Whether you’re new to yoga, you’ve been practicing for years, or, like us, you’re somewhere in between newbie and honest-to-goodness yogi, one thing we can say for sure is that summertime adds a lovely extra dimension to the practice. At least it does when you’re living in a four-season climate because for a few precious months of the year you can practice outdoors.
For us, that means packing up our gear to take a few quick steps outside, into the front yard. The feel of the sun on your shoulders… The scent of the fresh, soft grass… That agreeably cool breeze that blows through the trees to revive you just when you think your quads won’t sustain Warrior I for one more second.
No matter, however, if you’re enjoying a session outdoors, in a studio, or on your living room floor in the dead of winter, you want yoga equipment that works as hard as you do—and looks as good as you do when you’re flipping the dog.
Finding a great pair of pants in which to practice can be like trying to find that needle in a haystack—almost as frustrating as trying to find that great pair of jeans. These high-waisted, bootleg pants in nylon and spandex may solve your problem; they solved mine. The four-way stretch, moisture-wicking fabric moves with you, allowing you full range of motion in complete comfort. They come in a range of colors, from classic black to sparkling white, dusty rose, and sleek khaki but—maybe the best part?—they are so stylish you can wear them right out of the yoga studio to your next meeting.
Light weight and breathable, this 95% modal and 5% spandex workout top comes in an array of yummy colors, including my favorite ginger yellow. It also features thumbholes so it stays in place during your workout, and a slit up the back so, while your bum is covered, it also provides ventilation when you’re sweating through a yoga class, a Pilates workout, or just a school run through a traffic jam with the kids.
Sixty-nine inches long and twenty-three inches wide, half an inch of high-density foam underneath your hips, knees, elbows, and spine while you’re working hard on your cobra—what more could you want in a yoga mat? How about moisture resistant and non-skid surfaces on both sides so it can be easily and efficiently washed down. Comes with a strap, of course, so it’s easy carry to wherever you practice and back home again. Yes, please.
One of the best ways to help tired muscles rejuvenate and heal after a hard workout is to get a massage—but a daily massage is expensive, and isn’t always practical. With this lightweight yet solid foam roller you can give yourself a massage after every workout! The 3D grid mimics the hands of a therapist and soothes by hitting trigger points, increasing blood flow, and flushing away stored lactic acid. Use it to relieve sore muscles or increase flexibility—or both! Twelve and a quarter inches long, and five and a quarter inches in diameter, this little beauty is a massage just sitting on your shelf, waiting to happen.
Yoga blocks are essentials for the beginner as well as the expert—the blocks help the novice achieve proper alignment, modify poses, and provide stability and balance as they learn, and the blocks assist the more seasoned yogi to go deeper into the poses. We love these for their durability, non-slip surface, and beveled edges for an easy grip. Lightweight—just 4.6 ounces each—and nice and chunky at 9 x 6 x 4 inches.
First on our list is this small massage ball set. That’s because my trainer recommended them to me when I started getting pesky cramps in my feet, and these little balls were like having a physiotherapy session whenever—and wherever—I needed one. I especially like sitting at my desk and running the spiky ball underfoot to soothe the hard-worked muscles after I’ve walked to the office. The double blue ball comes in handy on days I’ve really concentrated on the gluts—just put it on the floor, have a seat on the ball where it hurts, and rotate softly and slowly for a penetrating massage.
The second (and third!) balls on the list are somewhat larger—nine inches and twenty-two inches. Both are made of durable PVC material, and coated in a non-slip glaze for real stability—and they are both made for rigorous use. From crunches, to push-ups, to squats, these balls can enhance your workout so each rep is as effective as it can be and your effort goes deep.
To learn how to most effectively, and safely, use exercise balls, I recommend working with a trainer but, to get you started, the Mayo Clinic has created a really terrific playlist of videos about how to use exercise balls; you can access it here.
Maybe you’re looking to start your yoga journey and you want to gather together all the equipment you’ll need—here’s your list.
Maybe, like us, you’ve been practicing for a while and you’re looking to upgrade your kit—we’ve tested these items out and can vouch for their quality.
Maybe you’ve got a yogi friend and you want to be supportive of their practice—any of these items will be most useful, and your thoughtfulness most appreciated.
Namaste!
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