Men's Health, Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine--they all have their issues featuring all the latest "stuff".  Well, yes, Yoga Journal, et al., has all of their ads and a few pages on the latest trendy fashion, but I think the yoga community is underserved.  So here it is, The Yoga Gear Guide (Part 1).(1)  Are you ready?

Yoga Blocks  Forget the blue foam blocks or the toe smashing, head bashing, wooden blocks found in many Iyengar yoga studios.  Or, the oh-so-eco friendly cork.  Now here comes the Three Minute Egg.  Touted as the "New Shape in Yoga Blocks", their website has beautiful models doing advanced poses (2) using the "eggs".  Check it out here. They look way too unsteady, don't you think?  I'd be like doing a handstand on a curved block, bosu ball-like. Maybe if they're on their side, but then how do you grip them?  Maybe they're nice for a back bend. 

Gaiam now has an "all grip yoga brick" having a cut-out in the middle from which to grip promoting it's ability to "ensure proper alignment", "prevent strain and injuries" and "maintain control and stability better than other blocks."  Hum.  Really?    

Yoga Mats
Remember the first time you saw a yoga mat at Bed, Bath & Beyond?  Then, Borders Books.  Yoga mats are everywhere.  But, the ones you are really jonesin for aren't to be found at your local Whole Foods.  I'm talking about the Manduka.  You'll need your chaturanga muscles to cart it around as it weighs a ton (7 lbs., really) but I'm told it will last you a lifetime of yoga.  Of course, Manduka makes lighter and cheaper mats (like the one I own).  Want to really impress your yogamates-whip out your Black Sapphire, which Manduka calls "seductive" and makes in "limited quantity" I guess to justify the $104 price tag.  I have yet to see one, but I understand Jeffrey got one as a gift. 

Now there's an audio yoga mat.  Yes, a yoga mat with an mp3 player connection and small speaker.  Although my first impression was "OMG", I am now reconsidering.  Maybe this is a good thing.  With so many audio yoga classes or instructional programs  that can be downloaded to your iPod, you can do a home practice with the audio right on your mat.  This saves hopping out of poses to pause or reverse an audio feed that may be a distance away. 

Socks   There are various brands of no-slip yoga socks and their hand companions.  The socks have individual toe slots with sticky nubbies on the bottom.  I own a pair with the toes cut off.  Although I haven't had an opportunity to wear them for yoga, they are an added warmth with flips.  I think these would be great if you're without a yoga mat and want some gripping action, when using public mats or if you find yourself in a stinky, carpeted yoga studio.  The sock/hand combo allows you to practice without a mat.   

And, for the Men  The Yoga Jockstrap.  The website says it has an "innovative" design with a support "system" to keep the privates supported during twists, turns and stretches.  "The secure, yet comfortable strap will keep you lifted up and out so you can do all the postures easily and with confidence.  Up and Out?  Who knew?  I did hear a yoga teacher instructing men in eagle pose to make a crotch adjustment when coming into the pose.  Whatever.    

Oh, there is sooo much more.  Just look in the ad pages in the back of Yoga Journal Magazine or the Gaiam catalog ever present in my mailbox.  In the coming weeks, I'll take a stab at yoga clothing--one of my favorite subjects.  It'll be fun.  I'm looking forward to it.  See you next week!

(1) I have not tried or even seen many of these products.  I'm not associated, thank god, with any of the companies, nor did I receive any money to either promote or diss them.  This is merely for fun, I hope.  

(2)  That is one awesome pose on their home page and on the curved surface of the "egg" no less.  I don't even know what you'd call it--something-something-something eka pada koundinyasana XII.  I'll have to see if Ann Austin has this pose in her repertoire.  I bet she does.

[Want to read some of my earlier posting.  You can find them here.  Enjoy.]