What's The Best Way To Clean My Yoga Mat?
This question actually comes up pretty often. Sometimes the manufacturer will give specific directions for washing their brand of mat, but here are some other options:
- You can submerge your mat in a solution of warm water and mild detergent (either the bath tub or washing machine. Take caution though, the washing machine may tear your mat). Use very little soap as any residue may cause the mat to become slippery during future use. Thoroughly rinse. After squeezing out the excess water, lay the mat on a dry towel and roll the mat and towel together. Stepping on the rolled up mat will squeeze more moisture out of the mat and into the towel. Then unroll and hang to air dry.
- There are countless mat sprays and wipes out there marketed to “naturally” cleanse your mat and are friendly to the environment. “Jo-Sha Wipes” are individually wrapped and contain aromatherapy oils like lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and tangerine.
- My recommendation is to make your own tea tree oil solution, which is an anti-fungal agent.
You will need:
Filtered water
1/4 cup of Vinegar
3 tbs Alcohol
Eucalyptus essential oil
1 tsp Tea Tree Oil
Add the vinegar and Alcohol to your spray bottle. Then add 1 tsp of Tea Tree Oil. Add 12 drops of Eucalyptus oil. Fill the bottle with water. (You may like to add a little lavender or mint essential oil once in a while.)
Take the spray and lightly spray the yoga mat and air dry it before rolling up. Eucalyptus and Tee Tree Oil can be purchased at GNC, and I’ve seen Tee Tree Oil at Walgreen’s or CVS and even at Cub Foods.
In closing, if your mat is heavily soiled and you’re concerned about killing bacteria, the liquid needs to have alcohol or quat-based disinfectants that are commonly used in detergents. Quat (quaternary ammonium chloride) disinfectants are commonly used on bloodborne pathogens and are effective in destroying viruses and antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Soap and water won’t kill bacteria, but chlorine will.
http://www.foxpointfitness.com - Personal Training and Fitness
Links
Pose Finder at Yoga Journal - Search for dozens of poses by name, the part of the anatomy you want to focus on, or specific health problems.
Yoga Forum - Dial in to a yoga practicing commuity. Serving all types of yoga, meditation, massage and wellness.
Logo Design - Funky Monkey Yoga logo designed by Sandy Southorn Designs e-mail: mailto:Sandysouthorn@msn.com
http://www.santosha.com/asanas/ - an online resource for the practice of yoga postures.
http://www.swamij.com/jokes.htm - Yoga jokes & Quotes and other stuff.
http://www.meditationsociety.com- The official site of the Meditation Society of America, dedicated to sharing meditation techniques and concepts from all traditions.
Fit facts are reprinted from ACE Fitness Matters magazine. You will find Fit Facts on the ACE website at www.acefitness.org/fitfacts
Is Yoga For You? 
Considering it's thousands of years old, it might seem silly to say that yoga has come a long way in recent years. But as mind/body exercise continues to take hold in the '90s, the practice of yoga has moved from the alternative to the mainstream.
Today's hectic lifestyle has left many of us wondering how to manage the stress that comes along with it. While regular aerobic exercise and strength training can help, it isn't the complete answer. Some believe yoga is the piece you need to complete the puzzle of keeping both the body and the mind fit.
A trend worth following
Now, before you start conjuring up images of zoned-out new-agers in pretzel-like positions chanting mantras, consider this: Yoga is an ancient practice that can help you deal with the stress of modern life. And, more and more people, stressed out or not, are discovering the benefits of yoga.
In fact, it has been reported that more than six million Americans are now practicing some form of yoga.
Yoga, which means to yoke or unite, is the practice of uniting all aspects of a person - body, mind and spirit - through physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation. Flexibility, strength and muscle tone improve quickly as the mind and body work together in harmony and unison.
Choose your yoga
There are several different branches of yoga, each with its own unique focus. Hatha yoga, the most widely practiced form, emphasizes concentration and consists of gentle stretching and strengthening exercises.
Because prana, or life force, is thought to originate in the breath, Pranayama yoga uses breathing exercises and breath control to enhance vitality and energy. Mantra yoga uses the concentrated repetition of a word or phrase to aid in the control of the mind.
A time to relax
For some, yoga is a primary means of relaxation, something that is often difficult to achieve in the high-stress, high-speed world we live in. Regardless of which type you choose, yoga is an excellent way to stretch and strengthen the body, focus the mind and relax the spirit. In fact, most modern stress-reduction techniques are based on the principles of yoga.
Dr. Dean Ornish, in his work with heart patients, utilizes yoga exercises, breathing and relaxation techniques to reverse symptoms of heart disease. Current research indicates that stress-related diseases respond favorably to this type of approach. Easing into it The best way to get started in yoga is to find a class that appeals to you. Find out where yoga classes are being held in your area and stop by to see how you like it. There are many different approaches to yoga - some focus on breathing, others focus on holding specific postures - and it's important to find the one that appeals to you the most.
A yoga workout
One type of yoga that has recently jumped in popularity is astanga, or power yoga. This type involves a series of very intense yoga postures done in succession. This class, which is a vigorous workout, can help develop strength as well as flexibility.
Yoga is a great way not only to relax, but also to improve your performance in other activities. Once you have learned a few yoga moves and breathing tech-niques, they can easily be integrated into your regular fitness routine.
So don't let any preconceived notions of yoga keep you from enjoying the benefits of this dynamic mind/body exercise.
Understanding the Different Types of Yoga
By Suzanne Morrison
Yoga is becoming a more and more popular activity in the Western world today. The number of places holding Yoga classes is on the increase and there is a plethora of different types of Yoga. With a choice of Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and many more it can be easy to get confused
The article will help you to understand the difference between the most popular types of Yoga so you can choose which type is right for you.
Hatha Yoga - in Sanskrit (an ancient classical language of India) “Ha” means “sun” and “tha” means “moon”. This type of Yoga is relatively slow paced, gentle type of Yoga and is a good place to start if you are completely new to Yoga and don't know any of the asanas (poses). Like all types of Yoga, Hatha Yoga aims to unite the mind, body and spirit.
Ashtanga Yoga - this is the type of Yoga that I practice on a regular basis and means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit. It's a fast moving, intense style of Yoga practice and is based on a progressive set sequence of asanas, synchronized with the breath. Ashtanga Yoga can be quite physically demanding as you constantly move from one asana in the sequence to the next, so you'll find that it will improve your stamina as well as your flexibility and strength..
Power Yoga - this is a western interpretation of Yoga and is based on Ashtanga Yoga. A Power Yoga class may not necessarily stick to the exact sequence of poses like Ashtanga Yoga does, but it does involve practicing a series of poses without stopping and starting.
Iyengar Yoga - This type of Yoga is based on teachings by B.K.S Igengar and concentrates on the correct alignment and form of the body. Unlike Ashtanga Yoga, there is an emphasis on holding each pose for a long period of time rather than moving constantly from one pose to the next. Iyengar Yoga uses props such as blocks and straps to help align the body into the different poses.
Vinyasa Yoga - Vinyasa means breath synchronized movement and is another fast paced type of Yoga, with an emphasis on breathing. A practice typically starts with sun salutations and moves on to more intense stretching. Throughout the practice each pose is balanced with a counter pose.
Bikram Yoga - otherwise known as “Hot Yoga”, is practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees, with a humidity of around 40%. Generally a sequence of 26 different poses is practiced during a Bikram Yoga class and the hot temperature helps to loosen muscles. Due to the high temperature most people sweat a lot during the class and this helps to cleanse the body of toxins.
If you're just starting out or have never done any Yoga before, I recommend trying a few different types of yoga to find out what you like best.
Remember, there's no rule that says you have to stick to one type of Yoga. I like Ashtanga Yoga best, but I also go to occasional Iyengar and Hatha Yoga classes for a bit of variety.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Morrison
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