The best yoga kit for beginners

If you’ve been thinking about starting yoga but not sure what gear you exactly need, here’s how to choose the essentials to get you started so you’ll be practicing your Downward Dog pose in no time.

Essential items

Not long ago it was just a mat you needed to start yoga, but these days it’s good to have at least a couple of props to make your yoga journey run smoothly.  We give you the heads up on which of these items are really necessary as you search for the best yoga equipment to get you started.

Yoga mat
While it’s possible to practice yoga without a mat,  it’s not ideal – especially for newcomers. You’ll want a reliable and comfortable mat to create a foundation for your poses. Currently, the most common yoga mat dimensions are 60 centimetres wide, and 172 to 182 centimetres long. Of course, it’s not like there’s some yoga governing body that has passed down this mandate – the standard yoga mat size has caught on simply because it’s the size most people feel comfortable with. A length of 172 centimetres translates to 5 feet, 8 inches. So that works for the majority of women and for many guys as well. Meanwhile, 182 centimetres is exactly six feet, so that’s a yoga mat length that works for most of the population.

Yoga block
Yoga blocks may be the most useful yoga prop. You can find blocks made from cork and even bamboo, but the majority of starter sets come with yoga blocks made from foam. These tend to be lightweight and flexible, but strong enough to add support and help you establish certain postures that are difficult for beginners to nail. Blocks are a must for newbies.

Not necessary, but useful

Hand towel
Yoga towels have become an entire industry to themselves, and they come in various lengths, materials, and colours. As a newcomer to yoga, don’t get too caught up in these differences. All you need is a towel to wipe away the sweat. Pretty much any towel in will be just fine. You can always upgrade your towel later if you find you need something better.

Mat-length towel
While the hand towel is mainly for sweat, a mat-length towel is used to place atop your mat in order to provide to you with better traction. Yoga mats can be kinda slippery especially if you are doing hot yoga. That sometimes results in your hands and feet sliding around on the mat, which is not useful when you’re learning poses. A mat-length towel can prevent this.

Yoga stretching strap
Yoga straps are great because they can greatly enhance your stretches. Flexibility and stretching are so important in yoga so if you start using straps from the very beginning, you’ll establish good habits that will aid you on your yoga journey. (These straps are not to be confused with mat carrying straps, which are the straps that cinch together your mat when you transport it to the studio.)

The right clothes
While you can pretty much practice yoga in any loose, moveable clothing, you will have a better practice if you are wearing something that won’t restrict movement or is overtly baggy and gets in your way. Tight leggings or shorts and a close-fitting top or crop top are ideal.

Take a breath with Sarah & Boozt

Join Sarah for her 15-minute yoga videos on Boozt.com to practice any time of the day.