The US Department of Health and Human Services has designated September as National Yoga Month to encourage people of all ages to learn how yoga supports and encourages healthy lifestyles. Its practice promotes relaxation, body awareness, mental and physical flexibility, and an overall sense of well-being.

The earliest documentation of its practice dates back to 3000 BCE.  Carved seals depicting Hindu deities were discovered in the Indus Valley region along the border of India and Pakistan. Yoga as is known today arrived in the West in the 1890s through the lectures of Swami Vivekananda. It grew in popularity during the 1960s. As word spread of its helpfulness in developing and maintaining flexibility and strength, enhancing mood, and encouraging relaxation, its popularity continued to grow. When Dean Ornish, MD spoke of its benefits for preventing and managing heart disease in the 1980s, enrollment in classes rose quickly. As of January 2012, an estimated 20 million people in the United States now practice yoga.

Hatha yoga, the most common form taught at studios in the US, is a noncompetitive form of gentle exercise. Its goal is to bring body, mind, and spirit into balance with one another through the use of asanas (poses), breathing techniques, and meditation. Many of the poses can be modified through the use of blocks, straps, or other props to accommodate the individual student's level of fitness while taking into account any disabilities he or she may have and allowing him or her to reap the benefits.

  


While Rehabmart offers a different types of Yoga Equipment, the most basic piece of equipment for a yoga practice is a mat. While many of them come in solid colors, the mat from J/Fit sports a Leopard Print Yoga Mat. It's made of lightweight foam with a tacky surface to provide insulation and stability as the user flows from pose to pose, and it helps to prevent sliding on bare floors. The waffle weave ensures durability, and the mat is flexible enough to be rolled or folded to provide support during passive and active poses. Its leopard print design brings a note of fun to even the most serious practice.

  


Another helpful tool used during many restorative poses is the Exertools Hemp Yoga Strap. It's used for forward bends to help lengthen the spine while insuring proper alignment, and for bound poses such as the reclining bound angle. The strap is six feet long with the choice of three colors, and comes with two soft weighted balls and an exercise instruction chart. It's made out of hemp and is biodegradable. The D-ring buckles allow it to be fastened into place to support and align the body during the pose.

  

Many classes and practices end with restorative poses. Providing extra support for them and active poses is the Exertools Hemp Yoga Bolster. Both round and rectangle shapes provide firm, comfortable support for the user over an extended area. It's made from eco-friendly hemp as part of a zero-impact program and is free of PVC and phthalates. The cover can be removed for easy washing and features a handle for ease in carrying.