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Yoga has been around for centuries, but you will have had to have worked hard to avoid it over the past couple of decades.
From gyms, to offices, everywhere has yoga classes. But if you’re starting from complete scratch, you might want to invest in some equipment to get going at home.
There are a ton of home yoga videos you can watch on YouTube (hello, Yoga with Adriene) and as you only need a mat, it’s a great low-cost activity to get into to build strength.
To help you find your way to your inner yogi, we’ve asked yoga teacher and existential therapist Eloise Skinner to break down what exactly beginners need to buy before their first downward dog.
What are the yoga essentials for beginners?
“The necessities are pretty minimal,” Skinner says. “A mat is probably the best place to start, although even without a mat it’s still possible to practice (for example, on a towel or even outdoors on a blanket).
“Other than a mat, blocks could be useful (especially if you have tighter muscles, or you’re getting into yoga as a complete beginner to fitness in general). A strap is also useful for the same reasons – although again, you could use a dressing gown cord or belt as an at-home alternative!”
While the main essential is a yoga mat, you might also want to invest in other accessories as you advance in your practice, depending on the type of yoga you’re doing. According to Skinner, these could include:
- Bolsters (firm cushions for supporting a restorative or Yin-based practice)
- An eye mask (for savasana or meditation)
- Meditation cushion for a more dedicated practice
- Notebook for reflections
- Books on yoga
- Resistance band (either for strength-based work, or to double up as a strap for stretching)
- Mat spray / cleaner, especially if you’re using studio mats.
- For studio classes, a water bottle and potentially a towel.
What to look for when buying a yoga mat
Look for yoga-specific mats, Skinner recommends. General fitness stores might sell mats that aren’t quite right for a yoga practice, so make sure you check that they’re designed for yoga.
“Another option is to see which studio mats you enjoy practising on, and buy the same brand as those for your home practice,” she says.
Whatever you go for, pay attention to the material, size, and grip. “In terms of materials, you want to look for a mat that has good grip, not too thick or bouncy (since this can throw off your balance / alignment), a size that fits your height and travel requirements, and sustainable materials if that’s also a preference,” Skinner recommends.
“While you might be able to get away with buying cheaper items like blocks or straps, your mat should probably be more of an investment purchase, since it can help to provide you with good alignment, grip and balance – especially important as a beginner.”
What should you wear when doing yoga?
You can wear what you wear to the gym while doing yoga, so you don’t necessarily need to buy anything new, Skinner notes.
“But, bear in mind that you’re likely to be bending forward a lot, so this might shape your choices around leggings,” she says. “You can wear anything comfortable that allows you to move and stretch – you shouldn’t need a super high level of support in a top or sports bra, but I’d say a medium level (depending on your preference) is normally about right. Most people practice in bare feet.”
To save you essential shavasana time, we’ve rounded up the essentials for yoga begginers, including the best mats, accessories, and clothes to shop now.
The best yoga essentials for beginners
I’ve had this yoga mat for over a year, and it’s the best one I’ve used so far. With previous yoga mats I’ve found that they tend to fray at the sides after a short while, but this one remains completely intact. It has a great grip on it, and the guides are perfectly spaced for me (I’m 5 foot 8). Plus, it’s easy to wipe down when you get sweaty.
Voted yoga mat of 2026 on Amazon, this mat is much softer than the Sweaty Betty mat. It has plenty of cushioning, making it ideal for sore knees, and has a different texture on each side, so you can choose the best one for the poses you’re doing. And, for the eco-conscious among us, it’s made of eco-friendly TPE, so it’s kind on your body and the planet.
Made from sustainably-sourced rubber, this mat is designed by yogis, for yogis. It has what the brand calls ‘intelligent’ markers to make sure you’re completely in alignment, and uses a super grippy top layer to prevent your hands sliding when things get sweaty. To top it all off, it comes with a free yoga mat bag, so it’s easy to transport to classes with you, if that’s your jam.
Whether you need a mat that’s high grip or cushioned, this reversible one does it all. Leave it graphic side-up to make the most of its moisture-absorbing upper layer, or flip it over for a cushioning that’s gentle on your limbs.
To help you deepen into a stretch, you might want a strap. This one is 1.8 metres long, meaning it’s ideal for even the stiffest among us (hard relate).
Warning: things could be about to get sweaty. When you’re at home, that doesn’t matter so much (as long as you’re not falling over). But when you’re out at a class, you might want to wipe up after yourself with this pink towel.
While there’s nothing wrong with doing yoga in your own home, occasionally a girl’s gotta get out of the house. Whether you’re doing yoga in the park or going to a class, you’ll probably want a carrier strap to make sure you’re not simultaneously trying to navigate public transport and fumbling to keep your mat rolled up.
For positions where you’re sitting up, a block could help stretch out tight muscles and get deeper into the pose. This one is made from durable material, and is fairly lightweight, so you’ll be able to take it with you to classes without feeling like your bag is weighed down by rocks.
After sweating on your mat, you might want to clean it with a spray to prevent a built up of grime and bacteria.
A loose, comfortable top like this will mean you can hit all of your poses without something digging into you. Not to mention you’ll look like a beautiful ballerina while doing it.
Designed specifically for yoga, this bra provides just the right amount of stretch and support as you extend into child’s pose.
Worried about separates digging in? A bodysuit like this baby blue one could be just what you need to twist, stretch, and compress in comfort.
If you’re looking for fabric that feels like your skin is floating against a stretchy, moisture wicking cloud, Vuori’s yoga gear just so happens to fit the bill. This sweet cami will not only catch your sweat during more challenging classes, but you can wear it to get coffee after, too.
Not a fan of a tight legging look? This flared pair allow for just the same amount of movement, while looking and feeling like loungewear. I’m obsessed with this pretty cornflour colour, too.
Our bodies fluctuate depending on the time of the month, so this pair has a drawstring at the waist to make sure they hug you in just the right way and won’t press into your essential organs during your practice.
Sometimes a full leg of fabric is a little much when you’re sweating profusely, so for extra air we love these leopard print shorts that, again, have a drawstring waist for optimum tightness.
For a more airy fairy feel, these yoga trousers have a fold over waist, and are nice and flowy to make sure you’re not getting too hot in there. They’re also as soft as butter, and I can’t help wearing them all around the house as well as during my classes.
Simply because I can’t get enough of Vuori, here’s another straight legged legging option. Try saying that five times fast.