For years I had heard people talk about the benefits of practicing yoga on a regular basis and so, four years ago I bit the bullet and decided to give it a go. It helps with flexibility, muscle strength and tone, reduces sports injuries, improves respiration and energy, helps with your posture and keeping your joints healthy, and helps with mindfulness and finding your inner calm! The list goes on!
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My Journey With Yoga
My trip to an amazing vegan yoga retreat in Portugal marked the beginning of my love of yoga. It was an amazing experience. We practised yoga three times a day. Sunrise yoga at the bell tower was particuarly magical. The setting was idyllic, off-grid, fuelled by delicious, healthy vegan food. I felt like I had found a really effective time-out from life, where I could fully focus on myself and my well-being. When I returned home, I found it difficult to find that same focus and mindfulness. It’s much easier to get into the mindset when you are in a place entirely dedicated to that purpose. It has taken some time to establish yoga as a daily routine. I tried yoga classes and online videos, and I have finally found what fits me. Now I honestly couldn’t go without yoga in my daily life!
I have decided to share my favourite videos and classes with you which might inspire you to try it out for yourself, along with the yoga mats I use. I would advise investing in a good yoga mat if you find that this is a good fit for you, as it really makes a big difference.
Yoga with Adriene
Yoga With Adriene is my go-to yoga hub. She has a yoga video for anything and everything you could imagine! I was first introduced to her Yoga for Runners videos. Shortly after I took up running I started having an issue with my IT band which meant I had to stop running due to the pain. After only three sessions of the Yoga for Runners sequence, I had no more issues. It was unbelievable! I’ve been doing this sequence for months now – I know it off by heart! It combines deep breathing with stretches to sooth the muscles and stabilise the joints. It helps your body restore after your cardio, and has a lovely gentle wind-down at which point I nearly doze off!
Linnann Yoga
I recently discovered Linnann Yoga. Linda Champ is from Ireland and she is based in County Offaly. The setting for her classes is in a beautiful dome looking out onto Irish countryside. It’s really idyllic! Her focus is on promoting health and well-being through mindful movement and meditation. She runs online yoga classes which are recorded and emailed to you if you miss it which is very handy. You can follow her Instagram @linnannyoga_ireland where you will find some handy do’s and don’t’s for your Downward Dog and Chaturanga!
Yoga with Kassandra
This is a great 10-minute morning yoga routine. For me, it’s a definite competition in the morning between 10 minutes extra in bed or 10 minutes of yoga to prepare myself for the day ahead! I have to admit, my bed almost always wins! But, I do recommend this routine for any time of the day, especially if you’re having a particularly hectic day and can only manage a short break for yoga. Kassandra goes through the routine at a lovely pace and it’s really easy to follow.
Yoga Mats
I’m not an expert on yoga mats! I have tried two, and I’ll tell you about those! From having spoken to friends who bought cheaper mats when starting out, they were all of the opinion that it’s wise to invest in a good-quality mat to help you get the full benefit from yoga without being distracted if the mat keeps moving or is too short or too spongy.
The first mat I use is the Jade Harmony yoga mat. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly mat, this is the one to go for. They are made sustainably from natural rubber and when you purchase a Jade mat, they plant another tree! It’s lightweight and has very good grip which is so important when your hands and feet get sweaty. The second mat I use is the Manduka Pro. This is heavier and larger than the Jade mat as it has extra dense cushioning for support and stability. The material prevents sweat from seeping into the mat, which annoyingly leaves it quite slippery. It supposedly takes a few months of daily use before the slippery coating wears away. I have tried a few tricks to speed up the process, but it remains slippery. I wear yoga socks or regular socks when using this one. Of the two, Jade is the winner!
Clothing
The reason I am mentioning clothing here is because I have heard of people paying lots of money for specific yoga clothing and I almost splashed out on a few pieces myself. I wear a pair of leggings from Penneys, a vest and long-sleeved top. Cheap and cheerful. You don’t need to splash out. All I would recommend is to wear fitted clothing. When you’re doing the Downward Dog you don’t want a loose-fitted top falling down over your head bearing all to your fellow yogis! Or maybe you do – I don’t know! That actually happened to a friend of mine and she was mortified, so I figured I should warn you! I purchased a pair of yoga socks to stop my feet from slipping, but now I just grab any regular pair of socks and they do the job just as well. If you’re going to invest in anything, let it be the mat!
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