8 Yoga Practice Essentials
8 Yoga Practice Essentials
Everyone has their favorite tools for yoga practice, and it can be confusing and expensive to figure out what will best serve your practice. In the spirit of ahimsa (non-grasping), I err on simple and sustainable equipment and tools. As the online yoga industry grows, gathering the tools to support your practice presents infinite options and loads of choices. So, I compiled a list of my favorite items from my practice.
This article contains affiliate links, and I receive compensation for every purchase made from my recommendations, but none of that has anything to do with my selections. Some of the items are listed just because they have won a place in my very materially lean yoga practice home studio. I use and practice regularly with every single item on this list.
My criteria are relatively simple: for the sake of the planet, my body, and my pocketbook, I aim for sustainability. Some of the more expensive items are chosen because I only intend to buy them once in the lifecycle of my practice. I choose materials made from renewable, recyclable, or sustainable materials built in a way that won’t need to be replaced anytime soon. Sometimes I don’t get to have all three needs met so I choose the best item for me.
Drumroll, please… My yoga essentials list!
Manduka Pro Yoga Mat
Manduka Cork Blocks
Manduka Yoga Strap
Infinity Strap - Stretch
Hugger Mugger Bolster
Orbsoul Cork Roller & 3 Pc Massage Set
Yoholo Yoga Wheel
Bala 1lb & 2lb Weights
It’s perfect in almost every single way. A nice heavy, weighted mat with a dense cushion that cradles my 48-year-old knees without being so squishy that I don’t feel supported. It's grippy without being sticky once you have broken it in (salting - one drawback - and countless sun salutations). If there is a downside, this is it, but the journey to getting a patina on it means that I have also built up grip strength in my hands and feet, strengthening my practice in many ways.
It doesn’t buckle when practicing hops or resistance poses, and the material performs well even when it comes into contact with my hair and skin products that tend to be oil-based and can quickly degrade a yoga mat's surface. The Manduka Pro is unbeatable and the first mat I reach for (I have many). The lifetime warranty and recycling policy make it a no-brainer for me, so although it is not made from organic materials, it is an heirloom type of yoga mat designed to sustain a lifetime of my practice.
I chose the extra large version of this mat, which is broader and longer, because I’m tall and I like to have plenty of space to move around on my mat. One of the potential downsides to this mat is that it is heavy and bulky as heck. I never take this mat out of the house, but it’s chef’s kiss perfect for a dedicated studio space. I have the regular-sized version that is much easier to transport.
Manduka Pro Travel Mat
It’s so packable! I like to use it to line the inside of my luggage so it doesn’t crease. It is very thin, foldable even, and if you have sensitive knees, you want to provide support before a long practice with many low lunges or other knee stuff. This is the mat I haul around to expos, retreats, festivals, and pop-up events because it is lightweight and easy to clean between uses. Yoga events tend to be unseated, and unrolling it halfway makes a significant elevation to sit on the floor for an extended time. It can also double as a protective layer on a borrowed studio mat.
Update: It seems like they are no longer available. If they become available, I will be sure to share the link.
When you think of the many uses of the yoga block, it is a no-brainer that you want to have something solid. I’ve been known to call it a yoga brick in class, LOL! The Manduka cork block is heavy and solidly weight-bearing. It feels secure and is weighted enough to perform double duty as a weight during practice. Strengthening your inner thighs or lifting the block as a weight helps you build the strength required for the flexibility you build in regular practice.
A strong cotton strap is an excellent and necessary addition to extend your reach in many asanas. Straps can help you develop and compress in movements where you need just a few more inches, and they are critical to maintaining alignment in many others. While there is something to be said about the durability of nylon fibers (especially recycled ones), I prefer the soft durability of cotton straps, which is especially lovely on longer holds. The Manduka yoga strap is 8 or 10 feet long, made of strong woven cotton fibers, and is machine washable. For folks under 6 feet tall, the 8-foot strap should be more than enough. Eventually, you will need less; although I prefer it for my primary strap, the long tail can often get in the way and be tricky to navigate when your mind is in the zone.
Yes, another strap. This one has no dangling pieces like the long strap, which is especially helpful when working on balancing poses. It's available in stretch or solid cotton, but I prefer stretch because it’s not stretchy enough to lose your shape. It gives just the right length when working on poses that need reach. It comes in three sizes, and you will need to measure it at your shoulder width distance. I loved using it as a touch point when refining my chaturanga dandasana or inversions.
Solid and robust, a good bolster needs to be solid enough to hold your entire body weight yet soft enough to cradle you in deep restorative poses or seated meditation. I sleep on my side and use my bolster as a pillow because it is the perfect height between my shoulder and neck, relieving compression. I often feel pain in my cervical spine from an old injury or supporting my legs for hip alignment when I sleep. It’s essential to have a removable cover to wash it and a strong zipper that you don’t have to wrestle with when trying to put it back on.
Myofascial release is a technique I am still very new to using in my yoga practice, but since I purchased this roller, I have used it a lot. It’s dense, compacted, strong, and highly durable, unlike EVA foam, which can degrade and chip. The beauty of cork is that it is a renewable, recyclable, or sustainable material. If you are beginning to gather materials for your practice, make choices that are good for you and the planet as much as possible.
Navaris 3 Pc Deluxe Cork Massage Set
Get into the small spots and massage smaller body areas with this set of renewable cork massage rollers. Each piece is made of dense cork, and they are perfect for working into small muscle groups for myofascial release and massage. These things are hard and sturdy, unlike a wine cork. You will appreciate the density when rolling out and softening tight muscles.
I like an elegant and straightforward practice without too much gadgetry, but incorporating the yoga wheel has been fun. I love that Yoholo is a family-owned and operated business, and their yoga wheel is crafted by hand in small batches using sustainable materials. It is a wonderful and functional tool. I incorporate the yoga wheel to challenge my balance and build strength in poses that have become rote.
Note: They are currently sold out, but I spoke to a representative from the company, and they will have them back in stock this spring. It's worth the wait and price.
Adding weights to my yoga practice is also new, but since I’ve started, I love it and see the benefit of incorporating weights to build strength. Wrist and ankle weights are the least intrusive way to incorporate weights into a yoga practice and offer some opportunities that can be fun to experiment with. The only downside I see now is that the bulk can sometimes interfere with poses, so I primarily incorporate weight when practicing drills because I want to add a bit of strength-building resistance.
Final thoughts
Putting together a home yoga studio you want to practice in is a beautiful way to set the foundation for regular and consistent practice. Having a dedicated and well-appointed space to practice helps to welcome you to your mat and encourage a healthy yoga practice. It’s an investment in yourself in the truest sense.
