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MANILA, Philippines – June 21 is the International Day of Yoga. What better way to celebrate this than going to your first ever yoga sesh?

Yoga may seem like one of those trendy things on Instagram. We see a lot of celebrities posting photos of themselves in “child’s pose” or “downward-facing dog.” But yoga is not just a fad. 

Studies have proven the numerous benefits of this practice on both the mind and the body. Practicing yoga can help reduce stress, and relieve anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It can also reduce low-back pains, and lower heart rate and blood pressure. In short, it can improve the overall quality of a person’s life.

At a time like this (heavy traffic, fake news, tensions at the West Philippine Sea), we are really under a lot of stress – Manila, of course, is the 10th most stressful city in the world. There’s no better time to unplug and meditate than now.

So, go ahead and reserve a mat for beginner-friendly Yin Yoga or an Easy Vinyasa sessions at a nearby Yoga studio. But first, here are the things you would need:

Proper and comfortable clothes

5-pc women’s yoga sport set, P1,326

Yoga requires a lot of bending and stretching in ways that you didn’t know were possible. So, you need to dress for it.

Wear a pair of yoga pants and a top that won’t easily come off or ride up, no matter what odd position you’re in. It’s equally important that your clothes shouldn’t get in the way. You don’t want to disturb your concentration!

Yoga towel

Towelite yoga towel, P995.00

Most yoga studios have available mats to use. But if you’re kind of a neat freak, you may want to use a yoga towel on top of the mat. This won’t only make sure that you’re rolling on a clean surface, the soft texture of the towel also acts as a cushion, making “warrior” poses more comfortable to do.

Reusable water bottle

Klean Kanteen Classic, P2,000

Yoga may not be as intense as a bootcamp or crossfit (or is it?) but you will still need to bring a bottle of water with you. You’ll sweat buckets from all the twists and turns so you would need to hydrate yourself from time to time. Avoid bringing a disposable water bottle and opt for reusable ones. Remember, yoga is all about mindfulness.

Yoga mat cleaner

Oxyvibes organic mat cleaner, P2,441

If you don’t feel like bringing a yoga towel, bring a mat cleaner instead. Just spritz on the mat then wipe the dirt and sweat residue away using a microfiber towel. Do the next person who will use it a favor by cleaning the mat again after using it!

Yoga mat 

Buy 1 take 1 yoga mat, P499.00

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll surely want to practice yoga everywhere you go. Get yourself a yoga mat so you can do a Yin whether you’re at home or even on a vacation. Other than, you only need a quiet place, a quiet mind and you’re good to go.

Trying yoga might just be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Namaste! – Rappler.com