger.” You’ll also do a bunch of funky poses in power that you don’t really do in YB. Most importantly, you’ll see all levels in all the classes, and poses can be modified to meet your particular needs on that particular day. So, don’t be intimidated, just go to class and make it about YOUR practice.

If I were you, I’d try both and see which you like! I started with the Hour of Power classes, did a few YB classes, and then worked up to the 75 and 90 minute classes a few months later. 90 minutes of power is still pretty intense for me, and I still go to the YB classes, especially if I need to revisit my foundation.

As far as how often you should practice, that all depends on your goals, schedule, and other fitness interests. Since I don’t do much else besides yoga and snowboarding in the winter, I try to go 4-5 times a week, which means I usually go 3-4 times a week. If I’m too sore to hold a pose for longer than a split second, I take a day off, but I find if I go less than 3 times a week I don’t really progress the way I’d like to. Also, when I first started practicing, I was doing some running and kickboxing at the gym. However, I found that I ended up with tight muscles, and it really affected my yoga. I decided to take 6 months off from everything else and just focus on yoga, and that really worked for me. So much, in fact, that a year later I’m just now incorporating running and other activities into my routine : ) But, that’s just me! Some people come once or twice a week because they do triathlons and circuit training or just work 60 hours a week, so everyone’s different. You’ll find a stride that works for you.

So, welcome new yogis and yoginis! We hope you’re settling in and getting to know this wacky, sweaty, sexy new family of yours. If you have any other questions that a yoga newbie can answer, please feel free to ask! For the hard stuff, there’s a yoga mama or yoga daddy out there who will be much more helpful than myself.

Coming soon: Yoga Gear for Newbies: Mats, Towels, and Tanks, Oh My! A Collection of Gear For Every Budget

Image courtesy of lululemon.com

War and peace might be the ultimate ying and yang, so I never expected to see Marines busting out a full wheel or opening their heart chakras.

But, in Pensacola, Florida, they do just that. Soldiers find inner peace even in the midst of war.

Way to go, boys. Namaste.

Thanks to Will for the great find!

Happy Hump Day!

You don’t need to tell me: whether it’s a crazy day at work, a tiff with my honey, or the 800 loads of laundry piled up in my hallway, it’s not unheard of for me to come to class frazzled and winded, sprinting in at the last second, noting the irony of stressing about being late to yoga class. I laugh at myself for being such a 21st century yogi, and wonder if I’d be better off taking a leisurely stroll and smelling the flowers, or reading a book in the park, or taking my precious hour and getting a pedicure. But I always end up craving yoga. Maybe because, after who-knows-how-many-stressful-starts, I have yet to feel worse after an hour on my mat. In fact, so far, I have always felt better. Every. Single. Time.

Sure, it’s anecdotal. But now Dr. Amy Weintraub seconds the motion. And she has like, research on the subject. Just about all exercise is good for preventing and relieving depression, but in a recent study at Boston University and Harvard Medical School, yoga was found to be more beneficial than walking. And Dr. Weintraub sees it as a viable alternative to medication in many patients. Read the full article here: http://goo.gl/NP8ed and see a preview of Dr. Weintraub’s book here: http://goo.gl/H6VCU

In the final installment of her three-part series, Krista Cahill takes us from down dog to handstand in 13 minutes flat. We covered alignment and neutral spine in part one, shoulder girdle placement in part two, and now we’re on to those elusive bandhas. Enjoy!

TerraFlow Video 10: Krista Cahill’s ABCs of Inversions Part II from YogaEarth on Vimeo.