Yoga has been derived from the Sanskrit word which means ‘to unite’ to bring the body, mind, and, soul together in harmony, making a way for a healthy and positive lifestyle. In the most basic sense, yoga includes physical postures that are called asanas, meditation, and controlled breathing. The asanas involve stretching, twisting and lengthening of various body parts, which requires elasticity. Like most of the other activities, yoga can also be practiced at home and the way we have attire for every occasion, it’s important to have the right clothing and equipment for yoga as well.
Yoga teachers during Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh wear white dhoti and kurtas to allow easy movement of the body and keeping the body airy. The purpose of such bare clothing is to keep the body in direct contact with the energy flow that is present in our nature. For the modern world Yoga, we have several equipment and yoga clothing that can enhance our yoga sessions and make them efficient.
What kind of clothes and equipment are required for Yoga practice?
Jogger style pants with elastic and fairly-fitted t-shirts are the most popular and recommended items of clothing while practicing yoga. The clothes should be loose enough to allow proper body movement during asanas and fit enough so that they don’t fly over your head when you bend forward during an asana. Girls can also wear a decent sports bra for comfortable transitions between poses. Other than this, yoga doesn’t require any additional piece of clothing, unless you have long hair, in that case, hair ties should do the work.
Yoga mats help define your personal space where you can carry out your sessions. A non-slippery and soft material make up for an ideal Yoga mat. Additional accessories can also be used for variations in asanas and make the yoga sessions more dynamic. Yoga blocks made of foam or rubber are used correct posture and align the body in several asanas. Yoga blocks can be replaced by folded blankets or pillows to provide a soft and cushiony base. Yoga straps or belts are also used as arm extenders in several asanas like pashimottanasana. Different yoga styles call for different equipment and play a significant role in yoga practice.
Importance of Yoga clothing and equipment
Yoga teacher training in India emphasizes on wearing the right and comfortable clothes to facilitate the free flow of the body without any obstruction. Tight and body fit clothes restrict the body from breathing and creates discomfort when performing meditation and breathing exercises. When performing vigorous yoga styles like Vinyasa and power yoga, sweat absorbing and quick-drying materials are very helpful as they avoid clothes from sticking to your body. The way we feel about our body and looks also reduces our stress and anxiety levels, making Yoga sessions more efficient.
Yoga in Rishikesh and yoga shalas is usually done on ‘daris’ or soft yoga mats to provide a soft and yet firm base. Finding a good yoga mat for your yoga style might need a little research as it shouldn’t be thick enough, making it hard for balancing poses and not too thin that you end up hurting yourself during vigorous yoga styles. Even though a lot of yoga classes provide yoga mats but one cannot guarantee its hygiene, it’s a good idea to get one for yourself, according to your body type and height. Blankets offer supports to our back in seated and lying poses. These also help prevent injury from acting as a soft base. Blocks are very effective in correcting your alignment and used in standing poses. They serve as a platform for beginners when you are trying to touch their hands on the floor. Another important accessory is a yoga strap that adds flexibility to the poses. It helps achieve some stretching poses if the body doesn’t allow much flexibility and helps the body get used to the stress.
Conclusion:
Yoga is a soulful practice and it requires is a present mind and body; by wearing the appropriate clothes and using the right equipment, we can achieve that ultimate goal.
