Welcome back to the Yoga & Writing community in Yoga Culture! In the last discussion thread, we shared our favorite writing tools and obsessions over certain notebooks, pens, or computers. You can still jump on the thread here.
Today, I’m wondering what you use for your yoga practice? Do you have a special mat or props? Do you practice on the floor or grass or sand? Do you use candles and incense? Do you use meditation (or mala) beads?
Buying a B Yoga mat changed my life. The grip is insane. But I still like to practice on my crappy mat or even on the floor itself. It makes me feel a bit more free and I think you have to use some little parts of your muscles for the grip that might not otherwise be exercised.
I keep a small basket of props near the place I practice yoga in the morning. This is designed to attempt to keep our child asleep until 7:00 (which rarely works, but it’s still nice to have things conveniently close by). The basket contains bluetooth headphones (in case I feel like music), two blocks, a yoga belt, and a foam roller.
I open the door to the balcony (even in winter, for a short while) and breath in the smells of outside.
Let us know what works for you! I hope you discover some fun or useful ideas here. Happy Thursday.
Great question Kathleen. I have just one mat currently that is on my travels with me (I convinced my husband it was an absolute must have to be packed in the car ☺️) but I love the idea of treating myself to a new mat when we settle again for my home yoga practice. I also have a strap and blocks but they didn't make the cut!
I also had a random thought this morning as I rolled out my mat on the campsite we are currently staying at. In the past I would never have done that, through fear of what people think I suppose. But now I don't care, I love my yoga too much too care 😁
Oh I love this -- yoga is more important than what people think! And a priority for travel!! A towel is just not the same. Don’t know how I missed your response earlier. Thanks Lyndsay.
Ah such a fun and interesting post! At first I felt as though I didn’t have a lot to say as I feel that my practice is going through a bit of an ebb...but I do still have many thoughts on the subject...! I have two Sweaty Betty mats, one I was bought as a birthday present and the other I think I actually got for free at a workshop (which seems crazy as they are not cheap!) I love it’s sponginess and depth but I do find I slip on it, more so these days for some reason (I actually find that a bit of sweat helps me grip...and I am not doing much in the way of sweaty practice at the mo so maybe that is why!), it is also quite heavy for carting around.
I have a room in which I intend to practice (but it needs a lot of sorting to become the zen-like space I would like it to be) that also has my bolster (yum!), a couple of bricks, a block, a strap and a weighted eye mask. Also like to have my journal and Yoga for Motherhood book by Naomi Annand close by, which is beautiful and a brilliant resource.
Most often though my practice happens on my children’s playmat (by Totter & Tumble which I think actually does double as a v big yoga mat!)
Sweat helps you grip! Interesting. It could be climate as well. I mentioned in a comment above my issue in Hong Kong even when the AC was on...always slipping!
The room will be fun to create when you get a chance :) For me the key is what's in front of my face. I'm lucky to have this space in front of the balcony. Really love that feeling of being in nature (but also in the comfort of home...I'm not big outdoor yoga person).
Funny about the kids. It's good to adapt! My son certainly has uses for my mats and props...but I attempt to keep him off the B Mat! Just too expensive to replace.
Ha yes, it does seem a bit strange that sweat helps grip, it must be the composition of my mat... Yoga in HK conditions sounds tricky!
Yes I am very much looking forward to creating the room when I can and thank you for the tip about direction/view. I think I am with you, I like to look out of the window but also prefer to be indoors for yoga. There is a balcony off the room too so it should work well!
Ha yes, the kids love a yoga prop and seem to find it irresistible to climb all over me at any attempt to practice when in their presence. I don't blame you re: your boundaries around the B Mat, I will check it out!
I am so excited for this post! I have a Manduka Pro mat that is so slippery, so I only use it for personal reclined practice and avoid using it during actual classes, as my feet and hands just slowly slip out of poses. Does anyone have suggestions for things that worked for them to break a slippery mat in? It's such a beautiful mat, but I find I can't confidently use it yet. Thank you!
I would love to hear these tips. I don’t know if you just use it longer it changes?
When I lived in HK, I often used my studio’s mats which were really nice except for the slip. Or maybe because I was sweating? Anyway, I always brought a rough hand towel which really worked for me at the time. But I think it was also because of the humidity (even with AC).
Great suggestion on the rough towel for grip. I wonder, too, if I just need to be patient and break it in. I've used my teacher's Manduka mat when I practiced in her home studio and noted it was a bit slippery, too (even though it was her daily mat). I used An Ajna mat for years, but am excited about the support of the Manduka. I'll report back if I find out a way to de-slippify it!
That is so funny you love the B Mat! I tried it out for a year, and reverted back to my Manduka PROLite. I also keep a wool blanket nearby to prop up my spine during sits, and a zafu cushion for my one-legged pigeons.
Interesting! Tell me more. I didn’t mention a travel mat I have from Lulu that I also love. I take it on trips but also to studio classes. It’s like having nothing under you and feels great for that reason. Maybe that’s why the B mat feels like a spa 😂
It's one of the first things I bought with my first adult job paycheck, so there's probably a sentimental aspect to why I keep using it. You're right in that the B Mat grips the floor better, but I had a harder time getting my hands to grip to the smoother texture. I've heard good things about the Lulu mat as well.
Next post definitely needs to be about yoga wear! I have strong opinions about the flared bottoms coming back...
Great questions! I also have two mats; one is my old trusty mat which lives permanently in a handy bag, ready to grab to take to my weekly classes. It was a gift from my husband when I first started yoga following my 30th birthday & after becoming a mum for the first time and wanting to try something to ease the backaches I'd had since pregnancy. I then have a second mat with a lovely tree design on it that was a gift again from my husband for my 40th birthday! I use this as my at-home mat, although as I'vd mentioned before, my home practice has dwindled since covid. The only "props" I have are a block (I find this gives me just the right height for seated postures to keep my spine straight) and a lovely blanket (again, a gift) which I mostly use to sit on in winter (although the cat has taken a shine to it also...)
Funnily enough though, it is always my old, trusty mat that I go back to since my very first classes :)
Love the idea of the trusty mat! I think we really get used to one and it becomes so personal, with meteorites and associations.
I also like to use a blanket sometimes. I have this thin blanket mat cover designed for “hot yoga” (which I don’t do) but like it both for sweaty days as well as winter comfort, even though it’s more slippery than a mat.
I am at a phase of life (motherhood) where my 'mat' is very often the rug in the living room with toys scattered here and there. Hooray for spontaneous yoga! Sometimes I roll out my mat in a quiet moment in my office or bedroom, but despite the fact that I've been on a yoga journey for over two decades, I'm woefully out of the loop in terms of best mats on the market. The one I have now was a very sweet and unexpected gift from one of the students in my class at a gym in San Francisco. Sometimes my mat turns into a toy when the kids get a hold of it:)
Oh yes, I can relate to this! :) I also like the chnage to being more flexible when and how I practice...though it’s also good to have a little time and space!! Thanks for your reflection!
We use a BalanceFrom All Purpose 1-Inch Extra Thick High Density Anti-Tear Exercise Yoga Mat. Pretty comfy on the knees, and to take an afternoon siesta on. ☺️
Great question Kathleen. I have just one mat currently that is on my travels with me (I convinced my husband it was an absolute must have to be packed in the car ☺️) but I love the idea of treating myself to a new mat when we settle again for my home yoga practice. I also have a strap and blocks but they didn't make the cut!
I also had a random thought this morning as I rolled out my mat on the campsite we are currently staying at. In the past I would never have done that, through fear of what people think I suppose. But now I don't care, I love my yoga too much too care 😁
Oh I love this -- yoga is more important than what people think! And a priority for travel!! A towel is just not the same. Don’t know how I missed your response earlier. Thanks Lyndsay.
Ah such a fun and interesting post! At first I felt as though I didn’t have a lot to say as I feel that my practice is going through a bit of an ebb...but I do still have many thoughts on the subject...! I have two Sweaty Betty mats, one I was bought as a birthday present and the other I think I actually got for free at a workshop (which seems crazy as they are not cheap!) I love it’s sponginess and depth but I do find I slip on it, more so these days for some reason (I actually find that a bit of sweat helps me grip...and I am not doing much in the way of sweaty practice at the mo so maybe that is why!), it is also quite heavy for carting around.
I have a room in which I intend to practice (but it needs a lot of sorting to become the zen-like space I would like it to be) that also has my bolster (yum!), a couple of bricks, a block, a strap and a weighted eye mask. Also like to have my journal and Yoga for Motherhood book by Naomi Annand close by, which is beautiful and a brilliant resource.
Most often though my practice happens on my children’s playmat (by Totter & Tumble which I think actually does double as a v big yoga mat!)
Sweat helps you grip! Interesting. It could be climate as well. I mentioned in a comment above my issue in Hong Kong even when the AC was on...always slipping!
The room will be fun to create when you get a chance :) For me the key is what's in front of my face. I'm lucky to have this space in front of the balcony. Really love that feeling of being in nature (but also in the comfort of home...I'm not big outdoor yoga person).
Funny about the kids. It's good to adapt! My son certainly has uses for my mats and props...but I attempt to keep him off the B Mat! Just too expensive to replace.
Thanks so much for your comments, Lyndsay!
Ha yes, it does seem a bit strange that sweat helps grip, it must be the composition of my mat... Yoga in HK conditions sounds tricky!
Yes I am very much looking forward to creating the room when I can and thank you for the tip about direction/view. I think I am with you, I like to look out of the window but also prefer to be indoors for yoga. There is a balcony off the room too so it should work well!
Ha yes, the kids love a yoga prop and seem to find it irresistible to climb all over me at any attempt to practice when in their presence. I don't blame you re: your boundaries around the B Mat, I will check it out!
Your room direction sounds perfect! :)
I am so excited for this post! I have a Manduka Pro mat that is so slippery, so I only use it for personal reclined practice and avoid using it during actual classes, as my feet and hands just slowly slip out of poses. Does anyone have suggestions for things that worked for them to break a slippery mat in? It's such a beautiful mat, but I find I can't confidently use it yet. Thank you!
I would love to hear these tips. I don’t know if you just use it longer it changes?
When I lived in HK, I often used my studio’s mats which were really nice except for the slip. Or maybe because I was sweating? Anyway, I always brought a rough hand towel which really worked for me at the time. But I think it was also because of the humidity (even with AC).
I mean I actually practiced with my hands on the towel...
Great suggestion on the rough towel for grip. I wonder, too, if I just need to be patient and break it in. I've used my teacher's Manduka mat when I practiced in her home studio and noted it was a bit slippery, too (even though it was her daily mat). I used An Ajna mat for years, but am excited about the support of the Manduka. I'll report back if I find out a way to de-slippify it!
Great! Please do. And maybe another reader will have a suggestion...
That is so funny you love the B Mat! I tried it out for a year, and reverted back to my Manduka PROLite. I also keep a wool blanket nearby to prop up my spine during sits, and a zafu cushion for my one-legged pigeons.
Interesting! Tell me more. I didn’t mention a travel mat I have from Lulu that I also love. I take it on trips but also to studio classes. It’s like having nothing under you and feels great for that reason. Maybe that’s why the B mat feels like a spa 😂
It's one of the first things I bought with my first adult job paycheck, so there's probably a sentimental aspect to why I keep using it. You're right in that the B Mat grips the floor better, but I had a harder time getting my hands to grip to the smoother texture. I've heard good things about the Lulu mat as well.
Next post definitely needs to be about yoga wear! I have strong opinions about the flared bottoms coming back...
Great questions! I also have two mats; one is my old trusty mat which lives permanently in a handy bag, ready to grab to take to my weekly classes. It was a gift from my husband when I first started yoga following my 30th birthday & after becoming a mum for the first time and wanting to try something to ease the backaches I'd had since pregnancy. I then have a second mat with a lovely tree design on it that was a gift again from my husband for my 40th birthday! I use this as my at-home mat, although as I'vd mentioned before, my home practice has dwindled since covid. The only "props" I have are a block (I find this gives me just the right height for seated postures to keep my spine straight) and a lovely blanket (again, a gift) which I mostly use to sit on in winter (although the cat has taken a shine to it also...)
Funnily enough though, it is always my old, trusty mat that I go back to since my very first classes :)
I just read my message as someone else replied and don’t know how meteorites got in there! Metaphor? Ha. I should only reply on my computer!
Haha
Love the idea of the trusty mat! I think we really get used to one and it becomes so personal, with meteorites and associations.
I also like to use a blanket sometimes. I have this thin blanket mat cover designed for “hot yoga” (which I don’t do) but like it both for sweaty days as well as winter comfort, even though it’s more slippery than a mat.
I am at a phase of life (motherhood) where my 'mat' is very often the rug in the living room with toys scattered here and there. Hooray for spontaneous yoga! Sometimes I roll out my mat in a quiet moment in my office or bedroom, but despite the fact that I've been on a yoga journey for over two decades, I'm woefully out of the loop in terms of best mats on the market. The one I have now was a very sweet and unexpected gift from one of the students in my class at a gym in San Francisco. Sometimes my mat turns into a toy when the kids get a hold of it:)
Oh yes, I can relate to this! :) I also like the chnage to being more flexible when and how I practice...though it’s also good to have a little time and space!! Thanks for your reflection!
We use a BalanceFrom All Purpose 1-Inch Extra Thick High Density Anti-Tear Exercise Yoga Mat. Pretty comfy on the knees, and to take an afternoon siesta on. ☺️
Multipurpose is the best! Sounds great.
Sounds so nice outside! Usually I’m practicing while my son sleeps so it’s not possible but maybe in the future. Good to have you here! :)