Over the years, there have been so many new tools in yoga -- hoops, ropes, blocks, hammocks and more. And here's the latest addition yoga lovers should know about -- the Yoga Wheel.
This wheel originated in the US, created by Dov Vargas and Raquel Vamos in August 2014 under the name Dharma Yoga Wheel. It is designed to help you stretch and release muscular tightness, with the added bonus of being incredibly fun to play with. It's also very Instagrammable, even Britney Spears posted a picture of herself with the wheel last year.
The wheel has paved its way to being a new sector in itself within the yoga industry and of course, Thailand has cottoned on to the new workout trend. Trika Yog, a yoga and Pilates studio on Sathon Road, launched its Yoga Wheel class five months ago, taught by seasoned yoga instructor Aman.
First of all, you need to find the right wheel for your body type and level of flexibility. At Trika Yog, there are three sizes to choose from (approx B2,000-3,000) -- the stronger you are, the bigger the wheel.
According to Aman, the wheel does more than just sit there and look pretty. It helps you achieve difficult poses that you could not do otherwise and makes certain poses more challenging for those who want to level up.
"What I've found out is this wheel is very helpful. For example, in balancing poses, like bakasana (crow pose), some people cannot balance by putting their knees on their elbows. With this wheel, they can just put their feet on the wheel, and then they will be able to do the pose."
Aman has been acquainted with the Yoga Wheel for five months. Three months ago, he launched the first Yoga Wheel workshop.
"Before my workshop, I'd spent two months figuring out what we could do with the wheel. In the workshop that I did here, the feedback was awesome. With the prop, you can adjust your alignment much faster. Now we only have one class per week, but we might add more later."
The 60-minute class is, in general, similar to a regular yoga class, with stretching, balancing, strengthening and breathing practice. What makes it different is you have this little wheel to play with. You lean on it, lift it, roll it, or even stand on it if you're good at balancing. However, Aman warns that the wheel can be dangerous, so you should be honest with yourself about how much you can do.
"Sometimes, if they do it wrong, they can fall off the wheel and hurt themselves. Remember you're balancing on something that is round and unstable."
But this doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try. If you do yoga regularly, the wheel helps you get deeper into the pose. For instance, in the warrior one pose, you can place your front foot on the wheel, and you will need to balance on it. That way, you work your muscles more than on the mat. The shape of the wheel fits perfectly with the arch of your foot, so there's more pressure, thus the stretch is deeper.
"The wheel gives you better support, but at the same time, it motivates you to challenge yourself beyond your limits," said Aman.
This class is suitable for both beginners and advanced yogis alike. At the end of the day, yoga is all about how much you're willing to try, not how much you can already do. If it ever gets too exhausting for you, let it be said that leaning against the wheel is so relaxing for the back. Maybe I should get one to lean on when watching TV at home.
Britney Spears and the Yoga Wheel.
Trika Yog is located on 5/F of Sathorn Building (Sathon Soi 11). Visit http://fb.com/trikayog or call 02-307-8698 for more information. Bangkok Post readers can enjoy a discount on monthly fees from B5,000 to B3,500 until the end of May by referring to this article.
