Yoga equipment for beginners can be questionable chore, especially on the internet and a busy mom. There’s so many options for what equipment is best for yoga beginners. The ‘must have’ the ‘can’t live without it’ marketing strategies deployed by clever companies to catch you.
In this blog i’ve separated out the equipment that is essential yoga kit for beginning yoga at home, plus included top tips to remember when choosing what to look for, when buying yoga equipment. I’ve also added in the products that really are additional and can grow with your yoga practice.
Yoga equipment for beginners why have it?
One common phrase that I hear time and time again from mums is I haven’t time.
By having the home essential exercise kit for mums at home, its a game changer when it comes to time managing exercise.
Gone is the travel journey to get to the class, the gym, the traffic queues.
Not that any of these exist in Scotland given the current covid quietening times.
So many of us globally are having to exercise at home now.
Below is the home essential exercise kits for beginners to use anytime anywhere. To body workout your way around/with the kids, in the comfort of your own home gym.
Home essential yoga equipment for beginners
1. Yoga mat for home workouts
If your starting yoga, a yoga mat is essential for home workouts. You can practice yoga on the floor, like my first teacher in India encouraged me to do! 2 hours sitting on my knees, definitely taught me some inner lessons.
However your body through time and sense, will tell you it really is not necessary to do.
Top tips for buying a yoga mat
- Ultimate grip
- Is crucial for a mat. You really dont want to be slipping and sliding accidentally doing the splits from not having good grip.
- Maintains strength, stillness and steadiness
- Thickness
- A yoga mats standard thickness is 3.2mm
- These mats are ideal for balancing and flow poses
- 6.6mm is considered thick and tend to last longer.
- If you experience sore back, knees, wrist, forearm complaints, or are naturally more boney. A thicker mat will aid more comfort when doing floor workout to support your body to be better cushioned.
- A thicker mat is also ideal for restorative yoga like yin.
- A yoga mats standard thickness is 3.2mm
- The material of your yoga mat choosing, will dictate the price.
- TPE Thermoplastic elastomer is a man made concoction of plastic and rubber and may be better for the environment and some are recyclable.
- PVC yoga mats are made from plastic. They are easy to clean and good grip. Due to being made of plastic they don’t absorb well and consequently become slippery if sweating a lot. But on the flip side, PVC is latex free which is useful to people who have latex allergies. However they are not as environmentally friendly as the other material options.
- Eco/natural mats come from different natural sources like jute, rubber and cotton. They are not as grippy, but aid stability with your body traction and are much better for the planet.
- The cost of a high quality yoga mat costs from $80 – $150. The cheaper the mat, the less likely they are to last.
- Good absorption for sweat is necessary. Especially if doing hot yoga or naturally sweat a lot, as it will limit slipping.
I have for the past six years used Liforme Travel Yoga Mat. I will be buying these mats in future. What triumphs it for me is the gripping ability to absorb the sweaty smell of the mat.
It is expensive, but the way I view it is I use it most days, and that’s six years on. Pretty good value when looking at the bigger picture.
2. Yoga block for strength training
A yoga block is a great tool to have at hand to support height, elevation, length, squeeze, and strength. All of which will aid and improve flexibility.
Yoga blocks are effective at limiting injury, by maintaining structural alignment and deepening your practice.
For example, if you have a sore lower back, popping the block under your booty it can help create height and length to the back, for better posture.
If you are not able to touch the floor with your hands yet, a block can be of assistance.
If your knee doesn’t quite reach the floor yet, popping a block underneath your knee, can help to facilitate the ability to press and move more.
Top tips for a yoga block
Just like yoga the type of block used, is a subjective choice.
“B.K.S Iyengar’s stated the ideal size for a yoga block is 9 x 4.5 x 3 inches. The most common yoga block dimensions are 4″ x 6″ x 9″ but you will find blocks that are both larger and smaller than this. Choosing a larger or smaller block will depend on the size of your hands and the level of your flexibility.”
There are 3 types of yoga blocks and i’m going to explain them in more detail below in terms of,
- Weight
- Thickness
- Material
Cork yoga block
- Manduka Cork Yoga Block
- 8.9 x 4.7 x 3 inches in size and weighs around 1.3 lb (600 g)
- Great for balancing as supports your weight
- Easy to grip with contoured edges
- Sturdy yet light
- Ideal for beginners and advanced yogis
- Effective at limiting injury by maintaining structural alignment and strengthening your practice
Wooden Yoga Block
- Hugger Mugger Bamboo Yoga Block
- Product Dimension:- 10 x 6 x 4 inches
- Rectangular yoga Block
- Made from bamboo
- lightweight as it is hallow
- Great for restorative poses as the round edges create comfort
Foam yoga block
- Manduka Recycled Foam Yoga Block
- Size 9” x 6” x 4”
- Weight 0. 9 lbs
- Ideal for restorative yoga and backbends
- Ideal for comfort and support
- Non slip grip
Personally I love Manduka Cork Yoga Block because of its weightfulness feeling. Im naturally more flexible and this block helps to create depth and strength, to advance my practice further.
3. Birthing ball is a mums home gym
There isn’t pregnancy and postnatal exercise without a birthing ball.
This is the bomb of equipment for mums to exercise at home, to draw in pelvic floor muscles in pregnancy and postnatally.
Top tips for buying a birthing ball
- Picking the right size ball for you is really crucial. Heres a size chart table to help you choose the correct one.
- A heavy durable ball that withstands heavy weight and doesn’t burst easily is key, especially if pregnant
- One made from Hypo allergenic PVC is advised for safety.
- Having an anti slip mechanism like a mat or a ring underneath the ball, is crucial.
- Having a 12 month warranty secures the risk free buy of a ball
The birthing ball can be a saving grace, especially in pregnancy. It literally was my couch from seven months pregnant, right through my labour and postnatally.
I still use the same one. The gorgeous thing about it is, Sebalicious now plays with it and ‘tries’ to copy the exercises I do.
5. Good sports bra
If you are blessed, others say burdened, with big boobs you’ll know a great bra can really help your workout.
I found this really in-depth, expert article for more sports bra details
6. Yoga clothes for body image positive
When we feel at our best we do our best.
This is why what we wear to practice yoga, can work well holistically in our workout.
What works for you might not work for another.
I love the sales in sweaty Betty because I feel great in their clothes, which encourages me to exercise more confidently.
7. Hair ties for home workout
Hair in the mouth and eyes, irritating huh, especially when upside down and not able to manually pull it out.
Having Kitsch Spiral Hair Ties that don’t distract our focus by stopping to retie our hair, are ideal for home practice.
Hair ties that hold hair and are comfortable at not pulling half of it out, are ideal for working out effectively at home.
They’re a must have favourite.
Additional yoga equipment to expand your practice
Yoga pillow it’s zen out time
Yoga is all about being able to sit still and breathe. If you look back historically this is what yoga’s essence is. All this vinyasa and sun salutation workouts are very new too yoga and were created over the past 100 years, to move with the modern times.
The more years I practice yoga, the deeper my body needs to “just be” in stillness.
Having a great yoga pillow is key for comfortability of finding this space. It’s the essence of yin yoga and fundamental at igniting the parasympathetic nervous system.
What to look for in a yoga pillow
mixed density layers of recycled foam, with a concentrated core that provides long lasting durability and structure. Unlike buckwheat or cotton batting, our dual layer technology ensures that your bolster pillow won’t lose its shape or firmness with use.
Material is key for comfort. Choosing one with a soft outer cover and mixed layered material within, will provide comfort and structural strength to the pillow. Cotton and buckwheat lose the shape of the cushion quicker.
Removable cover for washing purposes.
The size of the pillow differs. For Yin yoga having a longer pillow creates more ease and support for your joints and releases the back better. With a longer supported shape, it enables a deeper stretch and ability to soften into the pose more.
I use this Yoga Bolster Pillow.
Resistance bands no weights needed
Resistance bands work with the muscles to create length and strength to them. Using your own resistance with the bands works your body better as it supports long lean muscles for strength and flexibility.
Weights create bulk, bands create space, strength and length.
Resistance bands are light and take up little space, making them great for travelling and storing.
Top tips for choosing resistance bands
There are 2 types of bands tube and Lupe bands. What you prefer is personal.
Tube bands are a similar style as a skipping rope with handles. The picture at the top of this blog has tube bands. They are great for upper workout however are much less flexible in moving and are heavier in weight. They come with different tension levels, strength ability to work towards building your body stronger, however in a much more bulkier set up, than Lupe bands.
Loop Exercise Bands set of 5 have a, you’ve got it, a looped resistance which locks the body in and maintains your body’s alignment more effectively.
There are different tension levels which help to build strength ability, to work towards building your body stronger. Highly versatile and movable, light and travel friendly
It’s the isotonic workout of small intricate muscles that are exercised that are structural as opposed superficial. I prefer loop bands and have these Loop Exercise Bands set of 5 at home.
Yoga strap
A Yoga Strap for Stretching is really useful as you learn more about your body. It will encourage your body to hold a pose for longer. As well as creating reach, flexibility, release and strength.
Tops tips for choosing a strap
Theres a couple of differences in the straps to keep in mind such as;
- Adjustability can differ, as some are shorter than others. Having a longer strap can create more ease for adjusting and readjusting in the yoga pose.
- Durability of some straps have a plastic buckle which is less strong and break easier. Having a metal buckle will secure the strap with less risk of injury as it will hold the strap better.
Candle for home workout
By lighting an essential oil candle each day before your practice and setting an intention with it, it can create more deepened inner focus.
This symbolic energy can feed your mind and body more fluidly to have gratitude in life and the lessons learned from your practice, of which we can continually grow from.
Massage ball to relax sore muscles
As beginners grow in their practice so does the need to massage muscles. Its amazing what is found through the years of delving within through yoga.
The benefits of a massage ball are they work with the fascia tissue of the body improving blood circulation, relaxing muscles and stimulating blood flow.
As you grow with your practice so does the need to be more gentler and lovingly to your body.
Top tips for choosing a massage ball
- There are 2 types of massage ball soft and hard which one that works for you is personal. I found this video which discusses this here
- Having a Spiky massage ball is an excellent tool for getting into little areas with the correct pressure
- Harder balls are more likely to get a trigger point but not able to stick with the pressure. This is because the balls hard and fascia tissue trigger pointing can be very painful.
- I personally find the hard balls are fabulous for my feet especially for plantar fasciitis however the spiky softer ones are great for my hips.
Epsom Salt after a workout
As much as you exercise, your body needs to relax to. Epsom salts are fabulous for the skin, rich in minerals and aid a deeper sleep which in turn helps you exercise and feel better.
I use Dead Sea Salts with Lavender & Jasmine. Just love the smell, and how much deeper I sleep using them.
Psssst
Gonna let you into a wee secret.
If you have a b&m or savers in your area, buy from them. Their half the price and the exact same product.
Balance board for home fitness
This is so much fun to do with your kids and have a laugh whilst exercising. Its also super tricky to begin practicing and honing in the midline and standing tall using your core to balance to rise
Tops tips for choosing a balance board
- I found this awesome professional article giving you loads of useful tips and things to watch out for.
Yes4All Wooden Wobble Balance Board we’ve use this one.
At first I could not grasp the balance ability and we had so many laughs trying it out. Great fun to do at home with your kids.
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