First time practising yoga? Wondering what is needed for your first class or home session? In this article, we break down what is essential for you to practice yoga for the first time, as well as the optional non-essential tools that may benefit you on your yoga journey depending on your needs!

 

 

Which equipment is absolutely essential?

 

The beauty of practising Yoga is that the only real component needed is just one thing that every single one of us has – the body! It is easy to be fooled by social media and the often carefully curated image of Yogis wearing expensive yoga gear or using a multitude of props such as chairs, blankets or bolsters. But in all honesty, the only essential equipment you really need (besides yourself!) – is a yoga mat! All the other tools we will run through are simply optional extras that may help aid your practice as you embark on your yoga journey, which we will break down the benefits of using as well as any alternatives you may already own. 

 

Yoga Mat

 

A yoga mat is a mat designed specifically to give you grip and stability while practising your flows and poses and sequences. They typically are between 0.4 and 0.6mm thick, meaning they are substantially thinner than exercise mats. Although it can be tempting to substitute with a foam exercise mat, we wouldn’t recommend one as they are a poor substitute and not designed for yoga and its intricacies. Many of the injuries that happen while practising yoga are from slips and falls, and as we produce more sweat throughout our session, this risk increases further. Yoga mats are designed with the primary focus of keeping you safe throughout your practice, by reducing slippage and providing a sturdy surface that is typically textured and designed for grip. A good yoga mat typically gives you something to stand and balance on that is designed to stay in place and limit movement, whereas an exercise mat will not be able to provide this kind of support. 

For those starting their yoga journey and figuring out if it is for them or not – don’t sweat it as the majority of classes provide you with a matt to use or even hire! The other key reason why practising with a yoga mat is so important, is the cushioning it can provide to the joints! Many poses require leaning on joints that can become uncomfortable and sore if not cushioned properly. Although it is good to have a certain level of hardness when practising, a decent yoga mat should provide comfort to your joints while still allowing you the grip and stability of a hard surface. 

In terms of our recommendations, we would suggest investing in a quality matt where possible, especially if you practice every day as some cheaper yoga mats can leave you end up compromising on that all-important cushioning and support, and are quicker to wear out! 

 

 

 

Non-essential yoga equipment

 

 

Comfortable workout gear 

 

When we do Yoga, it teaches us to loosen our grip and attachment to material things. Prioritise wearing something that you feel comfortable in, allows you to move in and most importantly – that you feel good in! Yoga is such a mood-boosting activity, so wearing something you feel confident in that allows you to focus on the poses and experience is key!

 

Of course there is a huge range of yoga wear, such as leggings and tops designed specifically for yoga on the market, however, this is not something we would recommend investing in, especially as a first-timer! Aim for flexible, breathable clothing – if you already have gym gear this will work fine. Grab a pair of stretchy, breathable leggings and any close-fitting top. Although typically yoga is practised in leggings, but if you prefer shorts these will be fine but aim for a longer, comfortable pair. 

 

Essentially anything that is easy to move in and sweat-wicking is ideal due to the amount you can sweat doing yoga. Avoid super loose tops as these can hang over your head when your hit those upside-down poses! Although form-fitting clothing is most suitable for Yoga, if you would feel happier wearing a looser top, ensure to tuck into the waist of your bottoms. 

 

Sports/Yoga Bra 

 

For women, ensuring you have a comfortable and supportive sports bra is recommended if you need that extra support, especially if you are into faster flowing yoga styles like Power Yoga, Vinyasa or Rocket Yoga (learn more about these in our article here). However for those who prefer going bra-free, practising slow and gentle styles will be fine as long as you don’t feel any pain or discomfort. 

 

 

Yoga Blocks 

 

What is a yoga block used for? Essentially, this is a tool that allows you to do yoga in a safer way that allows you to get into poses or stretches that you typically may not be able to reach without. Again, this item is most definitely not essential but is an additional extra that can help aid you as you explore yoga. 

 

The variety of poses that twist, bend and fold your body in different ways can be challenging – especially for newcomers! Yoga blocks are a great aid for doing difficult postures. Although they can have an unfair or outdated reputation in Yoga as ‘cheating’ – a block shouldn’t be seen as that, and instead, as a tool to help improve your practice. Blocks are particularly helpful in making Yoga more accessible for beginners, or to those who are experiencing or prone to injury or other physical limitations. 

 

The block is commonly used as an extension of the arms to help you reach those trickier poses that may not be able to get into yet. They can be used to support the back, head and hips to help the body settle into a pose. They are also a great way to help you do the work of the posture – particularly for those with a lack of hip mobility, as the blocks can be put in place to increase the range of motion by bringing the floor closer. By using a yoga block you are able to work on executing the form of pose correctly so that you are essentially able to move what the poses are designed to move! As you perfect your craft, you will find your flexibility increases so you may need to use the block less and less. 

 

Straps

 

Yoga straps are another additional tool some Yogis invest in to aid poses where you need to hold onto your feet but cannot reach them. The strap essentially acts as an arm extender – and similar to the block, are brilliant for improving flexibility. 

 

However, there are most likely some tools lying around your home that could like a belt or a towel that could do the same thing! 

 

Towels

 

Lastly, the final extra tool you may want to have handy for your yoga sessions is a towel. Some people find they just use a small hand towel, to use to wipe any excess sweat from the face, to place under the knees as a cushion or even to use instead of a strap. 

 

Alternatively, some Yogis like to cover their mat using a larger towel as this can help prevent perspiration from pooling. If you already have a beach towel at home this will work well as you want to avoid using a thick towel for grip. This can help reduce slips and falls but again is not a necessity and all falls down to personal preference and how you like to work!

 

However, we would highly recommend bringing a towel of some form for more strenuous types of yoga where you are likely to sweat more, especially for Hot Yoga, Power Yoga or Ashtanga classes – trust us when we say you will break a serious sweat!

 

Ultimately, the only equipment you truly need for Yoga is yourself and a trusty Yoga mat. However, there is nothing wrong with providing yourself with extra support throughout your practices by exploring additional tools if you feel the need to for your own personal growth. As you progress along your yoga journey will become more in tune with your needs for your sessions and may find you reach to explore additional tools, or if you started with them perhaps moving away from them as you get more confident. Equipment or no equipment, when it comes to Yoga, how one person practices is completely different to another – yoga is for you to make your own! Wishing you nothing but a magical experience on your Yoga journey – namaste.