Nov 26

Nov 26 Yoga Essentials

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A couple of weeks ago, my friend Kami had a workout at Santa Monica Beach and it was so fun! I decided to use this time to take advantage of some pretty scenery for the blog anddd of course show off my yoga style and mat :) What’s funny about this specific day is that it was around 84 degrees, which is pretty warm for LA in November, at 9:30 am! This week it is supposed to be cold and rainy. I’m bummed because my family is in town and I wanted the great weather everyone raves about, but I guess it’s about who you are with, not what the weather is. Anyway, I love practicing at Corepower Yoga, but the beauty of yoga is that you can do it anyway (like the beach!) and little to no equipment is required.

A lot of people tell me that yoga intimidates them…that they aren’t flexible enough and so on. I know there’s a lot of anxiety that goes into stepping outside of your workout routine (for me at least), so I wanted to share my yoga essentials. The last thing you should have to worry about is what to bring or wear. Focus on your breath and get flowing! Here are some of my favorites:

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WHAT TO WEAR: The basic answer is to wear what is comfortable for you! It took a couple years before I took off my shirt/just wore a sports bra in class. No one making you taking it off / it’s not required! I prefer to wear a sports bra and leggings. Depending on the weather / where I’m going after, I may or may not put a shirt on top of it and remove it once I get to the studio. I go to Corepower which is hot yoga. I have worn my biker shorts in class, but I like to wear leggings when doing inversions. My arms slip on my legs because of the sweat if I’m not wearing pants. I’ve worn long sleeve, but prefer short sleeve shirts, a tank, or a sports bra. I see quite a few girls wearing Nike tempo-like shorts and I have no idea how they do it! That would annoy me the whole time. Guys typically wear shorts with some kind of spandex under it. Mostly short spandex, but some do layer a legging and a small number wear just leggings. Again whatever is comfy for you! You don’t want your clothes to be a distraction. My favorites are Lululemon All the Right Places Leggings and Outdoor Voices Crops.

BEFORE: I like to dab on some essential oils before class, so when I sweat, lavender (or whatever EO I choose) is what I smell. I also like to put my hair up and wear this headband. I usually wear some kind of slip on sneaker or sandal, so I get them on and off pretty quickly. At CorePower the locker room can be really busy, so I like to get in and get out. Side note - I usually put my shoes, phone, keys, shirt, etc all in my locker! They have locks you can borrow most of the time if you feel you need one. I like to get to class at least 10 minutes before if I can help it, so I don’t have to rush.

DURING: I bring my yoga mat, a towel, a sweat towel, and my water bottle. I don’t think you have to spend a fortune on a mat, but I recently bought a thicker yoga mat and is so much better for my knees! Manduka is the “brand name” for yoga towels. I have a couple, but don’t necessarily think they work better than other ones. This towel / sweat rag set work great, and I have this towel too! I never understood mat towels until I took hot yoga! They prevent you from slipping on your sweat during class. If you are having trouble gripping, then spray some water on the towel once it is on your mat. This helps activate the towel and helps your fingers/toes grip better, otherwise you may slip on the towel before your own sweat activates it. My favorite water bottle is BKR and you can read why here. The main reason is because it holds a liter of water, which is what I need during a sweaty class. CPY uses props like blocks and straps. You are welcome to bring your own (a handful of people do), but I just use the community ones. That being said CorePower also has mats and towels to rent, and waters you can buy. The mat and towel are free your first time.

AFTER: I typically dry off one last time my hand towel, refill my water bottle, and head home to shower! After class I’d just say be sure to drink lots of water!! Stretching at home is key to better yoga, but not sure you need to buy a yoga wheel or anything like that. I bought one once, but didn’t really use it.

Have a favorite I didn’t mention? Tell me so I can incorporate them into my own practice! Headed to CorePower Yoga? Here’s what to expect from your first class there.