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In today’s busy and hectic world, joining traditional yoga classes in a studio is no longer the only option for practitioners. You can easily practice yoga right in front of your laptop in the comfort of your home. Doing yoga at home and following instructions from videos might be convenient, but there’s a good chance you will put your body into postures that are neither efficient nor properly aligned, which could potentially lead to injuries. So let’s take a look at some of the reasons you should keep on taking yoga classes at a studio.

Posture correction

One of the things that a home yoga practice lacks is adjustments and corrections from experienced instructors. Misalignment in poses can happen to anyone, from beginners to the most seasoned yogis. When you join a class, you’ll benefit from real yoga instructors who are always on the lookout for students who require assistance. Guidance and modifications from instructors are customized for every body shape in a particular lesson. Their immediate advice helps reduce the chances of students performing injury-prone poses.

Better insight

Practicing in a studio gives you the opportunity to approach your instructors and ask for their expert advice and insight, whether it’s before, during, or after class. Whether you’re looking to improve your postures, gain more flexibility and strength, or express concerns about pain in specific parts of your body during practice, your instructors are there to provide guidance and solutions to your problems. While they might not be able to answer all of your questions, they’re still a valuable source of information you can’t find in yoga videos and podcasts alone.

Improved focus

Let’s face it – it can be pretty easy to veer off course when practicing yoga at home. There are so many distractions with the potential to divert your focus from your sessions. You may need to take the dog out for an evening stroll, do the laundry, cook dinner, or pick up phone calls – the list goes on. Participating in a dedicated session full of like-minded individuals who share the same passion and goals can direct your mind and attention towards the practice at hand.

Social interaction

While the ultimate purpose of yoga is to find yourself and relax both your body and mind, you’ll often need the connection and help of others to get there. Yoga classes can create a strong sense of community and connection. It is a place where instructors and students try to support each other, even in the most difficult of postures and challenging moments. By joining in a studio environment you are fostering a sense of connection with others, which is a fulfilling and meaningful experience.

Practicing yoga in a studio can develop you as a person, reduce the risks of injury, and give you the opportunity to share and connect with fellow yogis.

To learn more about how our yoga classes can benefit your well-being, get in touch with our expert instructors today.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

So, you’ve decided to give yoga a try. You look up the class schedule at your local fitness center, choose a time, and you’re all set, right? Well, maybe – but maybe not. Two integral parts of any yoga session may be missing: the yoga mat and towel. So which do you invest in first and which is more important? Let’s take a look at the purpose of each of these yoga accessories so you can be prepared for your first class.

What is the purpose of a yoga mat?

While yoga is often performed in a studio or fitness centre, it’s true that it can be practiced anywhere – from your back porch to the sands of a desert or beach. With that said, why do you need a yoga mat to begin with? People have been practicing yoga for thousands of years and never had a mat, right? While it is true that yoga has been around long before modern day mats accompanied it, today classes are generally held indoors in a studio with hard flooring. Simply put, a mat serves as protection between you and the studio floor.

In a typical yoga class, you’re sometimes balancing on your head, back, forearms or other hard parts of your body. Making bone-to-floor contact can be downright painful, and the cushioning of a yoga mat prevents this. Even worse, you’re going to sweat during your class. And when you mix sweat with a hard floor, a slippery surface is the result. The yoga mat ensures that you’re not slipping and sliding all over the place and potentially tumbling over and getting injured.

Why do you need a yoga towel?

15 minutes into your first session, you’ll quickly discover the purpose of the yoga towel. You’re going to sweat a lot, and the towel helps mop it up. Additionally, a towel can serve as a sanitary barrier between you and the mat – which you might appreciate most if you’re not its sole user.

While there are towels specifically designed for yoga mats – that are sized to fit the mat and are more absorbent of liquids (like your sweat) – a beach towel will do just as well.

So do you buy the towel or mat first?

If you’re taking a class at a fitness center or studio, a mat is an absolute necessity. You likely won’t be allowed to join the class without one. Towels on the other hand can wait. Not everyone uses them, but they can be handy – especially if you’re participating in a hot yoga class where you’ll be sweating buckets.

As a final note, many yoga studios will also rent out/provide yoga mats for new practitioners. If you’re not ready to invest in one yet, then this is an option. However, if you’re going to be using a community mat, be sure to bring a towel. There have likely been dozens of people sweating on it already.

New to yoga and have questions? Give us a call today, and our experienced teachers will be happy to give you the answers you’re looking for.