Before I start talking about yoga essentials, I would like to admit, that we don’t really need anything to practice yoga. Our body – that’s all required. But if you practice regularly, you probably want to grab a couple of things to help you make quicker progress in yoga.
List of Yoga Essentials
When I first started doing yoga, I bought one of those $15 mats, used my regular workout clothes and had one small and one large towel for hot yoga classes. But it did not take me too long to figure out, that if I want to continue doing yoga on a daily basis, I better get on the top of the game and grab whatever is needed. So I came up with the list of yoga essentials that will help you get all the necessary tools without researching it any further.
1. Yoga Mat
One of the first yoga essentials that every yogi should have is the yoga mat. First of all, I found a big challenge to figure out which mat is worth buying. So many choices out there. From $10 all the way up to $170. My personal issue with the mats was constantly sliding hands, especially in downward facing dog pose. And I did not want to spend $170 only to find out that it was a total waste of money.
And after asking several longtime yogis which mat they personally prefer, I have chosen Liforme yoga mat. Although it surely costs a top dollar, I truly believe that this mat is worth every single penny! Your hands will not slide even during the hot yoga class, plus it has a great cushioning, so it gives more support for your joints.
In my opinion, just like you don’t want to save on running shoes, because you will get injured by wearing just any shoes, you don’t want to save on your yoga mat, because you will end up wasting your money and will not have a good experience in yoga.
But if you don’t like this mat for any reason, I also came up with several other options in different price ranges that most yoga teachers believe worth their money. Read Top 5 Rated Yoga Mats According to Yoga Teachers […]
2. Comfortable Yoga Clothing
Next on the list of yoga essentials is comfortable clothing. As I’ve mentioned before, when I just started doing yoga, I was using my regular workout clothes. But I realized pretty quickly, that this clothing is not that comfortable for yoga.
Here is the difference. For instance, yoga leggings normally have higher waste, so your panties are not showing up when you are in a child’s pose or a downward facing dog. Yoga bras are very supportive and stylish, so if you get too sweaty during the hot yoga class you can always remove the tank and stay in the bra without the second thought. And yoga tanks are designed in the way so it is most comfortable to do any twists, bends or inversions.
But just any yoga clothing does not mean it has all the comfort it’s supposed to have. I did make mistakes by going online and buying cheaper versions of “yoga clothing” and ended up wearing them only once. That was enough to find out that was not real yoga clothing as expected.
So after many trials and fails, I found my most favorite yoga clothing brands, which are Alo and
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3. Water bottle
Water is the essence of life. Therefore I believe we should have water with us all the time. And no matter if you are going to a hot yoga class or restore – your body always needs water. That is why I never leave the house without a bottle of water. And as a yogi, you do not want to use a plastic bottle, because we do care about the environment! So after some research, I found my most favorite water bottle, which is Vacuum Insulated Metal Water Bottle.
4. Towels
I personally carry with me a small towel to all yoga classes, just in case if I work extra hard. If you love hot sweaty classes, you want to have 2 towels on you – one large to protect your mat and one small for wiping off your face, neck,
5. Headbands and pony tail holders
If you have short hair, headbands are great, so it does not get onto your face all the time during the yoga class. Trust me, that is very annoying! As I have very long hair, I usually do a braid or put my hair up in a ponytail. My most favorite hair ties are from LuluLemon.
6. Yoga Mat Cleaner
Although you will always find a mat cleaner in every yoga studio, I prefer to carry my own with me. The reason is that most of those cleaners have chemicals inside and depending on your mat, it might be damaging to it. So I have chosen
7. Wipes for your face, hands and feet
I have oily skin. Therefore after every yoga class, I love to use a face wipe to refresh my skin. I usually use Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes. Remember, most yoga studious don’t have a shower. Therefore I always have on me Babyganics Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizing Wipes for my hands and feet.
Other Yoga Essentials
The above-mentioned yoga essentials give you a pretty full list of tools to go to any yoga class. But if you like practicing at home you might also want to consider getting some extra stuff:
- Yoga Straps. To be quite honest, any yoga strap can work. Although just recently I found out that among the classic yoga straps, there are some really cool ones that you might want to check out.
- 2 yoga blocks – I personally prefer thick blocks made of cork. They are great if you are combining yoga and exercise for extra resistance. Also, they are very supportive and most stable.
- The foam roller. As a personal trainer, I love foam rollers. I think they are better than any
massage , and can “fix” almost any muscle issue if addressed on time. The one I use and love is TriggerPoint Grid Foam Roller. - Massage balls. These are helpful when foam roller is not enough. Massage balls are also great if you are doing vigorous training every day or going through the intense workshop.
- Yoga DVDs or online classes. There are plenty of choices for yoga DVDs. Try to choose the best-rated ones and the ones that fit most into your personal practice. Also, websites like AloMoves.com provide you with yoga classes with the most amazing teachers worldwide.
One more tool
Beside all this, one more thing I would like to mention. This yoga tool might be not on the top of your list of yoga essentials, but the one that I highly recommend to anyone who is serious about their yoga practice. It is a Dharma Yoga Wheel.
Dharma Yoga Wheel was created to help people gain increased mobility and flexibility in achieving postures they never thought they could do. For years students observed Sri Dharma practiced on the wheel and couldn’t wait to do it themselves. Now the Yoga Wheel is available to buy for everyday use. And if you’ve never tried it, it is definitely worth checking it out. It will help you to progress on your path of yoga like no any other yoga essential can.
Conclusion
Although you really need only your body in order to start practicing yoga, these yoga essentials mentioned above are very helpful on your yoga path. They will assist you in gaining greater flexibility, strength and will help you, in general, to have a better experience while practicing yoga.
And as always, happy yoga time to all of you!
Namaste ॐ
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Wow, there is a lot great stuff you can use for yoga! Thanks for the tips!
Thank you, Tricia. I am glad it can help!
Wow! I already have some of these. I’m on my way to doing yoga!
Just have a desire and determination – that is all that’s required to start doing yoga. All these essentials are just helping to progress quicker. Happy yoga time!
Great beginning guide!
Thank you, Jen
Great list! I have been wanting to get back into yoga. I took a class in college and loved it.
Yoga is amazing! By practicing it regularly it can change the way you live and help you on the way of opening the fullest potential inside of you!
So many great products for yoga, love those towels! Thank you for the information 💚
Thank you for stopping by 🕉🙏❤️
Great post! I Love yoga and this is a great list of things to get before you start!
Thank you 🙏. Happy yoga time ! ❤️🕉
I love yoga but need a plan for practicing just a little each day. I find a 1 1/2 hour class to long. Do you have a recommended schedule for a quick daily practice?
Sure. There are a lot of classes that are only 45 min long. If you just starting out yoga, I advise you to start with those. Most of the time they are offered in gyms. But if you have been practicing yoga for a while, you can practice at home. Sites like alomoves.com and omstars.com have a lot of great yoga classes with world famous teachers that are from 30 min long and different level of intensity. I hope this helps. You can also read my other article about places to yoga https://www.livingyogilife.com/places-to-yoga/
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I love practicing yoga! Going to the mat is a great way to center yourself.
Nice article.
Thank you! Yoga is truly a great way to center yourself! And it is the key to a happy living. Enjoy the practice 😊 🧘♀️❤️
Okay…so I’ve always wanted to do yoga, but I’ve always been nervous because I don’t want to go in and look like a fool! Am I overthinking it???
Yes, you are overthinking 😊. You will not believe how many people are coming to yoga classes without any experience and being very stiff. Just choose a good yoga studio. Any good yoga teacher will pay extra attention and will help you get through that feeling. At the end you will feel joy and calmness. The first class is the hardest. It gets easier and more joyful thereafter. ❤️🕉🧘♀️
Love the nicely written and informative article! I always got so dizzy during yoga classes, but I did love doing yoga!
Doing yoga can release lot of emotions. That might be the reason why you get dizzy. Just keep doing yoga, it gets better. And by the time you won’t feel dizzy. Also skip the hot yoga classes in this case. Go for classic Hatha yoga. 🙏🕉
What a great list! I’ve done some yoga but now I feel like I’d really be prepared. I’d never heard of a yoga wheel before but looks like a great tool. Thanks!
Yoga wheel is truly an amazing tool! Give it a try! So worth it. It will tremendously improve your yoga practice.
I’ve always enjoyed yoga but never really got into it or made a habit of it. These are good tips! Thanks!
Once you find a really good yoga studio and a great yoga teacher, you will not imagine your life without it
Great list! I love yoga when I do it!
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I am trying to establish a yoga routine. I love how I feel when I practice! These are great essentials to have on hand.
Yoga helps in every aspect of life you can only imagine – health, relationships, work, family. Just do your best and everything will come into their places in life.
A great list for someone who is just starting out!
Thank you
We’ve been talking about taking up yoga…great to know the basics we should need to get started.
Happy that it can help!
I keep playing around with yoga. I need to develop a consistent practice. Thanks for the inspiration.
Happy that I can help to get inspired on the way of yoga!
Great tips! I keep it super simple with my yoga, because I do an at-home practice that I love. I’m definitely planning on getting massage balls and a foam roller one of these days!
You are absolutely correct! Yoga should be simple. These are all just tools to have a better practice and progress quicker on the road of yoga. A foam roller and massage balls are my absolute favorites!
I’ve been thinking about trying yoga, and this post makes me want to try it even more. I’m not very good at making exercise an actual habit. It’s something I’m working on.
It is just a set of mind. As soon as you decide to do that, you will not imagine your life without it.
This is a great list! Sadly, I have everything on the list…but never do Yoga! I should start, no excuses.
Haha, yes. As you got all the tools, there should be no excuses. Once you start it, you will fell in love with it!
This is such a great list! I’ve never heard of the Dharma wheel! But now I definitely have to check it out. Thanks for sharing a great post!
Absolutely! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
What great tips!!! I really should get back to yoga.
It is never too late 😉
I have never done yoga but have thought about it. Now I have great tips on what I need if I start. Thanks
Always welcome! And happy yoga time!
I love yoga! I practice it on a regular basis. It can be life-changing. Great tips!
Happy to hear that you practice yoga. It is truly is life-changing.
A great list of the essentials. I’ve tried Yoga but just cannot find a passion for it. I understand how important flexibility and stretching is for our bodies, but still can’t get myself there…it’s also difficult to work it into my workout routine with time. Something I need to re-consider!
Yoga is really not only about stretching and flexibility as most people would think. It involves a lot of strength as well as centering your mind and body. Yoga is for sure a thought to re-consider. I was a personal trainer, and I still love weights and running. Although more and more I find myself in yoga
I’ve only ever done yoga at home following videos and never dove into the accessories like you have listed. I thibk the yoga wheel looks really cool though!
If you have done yoga only at home, I highly recommend trying to go to some yoga classes. It will shift your perspective on yoga. And will tremendously improve your practice. Ad Yoga wheel is truly the best tool I have ever used.
Great list and thanks for sharing the reasoning behind why you need those things.
Thank you for stopping by
I really should give this a try, but my muscles are more tight than you could imagine and my ability to focus is shot. LOL.
Interestingly going vegan and doing yoga will help to relieve the tension from the muscles as well as keep the focus in place. You should absolutely try it if you were thinking about it.
I was actually just thinking about trying a yoga class. I have been a regular at the gym for a few years now but I have never taken a yoga class. Thank you for the tips!
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