Something strange happened to me during my Yoga practice yesterday. The class I attended was...
Technically speaking, you do not need to make a huge investment to get started in Yoga. I will look to list common peripherals and props that can aid you in your practice.
Keep in mind that you are able to get started with just yourself, adequate space and a comfortable, stable surface to practice Yoga on.
As you deepen your practice, you can consider some of the listed items below if you feel that they are helpful for your purposes.
Yoga Props
Whilst I will be listing a number of props, I do not recommend getting them all at one go or delaying the start of your practice due to a lack of props. I would recommend getting them on a need-to basis as you progress in your Yoga journey and understand your own body better.
With that being said, please always remember to be kind to your body and if you are finding that you are unable to complete certain poses that specific props can help with, please do not over exert yourself and potentially cause yourself injury in the process. A list of props that I will be covering is as follows;
Yoga Mat
If you are just starting out in your Yoga journey, have some money to spend but unsure of the most impactful way of doing so; I would recommend starting right here. If you are looking to practice at a studio, chances are that mats will be provided. However, practicing at a studio with readily available mats does not preclude you from getting your own mat.
You can look at a thinner and more portable mat that you are able to overlay a studio’s own mat. The mat can then be used for your own home practice although you might want to consider some cushioning reinforcement if you have opted for a thinner mat.
A good mat will both protect you as well as add a level of comfort and security during practice. Important characteristics that you will need to look out for is for the Mat to be non-slip (on both sides). This will help you to hold postures securely and minimize chances of injury.
Keep in mind that you will need to account for the grippiness of a mat under dry and wet / sweat conditions. Some Yoga mats are manufactured with an absorbent polyurethane top layer and designed to increase in grippiness through exposure to sweat and moisture.
A good mat will also help provide a level of cushioning to allow for you to enter poses comfortably. Keep in mind that if you ever have to prioritize and trade off the non-slip vs cushioning characteristic of a mat, you should never compromise on the grippiness aspect. There are ways to reinforce cushioning if you need to that we will cover later in this post.
Most mats aren’t too difficult to maintain. Just keep in mind to be familiar and comfortable with the maintenance process in your purchasing decision. We do not want to be in a situation where you are hesitant to use your mat because it might not be smelling or feeling pristine. If your budget allows for it, you can consider getting an antimicrobial mat that will simplify this process in the long run.
Grippy Towel
A good grippy towel is a great accompaniment to a Yoga mat. Depending on the type of mat you are using, this is not always required. If your Yoga mat’s main function is to provide cushioning but you are finding that you are slipping on it with sweat exposure, you might want to consider laying out a grippy towel on top of your mat before practice.
A good grippy towel usually has a non-slip base to ensure that it stays in place against the mat. A common material used for this purpose is silicone. On the top side of the grippy towel, we also want to ensure a grippy surface to prevent you from falling out of your downward dogs (amongst other poses). You can consider towels made from microfiber materials that are aimed to not lose its grippy factor when exposed to sweat.
You should also look to get a grippy towel that covers most if not all of your Yoga mat. You want to ensure that your hands and feet are able to be supported by your towel in a high plank pose.
Aside from providing a level of grippiness, a towel also can alleviate hygienic concerns that you might have. If you are practicing in a studio and are uncomfortable to be fully expressive on a (hopefully still regularly cleaned) shared mat, a towel can go a long way to giving you peace of mind. If you are using your own mat at home, a grippy towel still has value as it can protect your mat from excessive sweat exposure and should be easier to clean regularly.
Yoga Blocks
A pair (or even two) of Yoga blocks can be very helpful props for your Yoga practice, especially for newer practitioners. Yoga blocks can be used to get you deeper into both passive as well as active stretches.
When I first started my Yoga journey, it was impossible for me to attempt half splits without having a Yoga block in each hand on a
number one level. For many Yoga poses, there will be an option to utilize a block so that even if you are not flexible enough to get into the full expression of the pose (yet!), you are able to derive the intended benefits of said pose without having to compromise on your form and alignment.
Knee Pad Cushion
Depending on your preferences and the mats you are practicing your Yoga on, sometimes knee pad cushions can really help ensure that you are comfortable in your practice. As the name of the prop suggests, a knee pad cushion is meant to prevent your knee from hurting when you are in poses with weight on them.
2 common poses that you can effectively use your knee pad cushion would be your low lunge as well as your half splits. If you are not able to do these poses without experiencing too great of a discomfort (purely from the weight placed on your knees), you might want to consider getting a knee pad cushion.
Knee pad cushions typically come in a portable form (just enough for a single knee, can come in pairs) or they can extend the width of a mat to support both knees. Personally, I prefer the former as they are much more portable and I am able to simply throw them to a side off the mat easily when I’m done using them.
Strap
A Yoga strap does not function dissimilarly to blocks; it is meant to aid you in specific stretches and poses. The defining characteristics you should look for in a strap to augment your Yoga practice would be the ability to adjust its length, usually via a D ring or a cinch buckle. This also allows you create loops with your strap that you are able to adjust the diameter of.
Yoga straps typically come with 3 lengths; 6, 8 and 10 feet. Whilst a 6 foot strap suffices for most people, you might want to consider one of the longer ones if you are a very tall person. It is also worthy to note that Yoga straps are largely not meant to function as resistance bands, however feel free to experiment on this front if you are more advanced in your practice and are looking to work on specificities that a resistance band can work with.
Lastly, a recurring theme that also applies to your Yoga strap; you want to ensure that the base material of the band is grippy and non slip as much as possible.
Apparel
Clothes
When you are in practice, it is important that you feel good! Whether or not that is related to looking good is a very personal choice. Fortunately, there is no shortage of intersection between form and function in many Yoga / sports apparel companies out there. Regardless of whether you are looking to practice in Yoga specific apparel or not, there are a few important factors in choosing the clothes you are practicing in.
Firstly, you want to be able to move freely in them. A Yoga practice will aim for you to explore different ranges of motions and the last thing you would want is to have clothes that restrict you.
Secondly, you want to ensure that your clothes are secure so that no unfortunate wardrobe mishaps occur during practice. Perhaps less important if you are doing self practice at home, but we want to ensure that you remain confident in your practice if you are doing so in a group setting.
Lastly, you want to ensure that you are wearing clothes that you are comfortable breaking a sweat in. Whilst you might not assume a Yoga practice to be as sweat-inducing as a HIIT session, you might be surprised to find how challenging it is to hold poses working on muscle groups that you don’t normally pay attention to in your day to day. Let us just say that sweating in Yoga is not exclusive to Bikram / Hot Yoga sessions ;)
Yoga Socks
If you are finding yourself in need of extra traction when you are on your feet, yoga socks can be something that you might want to consider. Keep in mind that yoga socks aren’t a magic be all and end all that stops you from slipping on your feet; it is entirely possible that you are slipping due to a factor of strength.
Yoga socks come into the equation with non-slip reinforcement (not dissimilar at all to a grippy Yoga towel) at its base.
Whilst I am personally not the biggest fan of Yoga socks, I do know of regular practitioners who are more comfortable in them. The most important thing pertaining to Yoga socks is that you find a pair with a very snug fit. If you wear a loose (enough) pair of socks, you will be simply transferring the slip from between your feet and the mat to your feet slipping within the sock itself.
Yoga socks can come with toe coverage or not; an entirely personal decision. If I had to wear a pair of Yoga socks, I would certainly opt for a lack of toe coverage as I personally find them more comfortable.
Yoga Gloves
All the same caveats that I highlighted about Yoga socks apply to gloves as well. Yoga gloves typically come with non-slip material reinforced on the palm side of the glove, but you will want to ensure the snuggest fit possible (without causing pain or constriction) to avoid simply transferring where your slip happens. Yoga gloves can also come with wrist support which might be reason enough to consider getting a pair.
I do not personally practice Yoga wearing gloves, and would rather invest in a good mat + grippy towel instead. However if you are looking for wrist support in addition to extra grip on your palms, a pair of Yoga gloves that is designed for both is something you can consider.
