From the Founder: My Favorite Yoga Gear
Yoga is great because you can do it anywhere for no cost. All you need is some space, patience, and direction (if you’re new to yoga, check out our guide on How to Start a Home Practice).
However, if you are going to splurge on something, why not make it something that helps you practice yoga more? Here’s some of my favorite premium yoga gear that have made yoga practice an extra bit extra:
Manduka ProLite
The Manduka ProLite is a premium mat, but it has a few attributes that I greatly appreciate.
The ProLite is thinner and lighter than most premium mats, but it doesn’t sacrifice on the essential features. It still provides generous cushion and support. The mat is sturdy as well. After countless hours of use, my mat looks and feels as good as the first day I had it.
Importantly, the mat is available for tall people. I’m 74 inches tall, but most mats stop around 70 inches. The ProLite comes in a Long size at 79 inches. Even at this size, the mat is very light. Other long-sized mats tend to weigh too much and are a hassle to take to class. Because the GoLite is lighter to start with, the Long version doesn’t feel too bulky.
The texture on the mat is pleasant, and provides decent grip if you’re sweating or doing hot yoga.
Cork Blocks
I'm not flexible, so blocks are a necessary part of yoga for me. Foam blocks tend to feel unstable, maybe because of my weight. Cork blocks feel a lot more sturdy.
At $20, cork blocks are relatively inexpensive and don’t get deformed like foam blocks after long use, so they’re a great upgrade. Most yoga brands have their own version of cork blocks, like Gaiam and Manduka.
Powerbeats Pro
You likely don’t need headphones for yoga, but if you practice in a public place and want music or audio guidance, headphones can be nice. Unfortunately, most headphones are impossible to use during yoga. The cables get in the way or they simply fall out.
The Powerbeats Pro from Apple are completely wireless. The ear hooks make sure they stay on no matter how inverted your head might be.
Nike Yoga Collection
I don’t totally endorse the idea of specialized yoga attire. Any comfortable clothes or gym clothes will do. If you are looking for special clothes to practice in, Nike recently launched their own take on yoga attire, and it looks like mix between gym clothes and casual wear. It’s loose and flexible, so it's nice to wear during yoga, but I like it because it looks like chilled out training gear.