Strap These On!

Using ankle weights with your yoga practice can increase stamina and muscle tone.

- Shameem Akthar

Sand bags can be a useful yoga accessory to increase stamina and muscle tone. Instead of these, however, we can use ankle weights. I have a few sand bags but filling them up with sand is tiresome. This modern-day substitute is easier—and you don’t have to worry if you have put the right amount of sand in each bag!

Ankle weights come with Velcro fittings, so they strap on rather neatly. If you are not used to intense activity, you may want to avoid them. But if you buy a smaller weight— say half or 1 kg—these are negotiable. Later on, depending on your ability you can increase the weight. But as even a 1-kg weight on either ankle can be challenging, phase their use over several weeks.