Are you a beginner to yoga? Before you head out to the yoga studio for your first yoga class, make sure you are prepped with all the yoga essentials like the perfect yoga mat, a comfortable yoga outfit, and a delicious post-yoga snack. Here are 7 Yoga Essentials for Beginners.
Yoga for Beginners
Yoga is amazing—even if you only practice for one hour a week, you will experience the benefits of the practice. It is a great motivation to workout. I highly recommend it before workouts like boxing that need a lot of concentration. There are tons of workout apps that offer different types of yoga classes.
What are the different types of yoga? The main yoga practices are Vinyasa yoga (aka flow yoga which is similar to Power Yoga taught at most LA gyms or studios), Iyengar Yoga (all about holding the poses and stretching), Kundalini Yoga (chanting, mantra, and meditation), Ashtanga Yoga (the most intense yoga), Hot Yoga (practicing in 105 degrees), and Yin Yoga (meditative yoga). The newest yoga trend is ‘face yoga‘.
What is the easiest Yoga for Beginners? Hatha Yoga is the easiest form of yoga because of its slower pace and it’s a great start as a beginner.
7 Yoga Essentials for Beginners
When you start yoga as a beginner, it’s hard to know what you need to buy whether you’re practicing kundalini, hip hop yoga, or acro-yoga. Here are the top yoga essentials that you need when you start practicing yoga.
01. Yoga Essentials for Beginners: Mat
Whether you are practicing at home or in a studio, you will need your own yoga mat. You will want a strong mat that doesn’t move and can be cleaned easily.
A Packable Yoga Mat
02. Yoga Essentials for Beginners: Mat Towel
A mat towel can serve many purposes. You will need it to cover your yoga mat during a hot yoga session. You can cover the yoga bolster or blanket provided at the studio with it. Or just use it as a blanket during the restorative part of the class.
03. Yoga Essentials for Beginners: Water Bottle
Don’t show up to a yoga studio with a plastic bottle. That’s a big no-no! Plastic is harmful and can’t be recycled easily. It is just not the yogi way.
Crystal water bottles are this year’s hottest wellness trend. Crystal water bottles are amazing healing tools. Each crystal has different healing power: amethyst (calm and peace), rose quartz (unconditional love & compassion), pink quartz (relieves stress), and black obsidian (truth and protection). Remember: Crystals only work if you believe in them.
04. Essential Oils
Essential oils like frankincense and lavender can be used throughout your yoga practice to calm your body and mind. You can sniff before you hit the mat or use a diffuser during your practice.
05. Yoga Essentials for Beginners: Block
Yoga block gives Yoga Beginners a little support and length when it comes to poses like the crescent moon.
06. Yoga Essentials for Beginners: Strap
Straps help Yoga Beginners with achieving more range of motion during stretching poses.
07. Yoga Essentials for Beginners: Comfortable Outfit
I can’t stress enough how a comfortable yoga outfit will make your yoga practice much easier. This may seem obvious, but many people new to yoga don’t always know what to wear. A yoga outfit can’t be too loose or too tight. Also, a yoga outfit can’t have accessories that make too much noise since moving around a lot.
What Not to Wear to Yoga Class: short spandex, loose shorts, thin or holey pants, shirts that don’t fit, tons of jewelry, and tons of lotion.
Comfortable Yoga Outfits
Lululemon and Alo Yoga are a great place to start. The price point might be expensive, but these essential yoga outfits will last you for years. I bought a pair of Lululemon pants 6 years ago and I don’t even know how many times I have washed it since I bought it. It still looks brand new. The leggings come in different lengths (25”, 28” and 31”).
Yoga Socks
Traditionally, yoga is done barefoot but if you are going to use the studio’s mat, you will want to wear grip yoga socks.
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What is your favorite yoga?
Namaste,
Liz
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Yoga has been getting me through the quarantine. I’ve never thought to use essential oils before my lesson, and I will try this when I practice tonight!
XoXo,
Gina Checchia