Yoga equipment list
Yoga is the discipline that is always in the news, and for good reason! A philosophy full of temperance, moderation, inspiring values, this practice has everything for her. It is therefore legitimate to want to get into it, or, quite simply, to want to improve.
There are now millions of practitioners in the world. This success is mainly due to the fact that this discipline is part of a healthier lifestyle, in the global sense.
As World Yoga Day is on June 21st, we can then ask ourselves how to equip ourselves when we wish to continue a practice, whether it is regular or occasional. There are many accessories, which will become tools, to become a perfect little yogi!
Know how to define one's expectations and goals in yoga
Yoga is often thought of as a relaxing discipline, or even a hobby, but it turns out to be much deeper than that. While it originated in India over 5,000 years ago, it has developed and reinvented itself, and today it fits perfectly into our lifestyles.
There are a multitude of classes, online courses, yoga internships, but also subcategories, all of which are a specific way of doing sports: pilates yoga, nidra yoga, dynamic yoga, yoga for children, or bikram yoga.
All these somewhat barbaric terms actually correspond to principles, values, and benefits. Benefits that can be achieved according to our desires and needs: stretching, muscle strengthening, abdominal muscles, back pain, etc...
Yoga is a complete sport, which makes many parts of the body work in correlation with the mind, contrary to what neophytes might think. It is therefore essential to know which type of yoga to turn to, and to do so, to reflect on one's own expectations.
A thousand miles away from combat sports, trampoline or cross training, yoga is rich, and props are the ideal companion when you want to get the most out of its benefits. So what is our goal? Yoga allows us to :
• To work the muscular reinforcement, in particular of the abdominal belt or the thighs,
• To stretch,
• To work his spine,
• To prepare one's mind for meditation,
• To adopt a more upright posture on a daily basis,
• To note an obvious fitness on the whole body,
• To work on flexibility.
From there, it will be easy to define one's objectives and, most importantly, to find the type of yoga that best suits one's needs, and therefore to define what accessories to buy to practice it.
However, the fact remains that yoga has movements and other postures that are common to all branches, that it will be easy to practice wherever you are, with a basic accessory pack.
The yoga mat
The floor mat is the accessory that should be purchased at all costs, regardless of the type of yoga you wish to practice. They are now available in all sizes, colors, and materials to fit as many of us as possible. Among the criteria to be taken into account, the main ones are :
• Thickness, essential when you want to do yoga comfortably,
• The lightness, so as not to consider the carpet as a weight, to be carried for long minutes, even long hours,
• The material, according to the desires and practices of each one,
• Price is often a determining factor, especially for beginners who do not want to put an exorbitant price on a yoga accessory.
Yoga having become a real industry, everything is now accessible, so as to satisfy the slightest criterion, the slightest wish. Non-slip material, foam mats, anti-perspiration, easy to transport, washable, buying a mat has never been so simple and complicated at the same time.
Folded in its carrying bag, it can be ready to be drawn for a few greetings to the sun and other lotus positions. Buying a carpet is therefore a real question that must be asked. Who said that practicing yoga was simple?
Yoga straps
The sling is not necessarily the first accessory you turn to when you start yoga, yet it is a great ally. Indeed, this type of accessory allows to go further in the postures, but also to allow a better support, a better general hold, and therefore an improvement of the balance.
There are a good number of straps on the market, it is up to you to see which material, which length, which type of buckle suits you best, and corresponds to your yoga practice.
Please note that for those for whom yoga is more of a recreational practice and less of a performance practice, the strap also allows you to stretch more effectively and multiplies the effects of the practice tenfold.
Because yes, let's face it, practicing yoga without accessories is great, but you also need to take advantage of what the wellness market has to offer, and straps are a great anchor for an even more stimulating yoga session!
Yoga bricks
A brick, but what is it? Behind a not very glamorous term, this accessory is actually very useful to progress and improve in the postures and yoga exercises that we practice.
A real tool, the brick can also replace a cushion during meditation, but must be chosen with care, depending on the yoga postures you wish to practice.
In cork, wood, light or heavier, many models are commercially available, so as to make our yoga class much more lively, much more dynamic.
Because yes, beyond going further in the postures, you can also just maintain your position and gain balance, thanks to a simple brick. There are bricks at all prices, so why not give in to the temptation!
Yoga towel
Sweating on the carpet, very little for us, but the bacteria love it. In order to be as hygienic as possible (and as little wet as possible at the same time), let's never forget the towel as a great ally.
Sweating being the sportsman's number 1 enemy (although...), it is important to be able to dry oneself well. The material of the towel will thus become essential, beyond its size or price, which are, in my opinion, basic criteria.
When I do yoga (because yes, I do!), I always take two towels with me. But why two, you may ask? Very good question! Well simply to simply mop me up, but also to put on my gym mat.
Small equipment which, if it doesn't take up too much space, has the merit of being very useful for hygiene, but also for comfort, because they often bring this non-slip side, ideal for people who perspire a lot.
Yoga clothing
Maybe the idea hadn't occurred to you before, but clothes are the pillar of progression and comfort when practicing yoga.
Indeed, they are the ones that will direct our movements, that will allow us - or not - to go further in a posture, and are therefore to be chosen with care.
This choice is based on several criteria: comfort, "breathability", value for money, or style. Concerning this last point, it is up to you to know what you like, and if it is as important as the others.
On the other hand, comfort and breathability are much more important, because they are the ones that will condition the yoga class. A yoga textile must therefore be breathable and allow ease of movement while being resistant.
On paper, the challenge seems simple, but not so much! Without neglecting comfort, we must then find an elastic textile, in a material that suits us.
Cotton is the least breathable material, but there are many products that can satisfy most of us, even recycled materials or synthetics! Note that there is also an anti-humidity technology, which could, I think, help improve comfort during sport.
It is also useful to know how to opt for clothing that is close to the body. Indeed, a baggy will allow much less postures than leggings, just as a bra will know much more constructive than a loose tee-shirt, when it comes to improving its flexibility.
Feeling as free as possible is the key, and yoga clothing allows us to achieve this goal with brilliance. And for starters, don't forget to take your watch and other bracelets off your wrists!
Yoga ball
A little extra soul, the ball allows you to vary yoga exercises and postures, while improving balance. It may seem obvious, but the ball is not stable, and therefore forces us to maintain a position using only the strength of our limbs.
Note that a ball can be used for stretching, but also to practice other activities such as pilates, soft gymnastics, or yoga and meditation.
The bag
The bag is the yogi's primary companion. While it is often considered part of the "other accessories", it can be very practical if it is well chosen. Some, sold notably at Decathlon, have an extra pocket to store the fitness floor mat, practical!
The ideal being to find a bag with multiple pockets, to put a water bottle, a brick, a meditation bench, yoga pants, etc!
Yoga is a complete discipline, which combines sport and serenity, body and mind, whose accessories are often the tool to progress and succeed. To your mats!
