• Yoga mat (for cushion, support, and better traction)
• Bottle of water (to stay hydrated and eliminate toxins)
• Small towel (to wipe away sweat and help you keep traction on the mat)

Good to have but not necessary

• Yoga block (to help with alignment in some yoga postures)
• Yoga strap (a belt or long narrow piece of fabric will do, to help with alignment in some yoga postures)

What to look for in a good Yoga Mat

If you have a yoga mat, definitely bring it to class. While it's not 100% necessary, it helps you to have good traction as you do poses like Warrior (so your feet don't slip around).

A good mat will also help you with your balance, and is a comfortable cushion between you and the floor.

If you don't have a mat, it's good to get one right away. You can find them for as cheap as  $20 to $30 — these are great starter mats. When you know you'll be practicing yoga for years to come, you might want to invest in a higher quality mat, like my favorite — Jade Yoga Mats, or the favorite of many yoga teachers Manduka Yoga Mats.

We're not paid to promote either of these mats. After more than a decade of practicing yoga and teaching others, these are the mats I know are high quality, long lasting, and help you have a better practice.

Why Water is important when practicing yoga

Yoga is kind of like a full body massage. As you stretch your muscles and move your body, you release stored up toxins. That's why, just like a massage, you should drink plenty of water after (and during) your class.

This will help get the toxins out of your body and increase your energy. So bring a bottle of water to class with you, so you can stay hydrated and flush the toxins from your system.

Use a towel to keep from slipping

Not everyone needs this. I do. And you might too.

If you start to sweat in your yoga class, you'll want a towel to wipe it away. This will help you to keep traction on your mat and make your yoga classes easier for you.

For most people, a good sized hand towel is enough. You can wipe the sweat from your face or body and continue with your practice.

If you're a super sweater, you like hot yoga classes, or practice yoga after an intense workout, you might want a full body length towel to throw on top of your mat. This will give you an absorbent surface to practice on, and keep maximum traction while you sweat.

How yoga blocks help your practice

You don't need to buy yoga blocks on day one. This is an optional but handy piece of yoga equipment.

Note: blocks, straps, bolsters, cushions, and even blankets are often called "props". These are things you can use in your yoga practice to help with your alignment (your body in the right position)

A yoga block is a firm foam, cork or wooden block — it's about the size of a football, but rectangular.

You use them to help "bring the ground closer to you" when you can't bend all the way down. This way you have something to rest your weight on so you can relax into the asana (yoga pose).

If you practice yoga regularly, and you can't touch the ground in every pose you're meant to, you'll have a safer and more fun practice with a yoga block.

When you'll want a yoga strap

Yoga straps are great when you can't always reach your toes or the limb your supposed to grab.

For example, in Gomukhasana, the Cow Face pose, you're supposed to grab your hands behind your back. Many people can't do this. A strap gives them something to grab with both hands, so they can hold the pose easier and even crawl their fingers closer together, increasing the stretch and their range of motion.

Or in a sitting forward bend, Paschimottanasana, if you cant reach your toes. A strap can wrap around your feet and give you the hold you need to relax deeper into the stretch.

So in every yoga class, you'll want to bring your mat, a bottle of water, and a towel. If you're going to be practicing regularly, it might be a good idea to get a couple of props like a block and strap.

With this, you're all set for your first yoga class! You can book a Live Online Yoga Class with expert teachers here.