Yoga Equipment: What to Buy, What to Skip

Buying yoga equipment can be overwhelming. The sheer amount of options can cause even the most decisive yogi to scratch their head. “What’s the best mat for me?” “Do I really NEED a bolster?” “How about blocks?” I’ll answer these questions below and offer you my best recommendations, and a few suggestions for what to avoid.

YOGA EQUIPMENT

Required: In my opinion, these are the must-have items if you want to practice yoga at home. Most studios will have rental mats and props you can borrow. One of the biggest boundaries to practicing yoga at home is not having the right equipment to support you. It makes all the difference.

A GREAT YOGA MAT

• Best bang for your buck

  • Yoga Accessories 1/4 Sticky Mat $20: This is a classic choice and a great option for beginners or the budget conscious. At around $20 a pop you can’t beat the price, and after a short break in period, they generally live up to their name and become quite sticky. Beware though, there are a lot of mats that look like this one that are either extremely thin, or made so poorly that they fall apart after a few uses. These generally have a lifespan of 1-2 years of regular use. Click here to purchase online

• Best Quality

  • Manduka Pro $110: This is the mat I use. I love it because it’s dense and easy on the joints. It’s thick, but not cushy. It lasts FOREVER, and it gets better with age. Warning: it does have a break in period, but with regular use the slipping phase will be over quickly. It is also 5x as expensive as a sticky mat. But, if you’re a regular practitioner, this is, in my opinion, your best choice. Click here to purchase online

• Best Grip

  • Manduka eKo $88: Pros: The texture of this mat is great. There’s a rubber-like grip, and it’s sticky right away. No break in period. It’s made with environmentally friendly materials. Cons: There’s a rubbery odor that wears off in time (especially if you store it unrolled for a little while). I’ve noticed that the lifespan is not quite as long as the PRO, but you’ll have a lot of happy years together with this mat if grip is your #1 priority. Click here to purchase online

• A PAIR OF YOGA BLOCKS

  • Best Bang for your Buck:

    • Yoga Accessories 4inch Foam Block $8.99 each. Pros: These are inexpensive and they’ll get the job done. Cons: They wear out in time and they show nail marks and scratches. They’re a little soft and not as supportive as I’d like for most poses. Click here to purchase online

  • Best Quality:

    • Manduka Recycled Foam Yoga Block $16 each: Pros: They are all that a yoga block should be: sturdy, scratch resistant, there when you need them. I love these blocks and so do my students. Cons: They’re a little more expensive than your average block. Click here to purchase online

• A GOOD BLANKET, OR TWO

  • Best bang for your buck

    • Yoga Accessories Mexican Yoga Blanket $24: Pros: Sturdy enough to fold up and sit on, dense enough to pad the knees, warm enough to cover yourself with. This is a great blanket, and it’s attractive too. Cons: None, really! And the price is right. Click here to purchase online

  • Best Quality

    • Manduka Recycled Wool Yoga Blanket $44: Pros: Sturdier, more dense, warmer. You can really feel the quality. Like all Manduka products, you’ll have this one a long time. Cons: It’s not the most attractive blanket, and it’s on the higher end for a prop you can usually have lying around the house already. But, you’ll get all that you need in the way of supporting your yoga practice with this awesome blanket. Click here to purchase online

Recommended: You can definitely get by in most yoga classes without these props, but you’ll find your practice is a little less frustrating with the help of a strap and the support of a bolster. If you plan to practice gentle and restorative yoga, a bolster is an absolute must, and two is even better. A strap is such a small investment, and I think you’ll find it pays for itself in time. There are so many creative ways to utilize it.

• A STRAP

  • Best bang for your buck: This is something you can totally wing. Yes, it would be better to have a real yoga strap, that’s at least 8ft long, but if you have a hand towel, or an old belt, or even a resistance band lying around somewhere - they can serve as a fairly good stand in for yoga emergencies!

  • Best Quality

    • Manduka unfold Yoga Strap $12: Pros: I like it because it’ll last. These are the straps I use at my studio. They’re in constant use and they hold up really well. I love the square D-ring because they hold their position really well, no slipping. Cons: None! Click here to purchase online

• A BOLSTER

  • Best bang for your buck:

    • Yoga Accessories Supportive Rectangular Bolster $35: Pros: This is a really nice, dense, heavy bolster. Quality is great for the price. If you like a big, heavy bolster, this one is for you. Cons: They get a little misshapen over time but that’s expected with almost any bolster. Click here to purchase online

  • Best Quality

    • Manduka Enlight Rectangular Bolster $68: Pros: These are the bolsters I use at the studio. Lighter than some other bolsters if you like that, and I find it’s just the right size. Supportive and easy to clean with a removable, washable cover. Cons: it, too will lose it’s shape a bit with really regular use.Pricy Click here to purchase online

What NOT to Get

• Really thin or really thick yoga mats. “Travel” size mats are only good if you plan on folding them up and putting them in a suitcase. They are fine for that purpose and work well if you are using them on top of a hotel carpet. “Extra thick” mats are good for Pilates, or if you only plan on practicing restorative yoga. They are terrible for balance, standing poses, and downward facing dog.

• Wooden blocks. They seem like a good idea because they’re so supportive, but they’re heavy, and not practical for most poses.

• Circular straps. They seem like a good idea because you don’t have to bind them and unbind them, but they offer limited use in your practice, and you’ll probably end up with one that’s the wrong size for what you need.

• Round bolsters. This is strictly my opinion, but I find that the rectangular bolster is much more useful. you’ll have to trust me on this one.

• Thin blocks. Whatever brand you choose, the dimensions of your block should be 9”x6”x4”. And you should have at least 2 of the same size block. Remember, that blocks have 3 sides, and you can turn them to suit the pose you’re in, and the support that you need.

A note:

You can get by with just yourself, and a good mat. You can really do a lot on your own, and you definitely don’t need a ton of stuff to do some stretching, or some meditating, and to feel better. However, good props can make some yoga classes feel a little less frustrating, especially if you have stiffness in your joints, or tightness in your muscles (don’t we all?). But please, know there are always ways to improvise if you can’t have ALL of these items handy at home.

Let me know what some of your favorite equipment is in the comments below. And, if you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to ask.

Happy practicing!