Karin's 10 Items You Need to Elevate Your Yoga Practice

As a yoga teacher and practitioner, this rubber and vegan workhorse of a yoga mat was a game-changer for my practice. I really love my grey Signature mat, and wouldn't go back for the world! Plus, the Signature Liforme Yoga Mat comes with a store-and-go bag to make it extra portable. 

The mat comes in a variety of colors and limited edition designs, and they include an artistic design that serves as a guide when moving into foundational poses such as high plank, Warrior One, Warrior Two, and a wealth of other poses. It's slightly longer and at 4.2 millimeters thick, is just the right amount of bounce, cushion, and minimalism to withstand all those handstands and arm balances!

These are my favorite blocks to use! Made of natural cork, these Manduka blocks are slightly heavier than the foam blocks, so they stay in place, and are easy to grip, and comfortable to lay on. 

Blocks are used to help support your body in certain poses such as half-moon, fish pose, or any other pose where you need to bring the ground to you. They can also help elevate your practice into more of a workout, with using blocks when doing your core routine, or holding onto a block overhead when working on crunches or sit-ups.

Yoga straps are used to help yoga students "grab" their foot or "extend" their legs during certain poses or stretches. I'm a big fan of using a strap for a lot of these poses, to help you deepen or understand how your body should feel in certain shapes! 

This particular brand is made of material that is thicker than cotton and more durable (and actually can hold up to 2,000 pounds!) and comes in six, eight, or 10 feet depending on what you want! It comes in so many colors, you can easily add that pop of color or personality to your yoga accessories.

I read this book during my yoga teacher training program, and it honestly changed my life so much that I gave my partner a copy, and it in turn, also changed his life! The book, written by Don Miguel Ruiz, speaks about four simple concepts that, if you practice them in everyday life, will drastically change the way you live in a positive and freeing way. 

I won't go through the actual four agreements or topics, but I love gifting this book to my friends; each person that has read this really resonated with the message it delivers, no matter what walk of life. It's a short book, so you can finish this in one pedicure sitting!

Every yoga teacher I know, including myself, is in love with the Lululemon Align leggings. They are high-waisted and run tight all the way to the ankle, and come in (currently) 20 colors and patterns! They come in a few different lengths for your preference, but my favorite is the 28-inch inseam. 

The soft matte material feels like you aren't wearing anything, which is great for your practice. Plus, the waist doesn't roll down either. It always helps that these are Lululemon, which is the best of the best of yoga clothing brands, but these are definitely worth the money and the hype. I have probably almost 10 pairs!

If you're serious about the accessories that will help you create a mindful environment for your yoga practice, I highly recommend getting some essential oils. I love this kit because three essential oils: lavender, peppermint, and lemon, are included in slightly smaller bottles that are easy to throw in a bag. 

I love the DoTerra brand because all their products are cold-pressed and organic. Their lavender oil is very soothing and calming, while peppermint is cooling and great for the end of your practice. You can pop any combination into a diffuser too, if you aren't directly applying essential oils to your temples or massaging them in!

Rather than incense, I prefer ethically sourced and organic palo santo and sage to burn during my classes, both in the studio and at home. Use a lighter or match to light the end of a palo santo stick for a woodsy scent, or the end of your sage smudge stick to release the smell. 

It helps to purify, re-energize, restore, cleanse, and balance you, your space, or another person with peace, calmness, and positive intentions. Sage also acts as a natural disinfectant, and can get rid of certain odors in a space as well!

Another tool that really helps my students learn pose muscle memory and really feel what certain backbends and poses do to their bodies, is a yoga wheel. I love this cork version because it matches the cork mat blocks I recommended earlier and is better for the environment (and prettier!), but you can also go with the poly versions. 

It's a great tool to also stretch out your back and use as support if your back muscles or your arms are getting stronger. As a self-massage tool, it's also a great one!

If you sweat on your mat then some lavender-scented spray or cleanser is great for refreshing and cleaning your mat. I'd recommend using a spray specifically made for cleaning yoga mats since they are often made of natural ingredients and will specifically help clean your mat without corroding the mat itself. 

Spray generously and wipe off with a soft cloth. This particular all-purpose cleaner leaves your yoga mat smelling fresh with aromatic organic essential oils. Make sure to let your mat fully dry before rolling it up to prevent molding.

For my hot yoga practitioners who want to keep their mats dry or need something to help grip a sweaty mat, this mat towel is the queen of mat towels. There are tiny rubber pieces on one side of the mat towel, so that it sticks to your actual yoga mat. 

The material is sweat-wicking and will soak up anything that could make your yoga surface slippery. Instead, you'll be able to grip your mat better. These are machine washable, and they come in a variety of colors and patterns. Since it's cheaper than an actual yoga mat, you can buy a few!