Yoga bench

Abstract

A versatile exercise bench includes a padded support board secured to a tubular rectangular frame. A pair of sloped legs is affixed to longitudinal frame members to support the bench above a floor and to facilitate stacking unused benches for storage. The upper surfaces of the frame members include apertures for receiving upright portions of exercise handles which may be positioned to be easily grasped by a person performing an exercise.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent: 
     
         1 . A bench for practicing various yoga poses or postures comprising a board dimensioned to accommodate a supine or prone adult, the board being positioned within a rectangular frame, the bench having a plurality of legs positioning the frame above and parallel to a floor surface, the frame having a pair of parallel opposed side members and a pair of parallel opposed end members, at least one side member having a top surface, the top surface including a plurality of blind sockets configured for releasably accommodating an exercise grip. 
     
     
         2 . The bench for practicing various yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of legs includes a pair of downwardly diverging legs affixed to each side member, whereby a plurality of benches may be stacked in nested position when not in use. 
     
     
         3 . The bench for practicing various yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each pair of downwardly diverging legs includes a stringer joining the upper ends thereof, each stringer being affixed to one of the side members. 
     
     
         4 . The bench for practicing various yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 1 , further including casters affixed to brackets at the distal ends of the legs adjacent one of the end member, whereby the bench may be transported by lifting the bench adjacent the other end member and rolling the casters over the floor surface. 
     
     
         5 . The bench for practicing various yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 1 , further including at least one exercise grip, the exercise grip comprising a stem portion having a non-circular cross section, the blind sockets having a mating non-circular opening, the stem being positioned in one of the blind sockets selected for accommodating a user practicing a yoga pose or posture, whereby the exercise grip is fixed against rotation relative to the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The bench for practicing various yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the blind socket openings are square and the stem portion of the grip is square in transverse cross section. 
     
     
         7 . A yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures, the yoga bench comprising a padded board carried in a planar rectangular frame, the frame being supported above a floor surface by a plurality of legs, the frame including an upper surface having a plurality of sockets, the yoga bench further including at least one exercise grip, the exercise grip having a stem portion dimensioned to seat in one of the plurality of sockets formed in the frame and to project perpendicular to the plane of the frame, the exercise grip being engaged by a user for support or guidance during the practice of a yoga pose or posture. 
     
     
         8 . A method of practicing yoga poses or postures with the yoga bench in accordance with  claim 7  including the step of supporting the user's body with only one foot resting on the floor surface and grasping the exercise grip by hand. 
     
     
         9 . A method of practicing yoga poses or postures with the yoga bench in accordance with  claim 7  including the step of supporting the weight of the user's body by the board, the frame and the plurality of legs. 
     
     
         10 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the frame includes a pair of parallel side frame members, the plurality of legs includes a pair of downwardly diverging legs affixed to each of the parallel side frame members, whereby a plurality of congruent benches may be stacked in a nested position when not in use. 
     
     
         11 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 10  wherein each pair of downwardly diverging legs includes a stringer joining the upper ends thereof, each stringer being affixed to one of the parallel side frame members. 
     
     
         12 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 10  further including casters affixed to brackets at the distal ends of the legs adjacent an end frame member, whereby the bench may be transported by lifting the bench adjacent another end frame member and rolling the casters over the floor surface. 
     
     
         13 . A yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures, the yoga bench comprising a rectangular frame, a plurality of legs supporting the frame above a floor surface, the frame carrying a padded board dimensioned to accommodate a supine or prone adult, a plurality of sockets positioned about the frame, at least one exercise grip, the exercise grip comprising a stem portion, the stem portion being releasably positioned in one of the sockets for accommodating a user practicing a yoga posture. 
     
     
         14 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the stem portion is non-circular in cross section and the socket includes a mating non-circular opening. 
     
     
         15 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the frame includes a pair of parallel side frame members, the plurality of legs includes a pair of downwardly diverging legs affixed to each of the parallel side frame members, whereby a plurality of congruent benches may be stacked in nested positions when not in use. 
     
     
         16 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 13  further including casters affixed to brackets at the distal ends of the legs adjacent one end frame, whereby the bench may be transported by lifting the bench adjacent another end of the frame and rolling the casters over the floor surface. 
     
     
         17 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the exercise grip includes a first transverse bar at a proximal end of the stem portion and a second transverse bar coplanar with and parallel to the first transverse bar, the transverse bars comprising hand grips. 
     
     
         18 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the second transverse bar extends from the stem at a point beneath the first transverse bar. 
     
     
         19 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 18  further including a third bar, the third bar extending parallel to the stem portion and joining the ends of the transverse bars, the third bar comprising a further hand grip. 
     
     
         20 . The yoga bench for assisting a user practicing a variety of yoga poses or postures in accordance with  claim 14  wherein transverse cross section of the stem portion is square and the socket openings are square.