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magyarThe Ultimate Yoga Equipment Guide for Newbies
If you are a newbie to the yoga world, you might need a bit of extra help in the form of accessories to aid you in carrying out the poses in an easier way. Nobody is just born a YogaYogi! Let us help you learn the ropes with this yoga equipment guide!
Absolute Basics: the Yoga Mat
One of the most basic yoga accessories in this guide, the mat is something that you will find in all the yoga studios in Budapest. It helps you create your own personal “piece of land.” Apart for that, it is also a sticky version of the classic fitness mat. This means that whatever kind of pose you aim to accomplish, however bent or twisted it might be, the ground will not go out from under you. You won’t slip, you’ll be more comfy, and you won’t get cold if you have to lie or sit on the floor. If you plan on buying your own yoga mat, don’t forget to check out our Yoga Mat Guide.
A Helpful Hand: the Block
A yoga block might sound like a simple, dumbed down piece of yoga gear, but believe you me, it is far from that. Its helpfulness lies in it providing support for us when doing standing poses where our hands are supposed to be touching the floor. Since not all of us are born with the flexibility of a rubber band, we can use the three heights of the yoga block to bring the ground closer to us. This way, we can avoid pulling our hamstrings. (Which is great because, have you ever pulled your hamstrings? Sitting down and standing up becomes a supernatural feat.)
The best yoga studios in Budapest have it and encourage its use. Why? Because it is much better to gradually ease into the poses that we have never practiced before than forcing our bodies to bend ways it is not used to. Yoga blocks can be made of cork, wood or foam, and their size may vary, but not drastically.
An Arm Extension Specialist: the Yoga Strap
The main and most important goal of the strap is to give an extra boost to your arm, making it longer. It is very useful for poses where you have to reach and hold your feet but are unable to, or when you have to reach behind your back and link your hands together. This way, you can give yourself time to improve your “reach.” Without any frustration, not ruining the correct posture of your back because you are trying so hard to grab your feet. The best part is that although you can buy straps specifically for yoga, it is also possible to use a belt, or even an old hoodie if you’re at home. DIY yoga strap instantly!
A New Addition to the Yoga Equipment Universe: the Wheel
The yoga wheel is an accessory that has only recently been rolled out. Even so, it has already become obvious that it is a very helpful partner helping us accomplish our yoga goals. Usually made of plastic or wood, the wheels have an average size of 30 cm. At first glance, it may seem a dangerous game, because it doesn’t give the impression of increasing stability. With time, however, you can get used to it and all the balancing that needs to be done.
This is why for beginners, the recommendation is to start with poses that are more closer to the ground. This way you’ll be more stable. Similarly to those mentioned above, the wheel was also created to give more support in accomplishing harder postures. At the same time, however, it is used to make poses more difficult by making balancing tricky. But that’s for advanced yogis. Other than those functions, it helps make stretches more deep, thus more effective. And, over time, with a bit of patience, to increase your flexibility! Just keep in mind that as a beginner, you have to opt for poses that will prevent you from getting hurt. The half-pyramid pose, the fish pose, the crow pose, of the lizard lunge are good options.
