by Valerie Brooks

Assist Your Wrists

I love it when bloggers review products. I just feel that they have no agenda, and no vested interest in supporting the company (unless their cousin created the product and bribed the blogger). The item in question here are Wrist Assured Gloves (WAGS). You know those poses that put a real strain on the wrist? Well, these stylish helpers have a silicone pad built into the glove that reduces the flex of the wrist. The company’s website wristprotectiongloves.com offers a short anatomy lesson on the ergonomics of the hand, with images, to show how these gloves can help your yoga practice. The blogger did note, however, that while the gloves work beautifully in relieving pressure, the fabric did cause some discomfort. The article can be found at yogaisforlovers.wordpress.com.

Trataka, Yogic Gazing

Our eyes are always in motion. The meditation form called Trataka aims to relax the eyes through a contemplative gaze. Considered a cleansing practice in yoga, Trataka involves gazing at an object (a candle flame, perhaps) and then closing the eyes and imagining that same object, using the third eye. The practice is thought to enhance powers of concentration, relax the mind, and even improve poor eyesight. For the beginning meditation student, stilling the eyes and learning to focus the gaze is of great benefit in calming the mind and body. You can even purchase a Trataka stand to place a candle at eye level. Read more about this practice at healthandyoga.com.

Warm-ups

If you’re one of those people who practices yoga at home but doesn’t follow a video sequence, you may be skipping the important warm-up phase. If you take a yoga class or pop in a DVD, you’ll very likely experience some kind of pre-sequence warm-up. This is gentler on the body than jumping right into downward dog. It helps stretch the muscles and prepare it for a fuller workout. This recent video, which culminates in a sun salutation series, offers a nice warm-up routine that you can either follow each time you roll out your mat, or do it often enough to memorize it. It does the body good. See youtube.com.