One of the great things about yoga is that you can do it anytime, anywhere, provided you have your yoga mat. Technically, you can do it without a yoga mat, but when you’re contorting yourself on your knees, trust me, you’ll want the support of a mat. Fortunately, mats are very portable and last for years. They can be a bit pricey, but unless you’re saving up for a computer, matching initial necklaces, or are being hounded by your student loan creditors, you can probably afford one. A yoga mat is a sound investment, with immeasurable benefits for your mind and body.
Even if you’re on a road trip, far from a gym or a treadmill, roll out your yoga mat on the shoulder of the freeway and get in some backbends, releasing all those pent-up toxins from your spine—and, some say, cleansing your chakras. In the middle of the night, if you’re having trouble sleeping, bust out a half-tortoise pose and balance out your sleep-wake cycles. This pose is also good in the middle of the workday, when the stress is getting to you. A fresh surge of oxygenated blood to the brain gives you a nice perspective on the rest of the day.
Yoga is an ancient form of physical meditation with thousands of forms. There are some core postures, like [Read more…]