Every art form has its own special tools. A painter has special brushes, paints, canvases; a sculptor has their own collection of knives and material from which they carve a piece; a writer their own individual pens, paper, software; a musician their own favorite instrument; a photographer their personal brand of camera and multiple lenses for their type of photography. If you are serious about your art you will want to begin to acquire the necessary tools to become proficient and creative. The tools of any art form are your instruments of creativity. Over time they gather your energy and become a source of inspiration, a means to express your personal and unique view of the world. So it is also for someone who practices the art of Yoga.
My yoga mat defines my space of practice. Over time as my energy has infused into the mat and become part of the fabric it also offers a place to experience silence, to try out different poses or variations of poses, to rest, to meditate, to breathe, to flow with movement. It is a place that offers all of these things and more.
The tools of yoga are very modest. The basics include a mat, a couple of blocks and a strap. That’s it! So why are so many practitioners balking at purchasing these simple items? Is it because they don’t take Yoga seriously as an art form? Is it because these items, up to now anyway, were usually available in a Yoga studio so there was no need to buy them? There are few if any yoga studios open as I write this blog, so it is time to take the plunge and invest in a few good tools to make your yoga journey enjoyable, safe, and creative.
Just learning how to use the tools/props in all the myriad ways possible will make your practice more satisfying and pleasant and it might even bring your practice to a higher level. Hugger Mugger is a company that sells yoga products including a nice line of props. They have put out a directory of how to use some of their props creatively. The link to this directory is here
Below are some of the places online where you can purchase the basics and more. These are not the only vendors, there are many others both online and brick and mortar venues. Choose where you want to purchase your tools but do purchase the basics.
Purchase the tools that are satisfying to you. There are many varieties of color, size and fabrics. Make up your own tool box of yoga tools and begin to experiment. It is well worth the investment for your health and overall well being.
Yoga & Tai Chi 