Need to Know: Yoga Mats, Clothes
Beginner's Guide to the Essentials for Regular Yoga Practice.
Yoga's popularity floods the market with clothes, equipment, and tools - but are they all necessary? An overview of gear for the yogi or yogini who's just starting out.
Get your own yoga mat.
It is common for beginners to borrow a mat from a studio or gym for the first couple of sessions. If you can see yourself coming back for more, the very first thing you should invest in is your own personal yoga mat.
You’re doing this to be healthy, right?
There haven’t been conclusive studies, but dermatologists and podiatrists have made unofficial connections between infections such as athlete’s foot and plantar warts with the sharing of communal yoga mats. Think about it: you wear flip-flops in the shower, but you’re barefoot on your mat! If you can’t always lug a mat around with you, consider looking into wipes, a non-slip mat towel or non-slip toe socks or booties that will provide both traction and a barrier for germs.
All mats are not created equal.
Your mat should be the right size:
- thick enough to pad and support you in a variety of poses
- long enough for your height
- light-weight enough for your needs (especially if you travel)
All mats should be safe, so they should:
- grip the floor without sliding.
- lie flat on the floor without curling
- not slip under your hands and feet, even if you are sweaty
- be durable enough for your lifestyle
Other considerations could include:
- Durability
- Washability
- Anti-microbial properties
- Not to mention color and style!
Go green.
Most standard exercise mats are made of PVC. Thanks, in part, to the efforts of the Green Yoga Association, there are five or more brands on the market (check out Hugger Mugger, Gaiam, Jade Yoga, YogiPeople or EcoYoga to find the one that’s right for you) made from plant-based materials, recycled materials or renewable resources, and made with a manufacturing process with reduced carbon foot prints. Many of these vendors also sell green props, such as yoga blocks made of bamboo.
Dress Properly.
As noted in Five Safety Tips for Yoga Class, it is not necessary to purchase clothes specifically designed and marketed for yoga. Your clothing needs to be stretchy enough to flex and bend with you in a variety of poses. Most yogis prefer their clothing to be a little form-fitting, because it’s less likely to ride up or flop down when you’re in an inversion.
A particular style of yoga called Bikram or “Hot Yoga” is performed in rooms ranging from 95- to 100-degree temperatures Fahrenheit. Some lines of clothing are designed specifically for the hotter temps.
Others aim keep you fresh and cool in spite of all that sweat. (lululemon athletica has a line of yoga clothing that takes advantage of the antimicrobial and deodorant qualities of real silver, and another designed to release amino acids, vitamins and minerals into your skin when it comes in contact with moisture!)
For the eco-conscious, there are yoga clothing lines made from organic cotton, hemp, and even bamboo.
Of course, if you are daring enough to try out another hot new yoga trend – nude yoga – you don’t need to bother with wardrobe questions at all!
