part three in my yoga mini-series. after 8 months of regular use, these are my yoga essentials.
- Manduka yoga mat (also here) // somewhat pricey, but worth every penny. this is a durable, well made, and substantial but still portable mat. i looked into getting a rubber mat but didn't want to keep buying replacements every year (rubber wears out much quicker). i initially tried the Pro, but returned it as it was way too heavy. (FYI: when brand new, Manduka mats have a slightly slick coating that takes about a few weeks to break in, but once broken in, the mats are very grippy and incredibly comfortable to practice on.)
- sling mat carrier // portable and much easier to use than trying to stuff your mat into a bag after practice. the zip compartment has room for just the important stuff: wallet, keys, phone.
- small wicking hand/mat towel // i was dubious about whether i needed this, but after a few practices i found it very useful for wicking/combatting sweaty palms and adding some extra stability/grip to the mat.
- Tamal Dodge intro to yoga DVDs // so good – the pacing and instruction is clear and easy to follow. this is an inexpensive, excellent primer on yoga basics, and a great way to keep up a consistent practice on days when you can't make it to a studio class. each DVD has two programs that are about 45-minutes each, ideal for making time for a daily yoga session.
my yoga 'uniform' consists of an Under Armour sports bra, racerback tank (love the longer length – perfect for practice), and black yoga leggings. all of these pieces wear and wash well, and they're versatile enough for general workouts and even non-yoga wear.