Yoga Gear: What Equipment do You Need?

If you’re just starting out with yoga, you may not know what kind of yoga gear to get. The yoga industry continues to come up with different products like clothing and equipment you might need before stepping inside a yoga class. But the truth is, you actually don’t need a lot to get started with yoga.

With that being said, if you’re starting a home yoga practice, you’re better off purchasing apparel and equipment specifically made for yoga. Here’s what you need to know.

Essential Yoga Gear

Clothing

Most yoga studios require you to wear something to the class. But you don’t need tons of printed yoga pants or designer gear to join the class. Start with something like comfortable, breathable apparel you already own and purchase only mid-level basics for stuff that you’re missing.

Pants or shorts
You can never go wrong with a pair of yoga pants in solid colors like black, brown, dark grey, or navy. You can mix and match these with different kinds of tops, and if you get ones made from high-quality materials, they can last a long, long time.
Tops
It’s highly recommended that you wear tops that are fairly form-fitting so your shirt doesn’t go over your head when you do poses such as the forward bend. Shirts or tops made from wicking material are also a great choice, especially if you sweat a lot or plan to attend a hot yoga class.
Sports Bras
For women, sports bras are a must. Although yoga is usually regarded as a low-impact activity, wearing a decent sports bra can help keep your “knockers” in place as you move between poses. Sports bras make your yoga practice more comfortable as well.
Headbands or Hair Ties
Regardless of your gender, if you have long hair, you need to keep it secure and in place before you start a yoga class. This is to keep stray locks from falling in your eyes and face. You can get a headband or basic hair tie for this.
Yoga Socks
These are not really considered a requirement to join a yoga class. As a matter of fact, yoga instructors would even advise you to just go barefoot. Regardless, there are some people that are not comfortable with taking their shoes or socks off in front of strangers. For this reason, a pair of yoga socks with grips on the bottom can be a great investment. This can help keep your feet protected and keep good traction. Ordinary socks won’t be able to do this, as you’ll end up slipping and sliding all over the place.

Many shops sell yoga gear practically anywhere nowadays, and it’s perfectly normal to see yoga pants that cost at least over $100. You may not feel comfortable blowing that much cash for a single pair of pants, but there are shops like Amazon, YogaOutlet, and Target that offer quality options for under $50. Buy at least two pairs of these pants and tops, then you’ll be set for months.

Yoga Mat

It’s common to see yoga mats used in gyms and yoga studios. Also called “sticky mats”, these items help define one’s personal space, and at the same tie creates traction for their hands and feet to keep them from slipping, especially when things get a bit sweaty. The mat also serves as some sort of cushioning for the hard floor.

Gyms usually provide mats and yoga studios have them up for rent, usually for a dollar or two for each class. This can be good for the first few classes, but one major disadvantage to these mats is that lots of people have used them, and there’s no guarantee of how often they’re being cleaned. So maybe it’s a better idea to buy your own mat.

High-quality yoga mats can be expensive. They can set you back to around $80 to $120, but you can find cheaper, starter yoga mats for as cheap as $20 from Amazon or Target. Just remember though that if you buy a cheaper mat, you’ll end up replacing it often as it gets worn out so fast. If you’re ready to commit to a yoga practice, it would make sense to invest in a good yoga mat.

When buying a mat, decide what features are important to you. Features such as length, material, thickness, traction, durability, comfort, and whether it is easy to clean matter. Get a mat with good reviews based on your needs.

Optional Equipment

Yoga gears are quite useful to a potential yoga practice. Yoga equipment helps students maintain healthy alignments in numerous yoga positions such as body bends, open ups, and twists. They also help you get the most out of each pose without getting injured.

It would be wise to familiarize yourself with other yoga gear you might need. You don’t necessarily have to buy them now unless of course, you’re starting a home practice, but this can give you a heads up in case you want to know how you can use them.

Mat bag or slings

This is useful for lugging your yoga mat back and forth to the studio. These bags make it easier for you to carry your rolled mat over your shoulder without it unraveling. Slings usually use velcro straps to secure your mat in its rolled position. It also comes with a strap that you can just throw over your shoulder. Slings also have additional storage spaces, but some do not. Mat bags, on the other hand, usually come in two styles: one uses velcro straps to secure the mat, and the other one is a snap or zipper closure bag, designed to hold your mat. Both can provide extra storage for other stuff like clothing, mobile equipment, and wallets.

Blankets

Normally, yoga studios have blankets in stock that students can use during class. Grab one or two before the class starts.

Blankets can be used to lift one’s hips during seated poses, and they also provide support for lying poses. If you’re just doing yoga at home, there’s no need to buy new blankets. Just use the ones you have at home.