In the post-COVID era, yoga’s popularity has jumped 10-fold, and the demand for yoga accessories has also swelled. Whether you do a home workout yoga or love to sweat it out in a yoga studio, yoga gear is essential to prevent injuries.
These ten yoga accessories are all you need to start your yoga session.
YOGA-MAT
Own a yoga mat for hygienic issues rather than the shared studio mat filled with bacteria and bad odour. And for features, it is wise to opt for a lightweight, durable and anti-slippery mat. Normally, yoga mats from PVC are great for their price point, but various non-toxic and eco-friendly mats made from jute and recycled or natural rubber are also great alternatives.
The yoga mat length is around 6 feet long and 2 feet wide. For comfortability, the thickness of the mat of essential. Choose a yoga mat that is as thick as ¼ inch to protect the knees. The dry and wet traction feature for the grip and absorb sweat quickly. To add fun, go for patterned and colourful yoga mats.
YOGA BLOCKS
For yoga beginners or someone with physical limitations, yoga blocks help them to learn and perform tough yoga poses like the half-moon pose and, as such, to minimize the risk of injuries. Blocks help to maintain balance in standing asanas and to stretch the tight muscles with perfect alignment. Yoga blocks are of three types- wood, foam, and cork. Wooden ones are hard but sturdy, cork blocks are lightweight, anti-bacterial, and soft, and non-toxic foam blocks are extremely soft and less costly than the first two. At most, two yoga blocks are sufficient for practising asanas.
MEDITATION PILLOW OR ZAFU
Zafu, or meditation cushion designed to help sit comfortably and increase focus while meditating. It gives ample support to the hips and keeps the spine straight while sitting cross-legged on the floor. The rounded or rectangular meditation pillows are traditionally filled with buckwheat or cotton fibre to meditate longer at ease. Unfortunately, zafu is not a popular yoga accessory, as people do not know of it. But it’s the ideal choice for post-yoga meditation.
YOGA STRAP
Six- and nine-feet long with metal D-ring yoga straps help to execute better yoga postures and improve the body’s flexibility. These straps provide resistance and build strength while keeping alignment intact. Sides and leg stretch, the opening of shoulders, bow pose, and many other poses can be performed with the help of yoga straps.
YOGA WHEEL or RING
A yoga wheel is a great pre-yoga workout prop as it helps to stretch out the back or spine and open up the chest, shoulders, and rib cage, thus removing the rigidity of the upper body. It also aids in improving flexibility and strength. These hollow circular yoga wheels relieve back pains and tension accumulated while sitting too long.
YOGA MAT CARRIER/BAG
Like a gym bag, a yoga bag is an essential prop as it safeguards the mat from wear and tear, maintains its durability, and looks stylish. Added pockets or partition in the carrier helps keep your towels, water bottle and other yoga gear. It’s best to stay organized when leaving for the yoga studio.
YOGA CLOTHING
Often neglected yoga accessories, yoga pants or leggings provide stretch and comfortability while performing asanas. The soft fabric of the yoga pants absorbs the sweat quickly and regulates the body temperature. Yoga leggings act as a breathable second skin.
YOGA MAT TOWEL
Use on the top of the mat; the yoga towel function is equivalent to the yoga mat. But when doing “hot yoga”, the towel provides more sweat resistance and extra grip than the standard yoga mat, where the chance of slipping is high.
WATER BOTTLE
Ditch the plastic bottles. Go for stainless steel, eco-friendly and vacuum-insulated bottles. Staying hydrated is essential while practising yoga. Carry a 4 to 5-litre bottle and wash it regularly to avoid bacteria from growing.
HAND TOWEL
It’s hygienic and ideal to own a small hand towel to wipe up the sweat from the face and moisture from the hands between the yoga poses. Choose 100% Egyptian cotton that is extra soft, highly absorbent, and durable.
TO SUM UP
These yoga props are suitable for all yoga lovers to practice asanas comfortably, from straps or wheels that help heal the rigidity or stiffness in the body to owning the most basic accessories like the mat, water bottle and towel to commence your yoga journey.
Taking assistance from these accessories doesn’t imply that you are cheating or incapable of doing asanas; rather, these props elevate your yoga postures so that you can slowly but surely become a perfectionist.
Legendary yoga guru BKS Iyengar, who developed yoga props or accessories, has always wished to see every person perform asanas comfortably and safely regardless of physical constraints.