At its basic level, yoga is one of the easiest forms of exercise to practice. All you need is a yoga mat, comfortable exercise clothes, and maybe a water bottle. However, yoga practice is evolving quickly, and as people gain a deeper understanding of its benefits, they are using more and more equipment for better results. Nowadays, yoga balance balls and yoga swings are arguably the two most famous pieces of equipment yoga practitioners use.
If you are like most people, or if you are new to yoga, you may wonder what yoga balls and swings are all about and whether they are necessary. This blog will explore both yoga equipment, stating their similarities and differences, and ultimately helping you asses if maybe…just maybe... one of these equipment may be a game-changer for you in your practice of yoga.
SIMILARITIES
1. Balance and Control
Our bodies have a proprioceptive system that links sensors in our muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin to the central nervous system. The proprioceptive system also allows our body to perceive its position in space, controlling body position and balance. A well-functioning proprioceptive system keeps our bodies upright and enables the swift and easy movements of limbs and overall body coordination. Think of the marvelous contortionists and rope walkers who perform seemingly impossible feats at the Cirque du Soleil, demonstrating a level of balance and control that looks impossible for a human being! That is evidence of the wonders of the proprioceptive system.
Both yoga balls and yoga swings target the core muscles, which are vital for proprioceptive activity (body balance and position). Every time you perform yoga on a balance ball or yoga swing, you increase the body’s ability to maintain balance and muscle coordination, leading to greater vitality, activity, and dexterity.
2. VERSATILITYBoth yoga balls and yoga swings share the characteristic of being unbelievably versatile, meaning they can be used in a wide range of yoga exercises and poses. Yoga exercises can be broadly classified into three categories:
- Strength training
- Mobility practice
-
Stretching
In mobility, strength training, or stretching activities, yoga balls and swings offer practitioners opportunities to explore different asanas (poses), transitions, and movement patterns in yoga. With either of the two devices, you can try out different poses, thus deriving more benefits without needing additional equipment.
3. ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE
Yoga swings may require a little installation practice, but considering the variety of exercises they offer, they are still quite affordable yoga equipment. Yoga balance balls, on the other hand, are even less costly and require no extra effort for installation. Modern yoga balance ball models such as the Zelus can be installed in less than two minutes.
The accessibility of this equipment is further enhanced because most shops that offer yoga balls also have yoga swings on sale, and vice versa. Zelus Fitness offers a wide array of yoga balls and yoga swings, all at affordable prices between $50 and $70.
DIFFERENCES
The main difference between yoga swings and yoga balls is that they offer specific benefits and are most effective when used in different categories of exercise. Yoga swings excel in yoga poses that involve inversion. In yoga, an inversion is any pose in which the head is positioned below the heart or the body is upside down. Examples of inversions are:- Headstands
- Shoulder Stands
- Forearm stands
While yoga swings excel in inversions, yoga balls are most effective when used for cardiovascular exercise or strength and agility training, making them fitted for more vigorous yoga poses and exercises.
1. RANGE OF MOTION
The suspension offered by yoga swings is a unique advantage in allowing for a greater variety of poses and exercises than a yoga balance ball would. Though both exercise equipment offer incredible versatility in sports, the fact that the yoga swing offers suspension allows for more ease and a greater range of motion in certain poses, such as deep stretches and backbends.
The yoga ball must remain rooted to the ground, meaning these particular poses and exercises may not be feasible to an effective degree.
2. MENTAL/SPIRITUAL BENEFITS
Practicing yoga is as much a mental and spiritual process as a physical one. One core tenets of yoga practice is mindfulness: the ability to shut out all distractions and be in the moment. The gentle swinging and soft rocking of a yoga swing provide a calming, soothing effect well-suited for relaxation and focus. Thanks to the soft patterns of movements on the swing, users of yoga swings report a greater ability to relax and meditate.Yoga balls, on the other hand, are more suitable for exercises that target muscle relaxation and overall bodily health.
CONCLUSION
Ideally, getting both yoga swings and balance balls would be most beneficial as they are valuable equipment for yoga practice. However, it is not unwise or unusual for practitioners to start out getting one. Having explored the similarities and differences between both equipment in this blog, you are ready to purchase. Fortunately, you are in the right place!
Zelus Fitness has an amazing collection of top-quality yoga swings and yoga balance balls from which you can choose. Customers who practice with yoga swings have all preferred Zeleus’ aerial yoga swings. while those who practice with yoga balance balls choose Zelus' half yoga balls.
For elders, you can find out some specific benefits of yoga for elderly. Start at Zelus and take your Yoga practice to the next level!