10 Things to Bring With You to Yoga Class

Do you know what to bring to yoga class? There’s no worse feeling in yoga than coming to class and forgetting something important. That's why today, we'll list eight essentials you need to bring with you to every yoga sessions. 

Each of these items will help optimize your yoga experience. Prioritizing comfort, safety, and ease can help bring further peace of mind and allow you to be fully engaged in your yoga class. Without these items, you may get more easily distracted and/or frustrated, leading to a poor experience.

8 Items You Should Always Bring to Yoga Class

Let’s get right into it. Here are the eight best items that you should always bring with you to yoga class.

8. Comfortable Yoga Clothes

Comfortable yoga clothes are essential to getting the most out of your yoga sessions. Tighter, more form-fitting clothing is recommended so you can concentrate on your movement. This can also keep you fidgeting with your clothing. For example, loose shirts can end up draped over your head in the downward dog position or when touching your toes.

What to Look for in Yoga Clothes

When choosing clothes for yoga, it’s best to look for stretchy, breathable fabrics like Spandex that can wick away sweat. Stretchy fabrics will help your skin breathe and won’t limit your movement capabilities.

Also, choose clothing that you feel confident and comfortable in. While some of your peers may choose lesser coverage clothing to stay cool, you may be more comfortable with more coverage. If that’s the case, do what feels right so that you can stay focused on your workout.

7. High-Performance Yoga Mat

Using a high-quality yoga mat will boost your ability to get into tougher yoga poses and keep your joints healthier. High-performance yoga mats, like Yoga Strong’s, have a non-slip grip and extra strength support that will keep you strong and stable even during the sweatiest yoga classes.

What to Look for in a Yoga Mat

You’ll want to pick a yoga mat that has 5mm base layer thickness. This is the perfect support system, as it is not so thick that it gets unstable, but not too thin that your wrists or knees may ache when applying pressure.

While there are numerous other yoga mat traits that may be more or less important to you, such as eco-friendliness, you’ll still want to choose a yoga mat that is non-slip. Most standard yoga mats do not have non-slip characteristics, as they generally are just a single foam layer. High-performance yoga mats will utilize rubber and/or microsuede for a safer and more pleasant yoga experience.

6. Yoga Towels

Yoga towels are an excellent addition to bring to yoga class, especially if you are doing hot yoga. Yoga towels provide extra moisture absorption to keep your hands and feet from slipping and sliding, especially when you’re sweating a lot. They are also versatile enough to wipe your face, be used as a prop, and act as a protectant for your mat.

What to Look for in a Yoga Towels

The best yoga towels are ones that employ silicone nubs on the backside of the towel, just like Yoga Strong Towels. These nubs help secure the towel to your mat and prevent the towel from bunching up or causing any slippage.

Also, making sure the material is quick-drying, such as microfiber, will allow the towel to do what it does best – absorb moisture. We recommend you read more on what yoga towels are to see if you need one. 

5. Comfortable Shoes

While yoga traditionally involves going barefoot, you may prefer wearing shoes due to environmental conditions or taking a yoga class at home. In that case, comfortable shoes that provide good support can help you find stability in standing poses and tougher postures.

What to Look for in Shoes

Finding shoes with ample flexibility is vital when looking for shoes for yoga. Your shoes will need to be able to tolerate a wide range of movements and positions, and shoes that can bend, and flex can allow your feet to still feel a ground-body connection.

Coupled with flexibility, lightweight and breathable shoes are best for yoga. Breathability can help keep your feet cool and comfortable, while lightweight materials won’t weigh down your yoga postures and impede your ability to move freely.

4. Post-Yoga Snacks

After a workout, replenishing the nutrients in your body is essential. Even if you have not worked up an appetite, feeding yourself high-quality protein and carbohydrates (and some healthy fats) can accelerate your recovery and keep your mind and body functioning efficiently. Food is fuel, and after burning calories in a yoga class, it’s necessary to refuel.

In addition, hydrating properly after sweating is important. After losing fluids through sweat, rehydrating with water (and electrolytes) can help your body absorb the nutrients it needs to recover.

3. Change of Clothes

Bringing a change of clothes after a yoga workout is a habit that can help you maintain good health. Since you may sweat during your yoga class, changing into dry clothes is not only more hygienic but also more comfortable. Wearing wet clothes can cause skin irritation, and since you may need time to cool down, eat your post-yoga snacks, and socialize, it’s only practical to have a change of clothes ready.

2. Yoga Straps

Regardless of your level, yoga straps are a valuable accessory to bring to a yoga class. For beginners, yoga straps allow you to modify poses to make them more accessible. For advanced yogis, yoga straps can deepen your holds and broaden your range of motion for increased flexibility.  

Yoga Strong Straps are especially great because they are versatile as a yoga mat carrier as well. You can transport your yoga mat to and from class with ease.

1. Yoga Roller

Yoga Rollers are another versatile tool to bring to yoga class. The primary mechanism of a roller is self-myofascial release, helping to release muscle tension and eliminate tightness. Yet, the Yoga Strong Roller is doubly effective, because it’s designed to be a similar size as a yoga block, providing extra support and stability if you have limited flexibility and/or during balancing yoga poses.