7 Must Haves for Doing Yoga At Home
Doing yoga at home is awesome because your practice is fully customizable. You’re never just at the mercy of your teacher because you can always change classes and even instructors to suit your mood. The same goes for your yoga gear. You don’t “need” anything to do yoga at home– as long as you can breathe, you can do yoga.
But once you start taking your practice more seriously, it’s fun to deck out your home yoga space so you have all the tools you could want to make your practice as comfortable as possible.
Before we dive in, I want to remind you that the only thing you truly “need” when doing yoga (especially if you’re just starting out) is an open mind and a cheap yoga mat which you could get at any box store for about $20-$25. All the recommendations I’m making below are strictly “IFs”, as in, IF you want to and are ready, these are great options for their respective categories.
So, with that said, here’s everything in my personal yoga corner right now. I’ve been using all of these props and products for years and can vouch for the quality of everything. Enjoy! 🙂 
Node Fitness Organic Cotton Meditation Cushion, $25
This felt frivolous at first but honestly, it’s been sooo useful! I love it for meditation because it makes sitting upright so much more comfortable when meditating. I also used it a lot while I was pregnant! It keeps your pelvis neutral while also keeping your low back comfortable and your hips relaxed. It’s also not too soft and not too firm– it’s the perfect meditation pillow! 
Jade Harmony Yoga Mat, $80
It’s no secret that I love my old Manduka Black Mat Pro, but after having and using and loving it for over 12 years, I’ve found the best contender yet is the Jade Harmony. Now brace yourself for what I’m about to say (I can’t believe it, haha): if you’re in need of a NEW yoga mat, get the Jade Harmony. It’s perfect on first use (the new Mandukas can take a few years to break in, apparently), it’s made of all natural non-toxic materials, comes in a huge array of colors, isn’t too heavy (though they have lighter travel options too), and seems to age well. If the Jade Harmony mat I have wasn’t a light pink, it’d be my main mat. It was gifted to me and the light colors look so dirty so quickly, so the next time I buy one, I’ll definitely get a dark color. 
Manduka High Density Foam Block, $14
I’ve yet to find better blocks than the Manduka foam blocks! The cheap Gaiam ones or other brands you find in TJ Maxx or Target DO NOT compare. These are the best yoga blocks out there. They’re just the right amount of firmness. They’re super dense so they’re solid and NOT squishy, but not as rock hard as wood or even cork blocks. I also like that these have some weight to them. They’re a bit pricey for yoga blocks, but they hold up really well to sweat and use. I use mine heavily and they’re still like new. 
Manduka 8′ Yoga Strap, $16
A good yoga strap should be thick, sturdy, NOT stretchy, and longer than you think it needs to be. When I first got this one, I thought 8 feet would be ridiculous, but no– it’s great to have the extra length. This Manduka yoga strap fits the bill perfectly. A towel from home does the trick just fine, but once you’re ready to purchase a proper yoga strap, don’t skimp on a skinny one from a discount store– get a good one and it’ll last forever! …as with most things, though, right? 
13″ Yoga Wheel, $22
A yoga wheel isn’t essential, in my opinion, but I think it’s a fun prop to have around if you have the space for it. It’s one of those things I don’t use often, but occasionally it’s a fun alternative to a block and a cool “toy” to have around when I want to try something new… like one of those funky yoga poses that pop up on Instagram.
Foam Roller, $34
We have a different brand but it’s exactly like this. I’d say this type of foam roller is great for someone who wants something with a little more “oomph” than one of the softer, totally smooth ones, but not quite ready for one with all the bumps and pyramids on it! I love this one for its size and it feels amaaaazing to roll our your back. Highly recommend it!
Prop Storage Baskets, $27
I lllllove these! They’re super sturdy but still chic and one of my favorite purchases this year. That’s a ridiculous thing to say, but seriously!! I love organization and in a city apartment, it’s ESSENTIAL to be organized! I use one of these to store all my yoga props and small dumbbells, and I have a couple more of different styles for Theo’s toys (random but way nicer looking than a kids’ style toy box). I keep all my yoga stuff and weights in my living room (!!!) but I hate clutter. So I love that this keeps everything hidden out of sight but in a sleek way and also keeps it accessible for when I want to practice or workout.
Mat Cleaner: FREE
I got a few requests for mat cleaner recommendations, but I don’t use any! When I clean my mat I just use water and occasionally water mixed with a little white vinegar. You don’t need anything fancy or complicated. I’ve heard some people wash it in their bathtub or shower and then hang it outside to dry if you really need to give it a good scrub down, but you can usually just wipe it down with stuff you already have at home and it’s good to go!
A note about clothing:
Notice I didn’t make any specific recommendations for clothing… you should be comfortable and that’s the only “requirement” your clothes need to have. You might be comfiest in $100 Lululemons or you might be comfiest in your college sweats. Either way, this is your call. 
Over to you! What are your must-have yoga props and items for your home yoga space? Did I miss any good ones?!
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22 Comments
Ashley DePreaux
March 2, 2020 at 2:42 pmomg, I have those same baskets and I use them for my boys’ toy storage in the family room! so much easier to throw everything in there than try to keep up a charade of organization on open shelves 😆 I also wanna chime in that I love the chirp wheels I have (gochirp.com) — they’re great to use as foam rollers (mainly for the back) AND I use them as yoga wheels. I can second on the manduka blocks and straps. I have had them for like 7 years and they’re still like new (minus dog hair :P)
Erin Motz
March 2, 2020 at 3:31 pmYES!!! and it makes you look like you halfway still care what your decor looks like, LOL!
never heard of the foam roller/wheel but glad you’ve had a good experience with manduka props too– they’re so good!
Radhika
March 3, 2020 at 4:39 amThanks for this Erin! I bought the Manduka Pro as a Christmas present for myself as I’d seen you use it in all your videos but it’s taken a LOT of use to break it in… in fact it’s still a little bit slippery. I do love that it’s a lifetime investment though. 🙂 I was just thinking of buying my husband a mat for his birthday and your article popped up on Insta so now I’m going to go research the Jade mat for him.
Chris Ridley
March 3, 2020 at 4:20 pmI have a Manduka mat, and I regret the purchase. Too slippery, and I tried all the tips & tricks out there. But my cheapo mat from Target is just the thing!
ashish
October 7, 2022 at 4:45 amJade Harmony Yoga Mat is best yoga mat . it helped me a lot. It is not heavy.comfortable to use. you can do the best poses of yoga .i loved lot to use this mat.it helped me at yoga teacher training courses in goa
Jane
March 3, 2020 at 6:12 pmI’ve got five out seven. I have yet to purchase a mediation cushion or storage basket! I LOVE my Jade Harmony mat. I bought my first Jade Harmony mat 10 years ago and have since replaced it. I kept my old one for outdoor yoga or as a spare.
Brienne
May 20, 2020 at 4:45 pmHi Jane, Check out heymache.com for yoga storage ideas! May you breathe deeply and practice often.
Tony
April 5, 2020 at 1:13 pmGreat read! Lord knows I can use this time to try and get into shape while being stuck inside the house. I read a really interesting article about yoga, https://www.ez.insure/2020/04/sun-salutations-and-more-yoga/. I was thinking of trying yoga and starting off my day doing it. Thoughts?
Jennie
May 11, 2020 at 2:54 pmHi, it looks like manduka is no longer offering the foam yoga blocks. Do you have a second favorite for blocks? Do you recommend their cork ones?
Brienne
May 20, 2020 at 4:44 pmI love the sturdiness of the cork ones. Plus, cork is a sustainable material that is naturally both anti-bacterial AND anti-microbial!
Brienne
May 20, 2020 at 4:40 pmSpeaking of yoga storage, check out these totally tubular yoga mat stands: http://www.heymache.com
They are stylish, earth-friendly and handmade in the USA by a woman-owned small product manufacturer!
Souvanik Das
July 22, 2020 at 2:57 amLike the blog says, practising yoga at home certainly allows you to enjoy plenty of perks. And if you are a fitness freak, you’ll need at least some of these equipment pieces for your home-turned-gym. With rich and in-depth information, these product descriptions will help you choose the right equipment for your daily work out sessions. Very helpful and interesting read!
Wild Essence
August 4, 2020 at 4:31 amI have got only 3 out of these. I use a regular belt instead of a yoga strap. But I guess it is not the same. 🙂
Heather
August 9, 2020 at 7:24 amBesides all of those great props, a person might also like to have a lot of great yoga classes at their fingertips 🙂 That’s where online yoga comes in, especially now, during these times. This comparison chart so far breaks down 12 different online yoga studios 🙂
https://theyogatique.com/online-yoga-class-comparison-chart/
Mark
August 10, 2020 at 8:20 amIt’s really amazing article about yoga. I think yoga is the best part of life. yoga give us relief. thanks for sharing your thoughts
Martin Walker
February 2, 2021 at 11:27 amI just bought Yoga wheels and Foam Roller after reading this article. Thank you soo much for this helpful information. I have also been following Arhanta Yoga Ashram for tutorials and how to become a good teacher so you may like to link to them in case you feel them as useful resource as well.
Stephanie
May 28, 2021 at 4:36 pmI love this article so much! Aiming to get the wheel this weekend. I will say I’ve tried the Jade and it just didn’t work for me and my sweaty vinyasa. I’ve been on The Mat by yoga hustle for about 2.5 years straight practicing about 4 times a week – sweat included :).
The grip is so fantastic, I just can’t go back to the old school mats. And I think the mat looks pretty sleek, I have to say their yoga blocks are pretty fun too so I usually buy them for presents for family members.
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Yoga School in Rishikesh
January 28, 2022 at 9:31 amThese props are really useful for the online yoga teacher training course. Check out our online course – https://vinyasayogashala.com/online-200-hour-yoga-teacher-training-course.html
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Bike on Rent
November 15, 2022 at 2:25 amIt is really amazing article about yoga. I think yoga is the best part of life. yoga give us relief. thanks for sharing your thoughts