2007 September | Women Blog

This is part of the series on Yoga. As we have covered the basics of Yoga for the beginners last week, we cover the Yoga clothing in this part.

Despite what the adjacent levitating image of the woman shows, you need not go on a shopping spree to source your typical yoga wear. Any comfy loose fitting apparel will be just about adequate.

Yoga clothing must keep you comfortable during the entire workout. Yoga clothes that are uncomfortable or restrictive are likely to be distracting at a yoga session. Various parts of the body must be able to move with ease with your selection of yoga apparel. Choose yoga clothes that fit your frame well. Durability is another important factor while choosing yoga clothes. With bending and stretching yoga asanas, it is but natural that your yoga clothing be double seamed.Cotton is a preferred fabric for yoga clothing.

Go in for yoga clothes that are absorbent. Breathable fabrics wont leave you with chaffing and discomfort. Select yoga pants in a style that suits your preference, be it full length or cropped pants, leggings or capris. Go in for drawstring or elastic waists as they are likely to be more suitable during yoga. Flexibility is of paramount importance when it comes to choosing yoga pants as they must allow you to move sans restrictions. Lightweight pants in cotton that are not too tight, not too loose are ideal for yoga clothing.

Select yoga clothes that appeal to your sense of modesty and comfort. Women can go in for comfortable tee-shirts over shorts or pants. Do not choose a very loose tee-shirt as it is likely to slip down when you are doing yogic asanas that require you to lift your legs up.

Long hours at work and juggling responsibilities were taking their toll on me. A general feeling of lethargy and tiredness marked most of my days. It was then that I decided to embark on practicing yoga - an ancient technique from India - of personal development that focuses on the body, mind and spirit.

Yoga has different connotations for different people. It is probably derived from the Sanskrit word “Yuj” a reference to unite - possibly the human self with the universal consciousness through a set of rigorous practice of breathing technique and postures called as “Asanas”.

Yoga has many schools too -

Karma Yoga - The path through action
Bhakti Yoga - Path through devotion
Hatha Yoga - Path through physical purification
Raja Yoga - Path through purification of mind
Kundalini Yoga - Activation of coiled Life force

As a beginner to yoga, I was keen to find out how it could help bring about peace of mind and physical well-being. Before long I enrolled in a yoga course and decided to get started. Any beginner to yoga must first learn to switch off the outside world, be it the cell phone or other intrusions. Choose clothes that are comfortable and allow the skin to breathe. Ensure that you have the right yoga mat.

Luckily for me, regular simple gym workouts, swimming and walks eased my foray into the world of yoga. A beginner to yoga is made to start with simple basic postures or asanas. Intrinsic to most yogic postures is to be able to sit in the lotus position, with legs folded, spine erect and deep breaths. In fact controlled breathing is intrinsic to the practice of yoga.

While the body did feel a bit tired after the initial sessions, the discomfort eased in a few days. Gradually the body became more flexible and the stretches and postures could be done correctly. The sessions on concentrated breathing (pranayama) have just begun and I can feel a better sense of relaxation. In the weeks to come, we will cover more advanced yogic Asanas and also begin meditation sessions.

If you are eager, here are a few links from our portal section:

Kundalini Yoga related to Tantric Yoga

Hatha Yoga

Power Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga

That is for the starters …