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Email your questions and queries to
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and we will look forward to answering a selection each month.
What equipment do I need for practicing yoga?
How do I care for my agoy Studio Yoga Mat?
How do I care for my agoy Earth Yoga Mat?
When is time for a new mat?
What to do with my old yoga mat?
How can I find yoga in my area?
What is the difference between Hatha and other types of yoga?
What kind of clothing should I wear for yoga?
How often should I practice yoga?
Will I lose weight from doing yoga?
How long should I wait to do yoga after I eat?
Can I do yoga with a bad back?
Do I have to be flexible to do yoga?
What equipment do I need for practicing yoga?
Yoga is something you can do without any equipment or props. But you might want to consider a number of things. A mat designed specifically for yoga not only gives you much-needed grip, but can also act as a cushion against hard or cold floors. These are usually supplied by your yoga teacher, but you might want to take in to consideration the hygiene benefits of owning you own mat.
Originally the ancient yogis never used such equipment, but when yoga was first to westerners it was clear that we might benefit from a few extras. Yoga belts are very popular as they can give you length in the arms when needed, or they can be used in imaginative ways in certain positions. Yoga blocks are often used to aid and support particular parts of the body to help with the correct alignment of a position. All of these pieces of equipment can be very useful when practicing, but it is our belief that we must be careful not to become too reliant on any of them. back to top
How do I care for my agoy studio Yoga Mat?
agoy’s classic and deluxe Studio Mats are so easy to care for, in fact all you need to do is pop them into the washing machine.
washing instructions
● Machine or hand-wash in 30 degrees, or cold water
● Add a tea spoon of mild detergent
● rinse twice
hang in a well ventilated room: drape over banister or over radiator to dry (may take up to 2 days depending on how well ventilated the room is) but do NOT direct contact with the radiator.
Breaking in
If you find your mat is a little slippery to begin with, then here are some tricks to breaking in your new mat:
● machine wash as above – this will help to increase the ‘sticky’ nature of the mat when new
● place your mat on well used floor space and walk over it to break in
● take a scrubbing brush that you would normally use for pots & pans and break the surface gently over the top and bottom of mat where the hands and feet are positioned
● place your new mat under an old mat while doing practice to break in back to top
How do I care for my agoy Earth Yoga Mat?
The agoy earth mat is best washed by hand, in cool water using a mild detergent, ensuring that the mat is not twisted. Hang, to air dry or wipe dry. Your agoy earth mat should not be exposed to extreme temperatures or to direct sunlight for extended periods of time (one month or more). Always keep your mat away from solvents such as lacquers. Please avoid folding your mat – best to roll for storage. back to top
When is time for a new mat?
agoy mats are very durable, however no mat will last forever. You will know when it’s time for a new mat when your old mat just doesn’t have the grip it used to, when it starts peeling off and you leave a trail wherever you go, when it smells and no amount of washing changes that. Or maybe it’s just time to get a new one when you spy a great new colour – we’d be happy with that! back to top
What to do with my old yoga mat?
You can be creative as you like with this one! Contact your local homeless shelter, your favourite old mat could bring so much comfort to another person’s life. Maybe donate it to a local yoga charity, use it as a non-slip surface at home between rugs and wooden floorboards, as protection under pot plants. The possibilities are endless – let us know if you come up with a good one, we’d love to hear from you. back to top
How can I find yoga in my area?
Due to the rise in popularity of yoga, you can quite easily find yoga classes in most of the major cities in the UK. Most gyms offer yoga classes of some kind. If you live away from a major city, you may have some difficulty in finding a class. I would suggest enquiring at local church halls or community centres, as yoga classes require a large amount of space, and tend to be taught in halls of some kind. It's also a good idea to look on the notice boards of your local health food store as classes are usually advertised there. There is also a listing of courses and classes in Yoga and Health, the British yoga magazine. Alternatively you can call The British Wheel of Yoga on 01529 306 851 for a listing of their members across the country. back to top
What is the difference between Hatha and other types of yoga?
All types of physical forms of yoga, strictly speaking, are Hatha yoga, but these days Hatha has come to suggest the less dynamic forms of yoga. So Hatha has come to represent a general type of yoga that is on the gentle side and not too gymnastic.
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What Kind of clothing should I wear for yoga?
The choice of clothing usually depends on the type of yoga you are doing. The more dynamic forms of yoga will require something close fitting in order to move freely. The gentle styles allow you to wear something more comfortable and loose. What it really comes down to, however, is a question of personal choice. One thing that we would recommend is to wear a top that you can keep on until you warm up and that you can put on at the end of a class, especially for relaxation. back to top
How often should I practice yoga?
At first you will probably find that once a week is enough. we would say that the majority of people practice between one and three times a week. But what you usually find is that the more you practice the more you want to practice. we would say that you should enjoy a regular practice and allow it to build. One thing we will say is don't beat yourself up or feel guilty if you lapse, as that is definitely not what yoga is about. back to top
Will I lose weight from doing yoga?
If you do the more rigorous types of yoga that burn calories you will definitely lose weight. For us, the main advantage of yoga regarding weight loss is the way it starts to balance out the whole body as well as the mind. This in turn has the possibility to re-programme the body for longer results than just a quick weight-loss programme. back to top
How long should I wait to do yoga after I eat?
The standard answer is two hours for obvious reasons, but depending on the yoga you are doing, what you are eating and how hungry you are. I would say it is up to you, but be sensible. Most people that have been doing yoga for a while have made the mistake of eating too close to doing a practice and have experienced stomach cramps. Sometimes the best way to learn is by your own experience. back to top
Can I do yoga with a bad back?
There are many different types of back problems, so always seek medical advice first. We have worked with many people who have improved their backs through yoga. But we have also seen many people damage their backs through yoga unintelligently practiced. When approached intelligently, yoga strengthens the core – the natural support of the body – and can release tension that many of us hold in our backs. The main part of the practice to watch out for, as potentially putting too much strain on the lower back, is back bends. The body isn't designed to bend backwards as part of our normal range of movement, so these motions should be practiced with care. Don't work through pain in the back – 'no pain no gain' does not apply here. And if experiencing any form of regular discomfort, once again, seek the advice of your doctor or osteopath. back to top
Do I have to be flexible to do yoga?
Definitely not, anybody can do yoga, but the thing is not just any yoga. Make sure that you chose a type of yoga that is right for you or better still is to find a teacher who can work with your individual needs. The important thing to remember is yoga is not a stretch class, but has the potential to go much further than that, as you start to release the deep conditioning within the body and start to build an understanding of it. This can be done whether you are flexible or not. back to top
When starting yoga the most important thing to remember is your breathing. |
