If you buy your Yoga mat, Yoga wear or equipment online this evening it will normally be sent out on Monday.

Practical advice - doing Yoga at home

The main requirements for Yoga are:-

• a warm room with enough space
• a good mat
• a blanket
• any other items to help in postures

We do not produce a list of required equipment since individual requirements vary and depend on many different factors.

A small, cluttered, cold, or uneven floor surface, inadequate equipment and insufficient instruction are all all likely to contribute to a less than satisfactory outcome.

You can improve your experience by making sure that you maintain a good posture, whilst making full and proper use of the right equipment and taking time to get properly trained by a teacher or learning yourself.

We try to cover these kinds of issues from time to time on our Web site.

stress

You may find Yoga will reduce stress, make life easier for you or more interesting, but stress may get worse if doing Yoga does not achieve what you expect it to, or when you do not feel able to do it.

To help you overcome stress you should ensure you have enough time to do Yoga well and make sure that you, and the equipment you use are both up to it!

Stress can arise as a result of many, different reasons, lifestyle choices and circumstances and in order to achieve a significant reduction in the amount of stress many other issues may also need to be taken into consideration, in addition to using Yoga to reduce stress

headaches

If you have a headache, or if you feel at all unwell, you should probably avoid doing Yoga altogether.

You may already know of several things you may be able to do with Yoga to ease these kinds of symptoms, and to reduce anxiety but attempting postures when you are not feeling well enough, without preparing, or with an existing precondition, injuries, or lack of support from inadequate equipment for example or a combination of any of these is not a good practice.

limbs and joints

If you are experiencing any aches or pains in your hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders or back, after long periods of work for example, problems like these can often be overcome by using the right equipment and taking instruction from a teacher so that you are able to do Yoga more comfortably.

Aches and pains may not last but in some cases they may become persistent.

Taking early, preventative action is recommended to avoid any unnecessary discomfort and more serious problems at a later stage.

pregnancy

Many studies have shown the benefits of doing Yoga whilst pregnant, but this should normally only be undertaken only under ongoing guidance, advice and instruction from an experienced teacher.

environment

• Adjust your posture from time to time to keep a comfortable position
• Make sure you have sufficient space for all postures
• Try different arrangements of equipment to get the best support combination for you.
• Avoid over extending, or making quick, awkward movements
• Avoid bright lights, cold draughts and unwanted noise.
• Move around to find a space that is not directly facing bright lights, or near to appliances such as heaters and fires, or blocking access to a room or passageway
• Adjust curtains, blinds and lights and use natural light whenever possible
• Create enough space to move freely before you start.
• Move any obstacles such as furniture, unwanted equipment and clothing
• Avoid undue pressure on your legs and back and take a break from exercise if necessary
• Learn how to adjust your body in postures safely
• Keep the surface of your mat clean and dry at all times
• Don't keep the same position for prolonged periods, change your posture and move about as much as practicable.
• If you are finding it difficult and start making mistakes either from a lack of concentration or interest, it is probably time to stop

long hours

Long hours doing Yoga or Meditation are not recommended for beginners and should otherwise only be attempted if you feel well enough to continue. You should also know that you have the required amount of training and time for it.