Yoga Gear

Personal experience has taught me that a consistent yoga practice is not only vital to physical health and wellbeing, but also to a successful meditation practice.

First up, your trusty yoga mat. Whether you’re a serious or occasional yoga practitioner, the yoga mat you choose is going to accompany you and be your best friend for a good while. That’s why it’s important to invest in a good quality mat that is comfortable, durable and stable. If you practice some form of stretching, yoga or pilates almost every day, then this is even more important.

Always having a decent mat lying around can be very convenient. Yoga mats are not only useful for yoga – they are great multipurpose tools. You can use them as a:

  • Soft surface whenever you need to sit on the floor to do something (for example, assemble IKEA furniture!)
  • Set of knee pads for any other hands-on work you need to do
  • Sleeping mat on a camping trip to soften the ground
  • Picnic blanket
  • Beach towel
  • Children’s play mat
  • Place to rest and decompress your back (common method with the Alexander technique)

Most mats are either too thin, too flimsy or unstable for a secure and comfortable everyday yoga practice. Too often, I’ve come across mats that can cause more injury than the yoga practice actually helps with, especially if they are slippery. However, there are some good yoga mats on the market that I can recommend. My favorite mat is the Manduka PROlite Yoga and Pilates Mat, available on Amazon.com  (pictured above). The construction quality of these mats is unmatched, and they come with a lifetime guarantee to back it up. At 4.8mm thick, it is just the right amount of thickness and firmness so it is stable but still comfortable and portable enough. It also has the perfect amount of grip so you feel safe, and even improves the more you use it. It costs more than the average mat, but is totally worth it in my opinion – it will last you a lifetime! This is my top pick.

If you are a little larger, and want to splurge a little more, you can’t go past the Manduka PRO Yoga Mat. At 6mm thick, 180cm long, and 66cm wide, it offers enough space for whatever pose you want to practice. You can even go the extra long (215cm) if you are on the taller side. The only downside is that it is much heavier than the PROlite and therefore a lot less portable. However, it is the perfect at-home yoga mat and my personal favourite – one that I use every day.

Note: with the Manduka mats there is a wear-in period of 3-4 weeks where the grip improves over time. You may dislike it at first, but just stay the course, the wait is worth it. This is a mat you will fall in love with.

Other Recommended Mats

  • High-Middle Range – the Jade Harmony Yoga Mat is another excellent quality mat with great grip, cushion and stability.
  • Budget Mat – if you want something a little more affordable, the Letsfit Yoga Mat will give you some bang for your buck. It doesn’t offer the superb construction quality of the previous mats (none of the mats in this range do, really) but you should get a few good years out of it.

While a yoga mat is the core of your practice and all you really need, I also recommend some other yoga props below.

Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks are a very useful addition to your yoga regime, particularly if you are a little less flexible. I usually recommend cork blocks as they provide a little more firmness, support and stability than foam blocks. They are also extremely lightweight.

Again, Manduka excels here – I prefer the Manduka Cork Yoga Block as its shape is very comfortable and secure. It is also relatively cheap and affordable.

If you prefer foam blocks, you can’t go passed the Tumaz Yoga Blocks, which are high density and lightweight, providing a great level of firmness and support.

Yoga Straps

Like blocks, yoga straps are another use addition to your practice if you want to get into those more difficult poses. I recommend one of the following three straps: