Here are useful yoga accessories, props and equipment that will help you practice yoga more effectively and comfortably.
Although yoga can be done without any props, yoga accessories can make your practice session more comfortable.
You will find a wide range of high quality yoga equipment, props & accessories- Mats, blocks, blankets, belts, chairs, bolsters, straps, books and more.
You can find special yoga pants for women, organic mats or cotton-blend towels. Look for yoga gear that suits your personality and the kind of yoga you practice.
And don’t forget to put it all together in a quirky yoga mat bag!
Here are my recommendations for the best yoga equipment:
Here’s more about the various equipment:
Yoga Mat
A high-quality, soft and comfortable mat will enhance your experience and help you focus on the poses better. You need a Yoga mat so that you can comfortably do your poses, without slipping.
You can choose from a wide range of quality yoga mats – for the budget conscious to the serious yoga practitioner and beyond. Important factors to consider are thickness, material, and texture of the product.
The Manduka Mat is amazing and comes with a life time guarantee.
- Slip resistant, non-sticky, high-density cushion makes it comfortable on any surface (carpet, cement, hardwood floors). Comfortably cushions spine, hips, knees, and elbows on hard floors
- Its closed-cell surface keeps moisture and sweat from seeping into the mat and breeding bacteria (ideal for hot yoga)
- Made of high quality material for longevity, will not peel, flake or fade so easily.
- Weights 9 pounds; 85 by 26 by 1/4 inches (L x W x Thickness)
- Easy to clean using the Manduka Mat Cleaner.
Manduka Strap
This yoga strap combines the traditional strap design of the legendary B.K.S Iyengar with unbleached natural cotton webbing and sure-secure interlocking buckle to help support and enhance your yoga practice.
This yoga strap provides secure, slip-free support for most challenging positions.
Dimensions: 10ft x 1.75in, (4.4 cm x 2.4 m or 3.0 m). Material: Cotton Webbing.
Yoga Blocks
Yoga blocks are lightweight yet sturdy while helping yoga professionals achieve their poses safely and effectively.
Get deeper into a pose using these yoga blocks, and this will help you even if you have a very flexible body.
These lightweight foam blocks provide the stability needed for better alignment, and increased strength. Used under hands, feet or your seat, Gaiam’s lightweight block assists in deepening stretches.
Yoga Foam Wedges
Yoga practitioners who lack the flexibility and experience needed to correctly execute some of the more advanced or difficult yoga poses will appreciate the advantages a yoga wedge can offer.
Like blocks, yoga wedges help to do difficult poses.
These are generally made from lightweight foam, and are designed for providing stability and support so that yoga practitioners do not compromise the technique of each pose.
Beginners sometimes shy away from some poses because they can look difficult or complicated. The yoga wedge was designed for the transition to these more difficult, weight bearing exercises by providing lift and support that allows users to add length and flexibility to their poses.
Yoga Jellies
These Yoga Jellies help stabilize your poses better.
If you need spur-of-the-moment cushioning, for a certain joint, during a pose, you will be glad to have these Jellies. They are the ideal knee pads for yoga and much more.
Yoga Bag
A Yoga bag really comes in handy as you can pack everything, including the mat, that is needed for the training.
You get stylish looking yoga bags as well that look awesome and have enough space to fit in lot of things. These have adjustable strap and are available in different materials (including faux-leather).
Yoga Blocks
Yoga blocks are among the popular and important yoga equipment/tools. They can be used by anyone who participates in yoga at home or in the studio.
So how does it help?
Yoga blocks help with poses that require more flexibility or stabilization.
For instance, while doing the Triangle pose, one hand reaches for the sky while the other reaches for the floor. This can be quite a stretch for some people. Placing a yoga block on the floor makes it easier to support the body.
For people with tight back or hamstring muscles, yoga blocks can change the angle and make the pose more comfortable until this weak area is strengthened.
A downward facing dog pose is done by putting a block for each foot against the wall first. Then after the hands are positioned on the floor, the feet go up on the blocks and then the buttocks can be raised up, giving a good stretch in the back and hamstrings.
Yoga Bolsters (Yoga bolsters, blankets, shoulder stand cushions)
Yoga bolsters help yoga practitioners take the strain of their body while easing from one pose to another. They can be used as support to various parts of the body in various aasanas.
Yoga (Meditation) Blankets
Yoga and meditation blankets are great for providing comfortable yet firm support during your practice.
Yoga blankets are versatile and can also be used to imitate a bolster, add height to a block, serves as a strap for better back-bends, and offers a comfy layer for Savasana.
You can use a yoga blanket for child’s pose; you can roll the blanket and put it between the legs so the hips can rest on it.
You can use a yoga blanket as shoulder stand; allows you to stand in the pose longer.
You can even use a yoga blanket for the chest (can be used instead of bolsters).
More Yoga Blocks & Belts
Yoga foam block, Slanting plank, belts.
You will find a range of yoga bocks and belts that are designed for quality, durability and usability.
Ropes & Chairs
Wall Ropes, Chairs, Benger, Ropes & Eye Nuts, Headstand Yoke.
Headstand Yoke and other Yoga props work perfectly for inversion support. The chairs and foldaway backbender are designed to support your yoga practice.
Yoga Books & Yoga Accessories
Find a range of high quality yoga accessories to support the requirements of yoga practice. You will find a wide collection of yoga books for yoga enthusiasts. Find yoga books for children and adults, for newbies and veteran yoga practitioners, and other topics that will allow you to learn more about yoga and its effects.
Yoga Towels
Make sure you carry along a towel to wipe away your sweat, and also to wipe the mat surface. Pick a towel that is a better sweat absorbent and has quick dry qualities.
A yoga towel is usually the same size as a yoga mat, and is recommended by most Yoga Teachers.
You may enter a yoga studio and see people using a large beach towel instead of a proper yoga towel. This can be a problem when the beach towel is placed over the yoga mat. A large percentage of yoga teachers, use the edge of a student’s yoga mat as a reference point.
Using a beach towel, may cause a student to over-extend and possibly injure themselves. The best idea is to buy a yoga towel that is the same size as your yoga mat.
A yoga towel has two main purposes.
- All styles of yoga will cause you to sweat. Hot yoga will really have the perspiration pouring off your body. A great yoga towel will absorb that sweat. With just a yoga mat, you may find the surface becoming slippery.
- Another great function of the yoga towel, is extra cushioning. This is very helpful if you have painful joints or perhaps a touch of bursitis in your hip area.
Water Bottle
You need a water bottle to help you keep dehydrated, especially if you’re going to do something that is physically demanding.
Yoga Starter Sets / Kits
A Yoga set (kit) has everything that you need to try yoga in the comfort of their own home (or in the park); it comes with all the necessary gear packed in one box.
These starter kit are perfect for beginners, and include equipment that can be used for yoga, Pilates, and even resistance training. These kits come with effective tools and also suggest simple exercises that can be done at home.
The instructional flip chart guides you through a complete basic Yoga workout. Complete instruction and photos of the poses and how to use the props in the kit.
Build core strength, increase flexibility, better balance and coordination using these effective tools.
Comfortable Clothing
Make sure you’re comfortably dressed for the yoga session. Your yoga wear should be comfortable enough to allow you to do all the poses comfortably.
Buying Yoga Equipment, Accessories, Props
Good quality yoga equipment, props and accessories are comfortable to use, durable, odorless (cheaper yoga accessories can give out a strong odor), and look pleasant. Nowadays you also have the option of eco-friendly mats. Its good for your skin, are odorless and good for the environment too.
You have the option of choosing from various colors, various material, you can opt for simple looks or one with embroideries.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the best yoga equipment you can buy. If you are committed to your yoga practice, I think you should at least get a good Manduka Mat. If you can get it all right now, awesome. But, if not, just add a piece at a timer. You will be so happy you did. It’s like you don’t know what you are missing until you have it and use it.
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