Yoga can be practiced almost anywhere without a lot of equipment – this is one of the best thing about yoga.
Do you need anything hi-tech or fancy in order to start practicing yoga? Of course not! All you really need is the desire and a good attitude to get started. Still you might need some yoga equipment to help you do your postures properly.
Most yoga equipment is built to help you achieve proper alignment and balance while keeping you safe. Yoga props also make the poses a little bit easier to do, especially for beginners.
Yoga Mats
A good yoga mat provides cushioning on a hard floor. This is especially needed if your yoga studio floor is made up of hard wood. A mat can also provide traction for hands and feet, which is very important to prevent you from slipping or sliding and possibly injuring yourself.
Towels
There are special towels that are made for yoga. You may find super-absorbent towels that will be quite helpful if you sweat. You may not need this; some yoga styles are more active than others. You may also buy a skid-less towel that you can use on your mat to help absorb sweat and provide extra cushioning.
Yoga Bag
Do you have quite a few yoga accessories? Consider buying a special bag to carry them. They look like duffel bags, and are often made of nylon. A bag for your yoga mat can be useful if you need to carry it to and from class, or just for storage at home.
Bolsters
Bolsters provide support for your spine, abdomen and legs in a number of different poses. Yoga bolsters can help you achieve better results overall in your yoga practice.
Yoga Blocks
Similar to bolsters, blocks are props that help you make yourself more comfortable and improve your alignment. Blocks are great for standing poses if your hands don’t reach the floor.
Yoga Straps
These are most commonly made out of cotton or nylon and allow you to grasp body parts which you cannot reach easily otherwise. They also give you added flexibility and help you hold your poses a bit longer. They are particularly useful for poses where you are challenged to reach and hold onto your feet or hands.
Wedges
These can be used to add support and length for many different postures, especially under your heels, tail bone, or knees when practicing forward-bending poses to make it easier to place your hands flat on the floor without compromising correct form and posture.
Yoga Ball
Using a yoga ball is a fun way to help you learn balance, build your strength and tone your muscles. A yoga ball can support people with injuries to exercise. These balls provide extra support as you stretch, and are good for working out the back and hips. You’ll need an air pump if you get one of these.
Yoga Blankets
There are many ways blankets can make your yoga practice more enjoyable. Blankets help you feel relaxed and comfortable which is essential in the practice of yoga. Folded blankets can be used as props or to sit and lie on during class. They are also helpful for keeping you warm while relaxing at the end of class.
Do you need to buy all these props? You won’t need everything right away but some items are very useful. Try them out at the studio and get those props which you feel most helpful during your yoga practice!
When first starting yoga I invested in yoga blocks and straps. These were key in helping improve my alignment and working toward poses that were difficult to touch my feet. After practicing for a while I definitely found it beneficial in investing in a good mat. My mat has helped my feet from slipping by providing traction and has also helped improve my practice. This was a very informative blog post.