In honor of teaching my VERY FIRST yoga class at Y2 Yoga today, I thought it would be fun to do a post about my “must haves” for yoga. These are the clothes and accessories that always go to class with me.
First up, the most important accessory – the mat.
The Manduka Black Mat Pro. This mat is on the pricey side but worth it’s weight in gold. It’s thick, grippy and extremely high quality. If you invest in this mat you can be sure that it will last for a very long time. I asked for this for my birthday last year! 🙂 (Note, Manduka makes other mats that are not quite as thick and a little less expensive!)
Next up, Yogitoes mat towels. I think we own like six of these!
Yogitoes towels are made to cover your mat to prevent your hands and feet from slipping. They are very absorbent and the rubber nubs underneath keep it in place on your mat. Yogitoes are especially beneficial in hot yoga classes when you are heavily sweating.
Tip: they work much better when slightly damp so you’ll either want to wait until you are sweaty to put it down or most hot yoga studios have spray water bottles so you can wet the area where your hands and feet go before class.
Tip 2: they get smelly, even after washing them (gross, I know). One way to combat this is to wash them separately from your other clothes and add vinegar and baking soda into the wash.
My most favorite yoga pants.
Lululemon Wunder Under Crops. I like to wear crops for hot yoga so that my arms don’t slip on my legs. These are the most comfortable pair that I own! I wash them over and over again and they maintain their shape and quality. Also, the wide waist band doesn’t cut into you and is very flattering!
And to go with the pants…my favorite top.
Lululemon Power Y Tank. I have this in four different colors and wear it all the time for yoga, running and teaching classes. My favorite things about this tank are the longer length and the built-in bra with removable cups. Perfect to avoid showing “headlights” and to add some shape for those of us who are lacking in the shape department! 🙂
To keep the hair out of my face and the sweat out of my eyes, the best headband I’ve found!
Sweaty Bands. I picked one of these up at the Marine Corps Marathon Expo and it quickly became my favorite headband. They are grosgrain ribbon on the outside and velvet on the inside. They have tons of cute designs. My favorite thing about Sweaty Bands is that they do not move!
Most studios will have blocks but if you have a home practice or are a germaphobe, you may want to purchase you’re own.
Blocks are extremely useful for bringing the ground closer to you. There are so many poses where using a block can make all the difference in alignment and your comfort. Never be ashamed of using a block in a class! Form always comes first!
What are your must have yoga accessories?
It just so happens that Gilt is having a “Fit Sale” Thursday. They are offering great deals on yoga clothes and accessories (including Manduka mats!). They are also featuring deals on tons of running shoes. The sale starts at noon. Check it out!
