You don't need a ton of fancy stuff to practice yoga, and most studios have all the supplies you might need available to borrow. However, if you want to set up a space in your home for a personal practice,
or you just don't like using community props, check out these products below.
As a book nerd and a lover of yoga philosophy, I also have a lot of thoughts about what you could be reading to expand your knowledge about this ancient practice. Scroll down for that stuff too!
or you just don't like using community props, check out these products below.
As a book nerd and a lover of yoga philosophy, I also have a lot of thoughts about what you could be reading to expand your knowledge about this ancient practice. Scroll down for that stuff too!
Mats
There are a dizzying variety of mats on the market in every design you can imagine. The most important quality is that the mat is non-slip and long enough for comfortable use. Shop around and have fun with it! Here are a few:
Well-made, great price I still have the very first standard blue Gaiam mat I bought ten years ago when I started yoga. And it still holds up. I've since diverged into a cute patterned fuscia one, but I still stand by Gaiam as a long-term durable mat option. These patterned ones go for about $25.
CLICK HERE to check out Gaiam's mat color offerings. Carrier slink included for $22.40 |
Sweet SplurgeA Manduka brand mat graces the teacher's spot at Yoga Loka in Frenchtown, and is the fanciest (aka most expensive) mat I'm acquainted with. And I must say, it's very nice. It has a less textured feel to it than the Gaiam mats, and seems denser and more durable than its mid-level competitors. Although I'm not personally interested in spending $75+ for a yoga mat, if I was, it would be this one. Also available in cool patterns.
CLICK HERE to choose your size and color of Manduka's PRO Lite Yoga Mat |
Props
Bolster Bolsters are incredibly versatile during yoga. They make a great comfy seat for meditation. Students who have a difficult time seated upright with the legs extended should elevate the hips to lengthen the spine. Bolsters are perfect for this job. They are also a necessary prop for restorative yoga poses. The Gaiam bolster in the picture above is my favorite brand and runs about $40.
CLICK HERE to choose your color |
Blocks & StrapBlocks and straps are also essential supplies in a well equipped yoga studio or home. They are used to both adapt poses as well as enhance them. For example, a low lunge with hands on blocks is a better stretch for the back hip then the hands on the mat. Blocks are also wonderful for those practicing forward fold when the hands don't reach the floor comfortably. Straps are often used to help extend your reach forward or backward, like in a seated forward fold.
CLICK HERE for two bocks and a strap for about $25 from Amazon |
BlanketA blanket acts as a very short bolster to prop the hips, a padding for under the knees during tabletop poses, and something warm to snuggle under during final relaxation. It's also used in a variety of ways to prop the body during final relaxation.
They type of blanket you use is really up to you. It should be somewhat densely woven to use as a prop, so nothing too fluffy or squishy. Yoga studios tend to stock the Mexican falsa blankets pictured above, or a dense wool blanket that provides both warmth and structure. CLICK HERE to choose a color of the falsa style blanket in the picture above |
Other Goodies
Lavender eye pillow - a must for a restorative practice and for each and every Savasana you take at the end of class. CLICK HERE to see more color options and to purchase.
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