Eat Cake And Meditate

Your bubbly and outgoing personality shines into every aspect of your life, and your yoga practice is certainly no exception to that experience. When you have the personality to go along with fluorescent hues or bold patterns, many yogis are wondering if they will be able to pull off the more difficult style of patterned yoga leggings. Many of today’s yoga fashion crazes are focused on leggings patterns that range from subtle and dainty to bold and colorful. Is this style something that you think you could pull off?

Before you head to the store to purchase the brightest pair of leggings you can find, take time to consider how those workout leggings are going to make you feel. Understanding your intention and the feeling behind your actions is a crucial part of applying yogic principles throughout every aspect of your life.

Will bold patterns on your leggings make you uncomfortable if they attract attention during your class time? Do the bright hues allow you to feel more cheerful and loving towards those around you? Evaluating your intentions behind selecting a brightly patterned pair of leggings is a necessary step before taking the plunge and making a purchase.

Another consideration is your overall body type. Yogis come in all shapes and sizes, each equally capable of creating and sustaining a fulfilling practice on their yoga mat. Consider the expanse that a potential print will need to cover before deciding on whether you will find it overwhelming. Larger sizes can quickly become overwhelmed by very bold or chaotic prints, which can be a distraction from the rest of your outfit and from your practice.

Overall, a patterned yoga legging is going to be a personal choice that each yogi will have to make for themselves. There are a few rules of thumb for a pair of patterned yoga leggings that can help you to make a decision if you just aren’t sure:

Purchase a small print first. A print that doesn’t take up the entire fabric may be a subtler place to start incorporating fun patterns into your wardrobe. You can gain confidence by trying out a few minor patterns before diving into the bigger and more noticeable designs.

Keep the colors dark. It’s harder to be overwhelmed by pattern when the overall color scheme of the leggings is very dark. Greys, dark blues and earth-toned hues can give you some variability in color while remaining neutral.

Opt for Capri leggings. A pattern that covers a bigger area is bound to be more overwhelming than it would be in an outfit that requires less fabric. Save yourself a few yards of pattern and sample out the style by choosing Capri leggings instead of full-length yoga leggings.

You can bring a sense of fun style onto your mat with fashion decisions like boldly patterned leggings. If you’ve been wondering whether these workout clothes are the right choice for you, these guidelines will give you the courage you need to try them out now.

Excessive sweating has been linked to weight loss for many years. People would automatically think that after an inordinate amount of sweat then they would lose 5 pounds, just like that. But science shows that it doesn’t work that way. Sweating profusely during a workout and losing weight after it is mostly water weight lost, which you can just as easily gain back. So why do people still associate high-intensity workouts with weight loss rather than yoga? 

Being in the fitness industry, yoga teachers are often asked, “Will yoga help me lose weight?” And our answers are always a hesitant, “yes,” for many reasons. Yoga has a number of benefits including curing depression, gaining confidence and being more focused, and although weight loss is one of them, it isn’t a primary result.
The most effective and life-changing benefit to yoga is that you start to develop mindfulness. And with that comes the domino effect of all the other positive attributes of being mindful.

 
So, what exactly is mindfulness?
It’s the awareness of all things present. And is in “acknowledging one’s feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations,” with no judgement or criticism whatsoever. It is important to note that you are called to know and be able to properly address your current state mentally, emotionally and physically. Which is something we are not taught to do in other exercise classes or programs.
Getting on your mat and practicing, whether it’s a Gentle class or Power Yoga, if it’s Restorative or Bikram in a heated room, there is no exception to the weight loss benefits you get from having a consistent practice. 

Some studies have proven that overweight people in their 50’s who got on their mat at least once a week for a total of four years lost 5 pounds.
Another study proving the unlikely way yoga helps in weight loss was done in 2013 over a period of 11 months, on more than 150 clinically obese women who were assigned either Restorative or Stretching classes. In comparison, the Restorative yoga group was declared to have lost a total of 34 square centimeters of subcutaneous fat – fat directly under the skin – as opposed to the Stretch group that lost only 6 square centimeters. On average, the yoga group was also able to lose 1 kilo more than the stretch group.

Despite the contrary belief that maybe yoga doesn’t help in weight loss because you don’t really sweat, studies prove otherwise. The belief is that all kinds of yoga help lower cortisol levels – the hormone most associated with gaining weight. Cortisol production is highly triggered by stress and less stress means easier weight loss. 

So, to answer all new yogis or soon-to-be practitioners, “yes, yoga helps in weight loss. But it does so much more than that.”
Come practice yoga and find out for yourself. There are many things to learn on the mat that you can take with you when you leave. 

Whether you are an experienced yoga practitioner or a beginner, there are many accessories available to enhance your yoga. Here are some of the most popular and useful:

Yoga Bags & Totes

If you are going to a yoga class or a yoga studio for your yoga, you will probably want a yoga bag to carry your yoga mat. A yoga bag will carry and protect your yoga mat as well as provide you with an elegant accessory. Many yoga bags or yoga totes also come with inner or outer pockets to carry a water bottle, yoga props, clothing or other yoga accessories.

Yoga Mats

A yoga mat is one of the most important accessories you should have for your yoga. A quality yoga mat will have some thickness to it, so that it grips the floor and does not slide. A yoga mat protects you from the hardness, harshness, and coldness of the floor while doing your yoga. A yoga mat is essential for yoga practitioners.

Yoga Attire

Many designers now have lines of clothing specially designed for yoga. Yoga clothing tends to be lightweight, soft, and comfortable but shaped so that the clothes do not interfere with your postures. Typical yoga clothing includes tank tops, long sleeves, shorts, leggings, and sweat pants and sweatshirt-type clothing. Special yoga clothing is available for men and women and often comes with colors or symbols that represent meanings in the practice of yoga.

Yoga Props

There are many yoga props available to help or improve your yoga practices. These include yoga blocks, yoga straps, yoga bolsters, yoga pillows, and yoga blankets. Yoga blocks are used to support yourself, they help to reduce the risk of over-extension and a resulting injury. Yoga straps are ideal for beginners and people who can’t stretch very far, a yoga strap enables them to stretch further or hold poses they wouldn’t have been able without strap. Yoga straps are useful for many poses. Yoga bolsters, yoga straps, or yoga pillows in addition can also be used to support yourself during certain poses or provide comfort during awkward poses or allow you to deepen or extend certain poses.

Yoga Blankets & Rugs

Yoga blankets are one of the most versatile accessories of yoga you can buy. A yoga blanket can be a mat for the shoulders stand, stand in for yoga pillows, blocks or bolsters, and can even provide extra warmth under your body while you do your poses for more relaxation.

More Yoga Accessories

Additional yoga accessories are also available, which include yoga sandbags, benches, balls, aromatherapy accessories, and much more.

Yoga Kits

There are also all-in-one yoga kits available for purchase, where a mat, bag, blocks, pillows, straps, and other accessories are included in a one package. These yoga kits can also include a book or video about yoga. Whatever yoga accessories you decide on, you are sure to enhance and strengthen your yoga experience.

Does it surprise you to hear that men account for less than a third of the participants of a typical yoga class? This might sound like a small number of male yogis to you. Only a few years back, a typical yoga class was made up of only one-sixth male participants. When you think of it this way, the growth of male yoga participation has virtually exploded in recent years. It’s almost as if the yoga community is under siege by men.

Why? Men who have tried yoga seem to understand that yoga is a workout that incorporates more than just physical attributes. The physical workout is intense, but the mindfulness is just as important. It allows men to work on their psyche at the same time as their body—to alleviate their worries and bring a calm and quiet into their day in a way that no other workout can do. Once they’ve tried it, many men find they enjoy yoga just as much as women do.

Market analysts suggest that the growth in the yoga industry in recent years might in fact be due to an increased interest in yoga from men. Perhaps men have stayed away in the past because most classes were all-female, and they emphasized flexibility, but things are changing. Innovations in forms and expansion in areas where yoga is offered may have contributed to the willingness of men to try yoga. Here are some other reasons.

Help with Other Sports Training

Male fans of yoga say it has helped them reach new heights in their sports of choice. Ultra-marathon runners say yoga helps them to avoid injuries by balancing out the tightness in their muscles. It also gives new options for stretching out the tight muscles in the hips, lower back, and hamstrings that habitual runners get. Hockey players say yoga has helped them stay grounded on the ice. Surfers credit yoga with increasing core muscle strength and balance and allowing them to ride bigger waves.

Relief from Chronic Pain and Illness

Men who suffer from chronic illnesses, like rheumatoid arthritis, find relief from inflammation in the practice of certain types of yoga. The relaxation and breathing helps in recovery and keeps the body from tensing up in stressful or painful situations.

Part of Working a Substance Abuse Program

Men who have found themselves susceptible to coping with problems through the use of drugs and alcohol have found some relief through the practice of yoga. For some men, yoga encourages making healthier choices in the face of stress.

Increased Stamina

Yoga has been shown to increase stamina in people who practice it regularly. In addition to building muscle strength, it improves respiratory health and boosts energy.

Increased Confidence

Yoga makes men more confident, particularly since professional athletes like LeBron James took up the practice. Something about not being afraid of going in to a class full of women makes a guy feel extra confident. Plus, there’s the increased muscle definition and athletic prowess that comes along with regular yoga practice.

Practicing Yoga with Animals – Why Do It

You might be asking, “Why should I do yoga with animals?” For one, animals can enhance your yoga session. Doing yoga with animals has become trendy in the last couple of years. There are even some studios that allow pets to wander inside while a class is in sessions.

Yoga with animals classes vary from one place to another. Some practice it in shelters to improve the rate of animal adoptions. Others do it because it is something new and exciting.

Examples of Yoga with Animals

One good example of practicing yoga with animals is the horseback yoga which, as the name suggests, is yoga practiced on the back of a horse. Practitioners say that it is meant to connect the rider with the horse through subtle movements and conscious breathing. It is similar to yoga on a stand-up paddle board.

And then there’s Doga, or yoga with dogs. The humans guide the dog through different yoga poses, such as the upward facing dog and the downward facing dog. There are specific partner poses that are designed for your four-legged friend.

And when there are dogs, cats are not far behind. However, forcing cats to perform yoga poses can result in scratches. Just think of the cats as a companion that encourages you to do yoga. More often than not, yoga studios invite cats from a shelter into the classes to give students the chance to interact with them.

While doing yoga poses with dogs is cute, it is not as popular as goat yoga. It all started when a yogi held a community class on her farm where goats were roaming around. However, goats were not as involved in the yoga as horses and dogs. They are more like cats that just wander around the students.

Practicing yoga with animals is good way to make classes interesting, but it is certainly not for everyone. There are people who don’t want to be around animals, especially if they want to focus on their yoga practice. You should never force animals to do something they don’t want to do. It can only lead to dangerous situations for both you and the animal. And when they don’t cooperate, they will become a distraction to the class.

On the other hand, well-trained animals can provide lots of benefits to yoga students. People who love animals will surely love doing yoga with their pets and will make the session more enjoyable. Yoga classes held at animal shelters also provide a way for cats and dogs to be more visible to the public. The classes can draw attention to the animals at the shelter, and make people become more aware of the importance of animal adoption.

Being with animals is uplifting, and they will reciprocate the love given to them. Practicing yoga with dogs, cats, or goats roaming around you will make each session more fun and lighthearted.