I just found a yoga class that I love.  I’m not really an athletic gym type, but I do like being active and I’m forever on a mission to find ways to stay active, without feeling like I’m doing a chore.

If you live in Los Angeles, or the next time you visit L.A., you’ve got to check out Runyon Canyon- I’m in LOVE!  There’s everything I love about Southern California – a great view, celebrity sighting, nature and good old fashioned people watching. I’m always finding new trails and just the other day I discovered this yoga class! It’s totally free and perfect for beginners, like me!

Starting a new yoga class can be really scary- ESPECIALLY if you’ve never done one. The seasoned yogi’s and instructors can make you feel unwanted and it can be hard to have the confidence.  The instructors at Runyon seem to love what they do, make you feel so comfortable and it feels like a relaxing day at the park rather than a workout. You really just need a yoga mat, some water and a good attitude.

Yoga studios have been popping up like Subways throughout the United States for the past 10-15 years.  Initially, everyone thought it was just the latest trendy thing to do, but I guess we can now finally say that yoga is not a fad and is here to stay. 

With the increase in the number of people practicing yoga and the number of yoga studios came the myriad of yoga mats.  Different colors, patterns, lengths, thicknesses, textures, materials and so on.  Many people are not just doing yoga, but also wanting to use their mat for Pilates and/or general exercises.  With all the yoga mat choices out there, very few mats are suitable for all of these various exercises.  Sometimes you need better grip, sometimes you need more cushion, sometimes you need it to be easily transportable to and from classes and sometimes you need all of these things. 

With all the various exercises, the one common factor is alignment.  Whether you’re doing yoga, Pilates or general exercises proper alignment is crucial.  With all of this in mind, I’d like to introduce you to the YogaForce A-line Mat.  This alignment mat improves your posture and makes you look great.  It is ideal for yoga, Pilates or general exercises.  The A-line mat is 30” wide at the top and tapers down to 20” width at the bottom.  This exercise mat has patented alignment guides to assure proper positioning on your mat at all times. Whether you are a beginner or advanced in your practice, these guides take the guesswork out of your posture for a perfect workout.

This alignment mat also comes with a hands free adjustable shoulder strap and only weighs 4 pounds. It is easy for urban dwellers to transport on the run. This ergonomic mat also comes with a removable wallet to hold personal effects, such as sunblock, a cell phone, iPod, car keys and credit cards.

If you are in the market for a top quality exercise mat, Pilates mat and/or a yoga mat, the YogaForce A-line mat is the perfect mat for you.

There are definitely many benefits when using a yoga mat… and more specifically, having your own yoga mat and not borrowing one from the club, gym, yoga studio or from a friend.  One of the obvious reasons to use a yoga mat, also called a sticky mat, is to reduce the risk of injuring yourself. Yoga mats can prevent injuries that can occur while practicing yoga. The surface can be slippery (bare floors). Especially if you are taking yoga classes where floors are not being cleaned between classes.

Is it better to borrow/rent a yoga mat from a yoga studio or to bring your own yoga mat to your yoga classes?  Purchasing your own yoga mat will limit the exposure to bacteria and germs and you are only exposed to your own germs. You are responsible for your mat and you can clean it any time.  If you are not using a mat you are exposing yourself to others germs and your well-being.  Additionally, mats will definitely cushion the floor and provide support which is needed for improving balance and coordination and provide better overall health.

If you are considering buying a new yoga mat, don’t forget to look at all the yoga mat options that are available (clean pvc yoga mats, rubber yoga mats, cotton yoga mats, thick yoga mats and many other eco friendly yoga mats).

Over the past 10 years yoga has become extremely popular in the United States (and all over the world for that matter). For those of us that have made yoga part of our daily lives we can often be found carrying, or on top of, our yoga mats.  If this describes you, or someone you know, it may be time to get a personalized yoga mat. 

An embroidered yoga mat makes a great gift for a friend or for yourself.  The mats can be produced with a persons name, a business name, an expression or saying or virtually anything else you would like us to imprint on a yoga mat.  There are a variety of mat colors, thread colors and fonts to choose from when ordering.  The text message can be up to 20 characters long and production is only 2-3 business days.

Personalized gifts are always great, which makes personalized yoga mats the perfect gift for any yogi.

Finding—and purchasing—yoga mats and other yoga props doesn’t have to be a hassle or big mystery, even for the beginner.  You can find everything you need to get off to a good start in an enjoyable way of life, which includes yoga, right here.  You can start off with a basic, beginner’s yoga exercise mat, and then eventually advance to incorporating yoga bolsters, yoga paws, and other accessories.

As yoga becomes a part of your everyday living, you might want to look into utilizing some meditation to help establish a more peaceful state of mind and disposition.  In that case, you would probably enjoy some nice, silk, meditation cushions to sit on while calming your self with meditative practices.  And if you’re at all of the mind towards being “green,” you’ll be glad to know most of these mats are Latex-free, and many of them are also eco-friendly as well, if you’d like to continue to do your part to help the earth’s ecology.

Those who are new to yoga will do well to start out getting just a few yoga props, beginning with a basic mat, some straps to help with stretching, and maybe yoga bolsters for support until strength and flexibility come; no sense going overboard from the beginning, but it’s better to have an experienced yoga practitioner guide you and teach you some of the basics to get you warmed up to it.

But for those who have already invested much time and diligence into his or her yoga regimen, then there’s no reason such persons can’t—or shouldn’t—invest in some [at least one] deluxe yoga mats, is there? Maybe you could treat your self to one of the artistic designer yoga mats, or give one as a gift to that special someone you know who is either a long-time practitioner or serious beginner. Unlike normal exercise mats, yoga mats are designed to prevent slippage, while reducing the effects of gravity to the body.

It seems, to me, only natural to want to endorse only eco-friendly products when you’re an enthusiast of yoga, with all of its implications and dedication to oneness with nature and the earth.

When you buy eco yoga mats like those pictured here, your mind can be put at ease, as these mats are manufactured from a newly-developed material comprised of carbon and hydrogen, and referred to as TPE [thermal plastic elastomer], containing no heavy metals, no PVC, no toxic materials used in production.

The mats have two different textured sides for comfort and versatility preferences, while always providing superb grip. The low compression foam also buffers between your body and the floor or ground to help eliminate bruising.

I never knew yoga mats were available in rolls that can be cut to specifications suitable to each individual…but they can…they are!  Yoga mats do, of course, come in pre-cut sizes, or in “finished” mats you either fold or roll up and tote away in your yoga bag, but if you run a facility where you have students in varying heights, or even with children, then the “one sized fits all” approach isn’t really your best approach, now is it?

The rolls of yoga mats, like the one pictured here, are 2’ wide, and come in 100’ rolls, in several colors, and can be purchased by the roll, or can be purchased at cut lengths; you decide.  This approach to buying yoga matting for people you know who are avid about their yoga is ideal in that you can provide yoga mats that are perfect—height-wise—for them…or you!

I’ve known a few yoga practitioners in my time, but I never quite realized how involved things can get with the various yoga props such dedicated individuals utilize while exercising, stretching, and posturing! Oh, I’ve been aware that yoga can be rather rigorous, even though most of us, when we think of yoga, picture a person meditating in a lotus position, right? I had known about meditation cushions, yoga benches, and yoga mats, for sure; but I had never known about yoga paws, for instance.

Yoga paws, for those who don’t know, are sort of like rubberized, fingerless gloves [sort of like workout gloves], worn on the hands and feet, used to help hold more advanced yoga postures where hands and feet are liable to slide, even on “sticky” yoga mats, or perhaps a hardwood floor, where bare feet would otherwise grip, but could slip due to sweat. The hot yoga towel, like the one pictured here, will help absorb sweat, and assist in maintaining your grip.

Pranayama bolster pillows might not be well-known to the general public, as perhaps Pilate’s mats or other yoga mats, but the elongated pillows with the peculiar name are not unusual or unheard of among those who have a passion for yoga. Pranayama bolsters help to support and keep your spine in alignment for deeper breathing while seated erect, and add great lower back arch support while in a horizontal position—a definite must for any yoga practitioner’s collection.

In fact, as one grows in his or her adeptness in yoga posturing and other yoga exercises, such an individual will want to expand his or her collection of yoga mats, meditation pillows, and yoga bolsters so as to always have just the right piece of equipment to incorporate into a particular regimen; Pranayama bolster pillows are sure to find their way into any serious practitioner’s assortment of yoga supplies.