Starting a yoga practice is easier than you may think. What I want to deconstruct about yoga is that idea that it’s a trendy thing people in Beverly Hills do. Yoga is for everyone! I find it’s an amazing way to de-stress and harmonize the mind, body, and spirit. As such, it’s a spiritual practice that can bring you closer to your authentic self by quieting your mind. I feel this effect so often when I do yoga which is one of the reasons I stick with it. Along the way, I’ve found that I like using certain tools to support my practice. I’ll share with you what the essential tools are and why you should use them. 

Some products on this list you can buy and others you may already have. If you want to know my whole spiel about the benefits of yoga, please look to my article on 21 Ninety for further details.

*affiliate links in certain products*

Find Your Perfect Yoga Mat

Buying your first yoga mat might as well be a ceremonial event. You’ll likely use your yoga mat for years so it’s always great to find one that fits your aesthetic or personality. Mats are key because they have textured non-slip surfaces and you can basically take your yoga practice anywhere. If the traditional rectangle shape isn’t for you there are curved mats, foldable mats, solid colored and beautifully patterned ones as well. I typically go for the colorful and beautifully patterned because that’s just my style. I recently retired my first mat and bought a new one! Gaiam and Oak and Reed have fantastic mats, many are reversible and offer flexibility or firmness if that’s what you’re looking for. Gaiam also has a sweet deal that if you purchase one of their mats, you get access to free yoga classes with them.

Tip: The best way to keep your mat looking squeaky clean is by using cold water and a bit of detergent. With a cloth, just spot clean and your mat will last long, look great, and smell good.

Align Yourself With A Yoga Block 

As a beginner, it’s great to have a yoga block for extra support. Blocks can be made of firm foam or cork material. Having one handy helps you keep steady when you’re doing certain asanas. If you struggle to maintain your balance and that’s a hiccup to starting yoga, know that yoga will help you have better balance in the long run and a block will help you in the meantime. Yoga blocks allow you to hold postures longer, deepen stretches if you’re ready, and have proper alignment on your flexibility journey. I have my own yoga block, which I use religiously, and it’s by Gaiam. I like their latex-free foam block because I feel that it really supports my weight but if you’re looking for something more solid, I suggest an all natural and recycled cork block.

Read Up On Your Wellness

Once you have all yoga items you need and feel like delving deep into what yoga is and how it can help you, reading on the subject can truly help. If you want to know why certain asanas are helpful for relieving tension and stress in your lower back or shoulders or why the practice works, reach for a book. For a beginner’s guide on yoga poses, finding a practice, and pranayama breathing then The Yoga Bible by Christina Brown is a great resource. If you want to go deeper and look at how yoga fits with anatomy, Bernie Clark’s Your Body, Your Yoga may be right for you. It focuses on your range of motion and what poses work best for your body type. He also has a best selling book on the practice of yin yoga called The Complete Guide To Yin Yoga. It delves into the asanas and philosophy behind the practice. 

Practice In the Comfort of Your Home 

Finding ways to implement yoga at home is fantastic on so many levels. It’s a way to take your health and wellness into your own hands and you can make sure to fit yoga into your day when it works best for you. Also, on a social justice standpoint, it’s a way to get break down the Western perception that yoga is only for a select few. Gaia is an all-time favorite of mine and offers hundreds of yoga videos for beginners all the way to the experienced. Gaia is an app and amazing website that has a huge library of resources for yoga, meditation, films and more about wellness and spirituality. I think that makes the monthly subscription quite worth it. You can try Hatha yoga, Vinyasa, Kundalini– anything. I look to Faith Hunter’s video series and the Yoga Every Day series as well. They both have gentle sessions from 15 to 30 minutes long and the more intense sessions if you’re ready to level up. 

For more of a DIY approach, you can always create a Pinterest Board of Yoga Ideas + Aspirations. Like a digital vision board, you can search pictures and graphics of yoga poses you may want to find. 

Branch Out In The Community

If solo yoga isn’t your thing, trying out classes around your community can be very helpful too. Even if it’s yoga in the park or at the beach, you’ll be surprised how much you can get out of a community yoga session. If you’re in Los Angeles like me, you’ll find plenty of yoga studios and collectives to be a part of. I recently started going to the free yoga classes at The Underground Museum. The museum often provides outstanding community events, not only can you walk the galleries but you can partake in their serene Purple Garden. They just restarted their Sunset Yoga classes adding two new instructors who are amazing at their craft:  Kemetic Yogi Lauren Ross and Hatha Yogi Kala Lacy.

Additionally, Radha Yoga has classes every weekday and amazing weekend events. I’ve been to the Kemetic Yoga session in celebration of Black History Month, so I can tell you they know how to infuse yoga into nearly any grounding activity. Their classes are fun and affordable, often $10 per class.

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Best,

Kai 😀