To some, yoga is their way of staying fit and healthy. To others, it’s not just simply a form of exercise but a lifestyle. You may be thinking of another reason why you’ve decided to get started with yoga, but you’re on to a great start. Choosing to do something new is always a good thing—and it’s even better if it could lead to benefiting your wellness as a whole.
Now that you’re slowly transitioning to be a yoga person, you’ll realize that you need at least a few essentials to get started. Lucky for you, you don’t need to invest much or spend a lot of money to jumpstart your yoga journey.
At most, you’ll only need the most important tools and accessories, which include the following:
Table of Contents
1.Yoga Mat
Yoga mats are perhaps the topmost essential items you need to have when doing yoga. Most yogis (people who practice and love yoga) consider the mat as the one thing that can make or break the routine. Also sometimes called a sticky mat, a yoga mat is a tool that helps identify your personal space while practising yoga. Every yoga beginner needs to have a reliable mat that can provide ample traction for the feet and hands, especially when you’re already starting to get sweaty.
Aside from preventing you from slipping while practising, the mat is also effective in cushioning hard surfaces, usually the floor where you’re doing your routine. If you’re joining yoga classes, gyms and studios would often have mats that students can use. But if you plan on doing your practice at home, investing in a good one would go a long way in providing you with enough protection and a better experience.
Mat prices can differ depending on the brand and quality. Since you’re just starting, you may be tempted not to shell out plenty of money for the mat alone. Just keep in mind that if you plan on doing yoga for a long time, it’s a wiser decision to buy a mat that can last you for years instead of going for a cheaper one that might only end up being ruined or damaged after a few uses.
2. Yoga Clothing
You’ve seen those yogis on the internet wearing their best outfits when doing their routine. For some reason, those outfits do look nice. But if you don’t know it already, yoga clothing is more than just the aesthetics appeal or taste in fashion. As a beginner, you might want to consider a few factors that could help you figure out the type of yoga clothing you need.
Firstly, your yoga outfits should be comfortable and breathable. You can either go for pants or shorts, whichever you’re comfortable with. Start with a few solid-coloured bottoms in brown, navy, dark grey, and black. Having at least four to five tights may be enough if your plan is to mix and match them with the tops you have. Upper body clothing needs to be form-fitting, so you don’t have to worry about your shirt getting over your head whenever you do your forward bends.
Women yogis also need to wear sports bras to keep everything in place. Guys, on the other hand, usually opt for tight shorts instead of pants. Footwear isn’t recommended when doing yoga, although some prefer to wear socks with bottom grips for better traction.
3.Yoga Blocks
Most beginners don’t think that yoga blocks are essential. However, you may want to prepare them if you want to be more comfortable and have better alignment while practising. The blocks can help improve muscle flexibility, provide support during standing poses, and maintain your balance.
It’s crucial that you buy the right size of yoga blocks so you can hold them in your hands without difficulties. Some of the materials you can choose from include foam, cork, and wood. Since you’re just beginning, you can start with at least two yoga blocks.
4.Water Bottle
Yoga is still physical activity, and as such, you should always do it with a bottle of water at bay. Keep in mind that staying hydrated is crucial, especially when engaging in activities that make you sweat. Different yoga poses will get your blood and breathing pumping, so you need to have your water within reach to quench your thirst.
Water bottles come in different brands and materials. You can find reasonably affordable ones while high-end bottles may surprise you with how expensive they can be. You don’t need to get a costly water bottle, but it’s up to you to choose one according to your preference.
5. Yoga Towels
As mentioned, yoga can get you all sweaty and sticky. Yoga towels can prove to be helpful in such instances, so you should make sure you have at least one or two towels as you do your routine. Beach or bath towels may work, but remember that they may shred on your mat, depending on the type of material used.
6. Blankets
Blankets are also essential in practising yoga. You can use them to lift your hips when doing seated poses. If you’ve been attending several classes at a yoga studio or gym, you’ll see that they provide plenty of blankets that customers can use. If you’re unsure how to use them in your poses, you can ask the instructor to teach you.
If you’re practicing yoga at home, there’s no need to buy new blankets. You can use what you have since they’re essentially the same as what gyms would have, as long as they serve the same purpose in yoga.
Final Words
It’s an excellent decision to embark on a yoga journey at this point in your life. It’s never too late to start a new goal or have a new dream even as you age. If you think doing yoga can help you improve different aspects of your physical and emotional wellbeing, you may very well do so. Just keep in mind to have these yoga essentials ready before you start practising.
