Yoga Essentials for Beginners

By Ashley Keegan for AskMen.

If you think the only yogis out there are earthy ladies in tight leggings, then we’ve got some surprising news for you. A ton of top male athletes across the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL practice yoga to help them advance in their sport due to its ability to aid in muscle recovery and cardiovascular health, increase flexibility, ease back pain, and boost self-esteem. Best of all, a yoga workout can be done just about anywhere — including your own home — and guys of all fitness levels can get started quite easily.

We spoke to Dana Diament, Yoga Medicine® Therapeutic Specialist, for a few key tips to keep in mind when first embarking on your journey into yoga.

• Learn the Basics First: Before you try to contort yourself into a tripod headstand or some other advanced pose, you’ll first need to build up your flexibility and confidence, preferably via a studio class with an instructor or an online class geared toward the yoga beginner. “Understanding alignment and concepts that are going to support you individually will help you get the most out of your new yoga practice,” Diament says.
• Prioritize Frequency Over Duration: Aim for three shorter yoga sessions per week (rather than one long one) to allow your body to benefit from the repetition and rest in between. You’ll learn faster this way and will be more likely to keep up your new yoga routine, too.
• Make It Enjoyable!:”You’re more likely to continue doing yoga if it’s not just another boring chore,” she says. So set up a special place for your home practice, make a playlist of all your favorite tracks to chill to, hop on a video call with a friend to practice together, or anything else that will keep you engaged.

What to Keep in Mind When Buying Yoga Gear

Top Brands

When searching for the best yoga essentials you’re bound to see a lot of the same names come up. There are several yoga brands out there that are well-trusted by experienced yogis — including Manduka, Yoga Mate, and Gaiam — that beginners can feel confident relying on for their newbie needs.

What Do Men Wear for Yoga?

Yoga clothing brands such as lululemon and prAna offer activewear designed specifically for yogis, and all-around athletic staple Under Armour also has great options for dressing the part.

What to Spend On

A comfortable, non-slip mat is worth the splurge since that is what you’ll be practicing yoga with 100 percent of the time. You’ll also want to wear clothing that fits loose enough to not restrict your movement, but not so loose that it will shift around or trip you up as you move from pose to pose. You won’t regret investing in moisture-wicking fabric, either, to keep yourself cool and dry.

While some yoga props are more optional for beginners, Diament suggests having two yoga blocks to make some of the poses more accessible as you learn the basics. A bolster can also be a huge benefit to newcomers, especially those interested in restorative yoga.

What You Can Scrimp On

A yoga towel is a hygienic must if you’re heading to a yoga class in a studio or practicing Bikram yoga (also appropriately known as “hot yoga”) to prevent sweat-induced slippage. But if you’re at home in a well-cooled room and you feel steady on your yoga mat, you can opt to go without the towel and invest in a good yoga mat spray for periodic cleaning instead. Obviously, you can ditch a mat carrier if you’re just working out at home, too.

When it comes to yoga props, beginners can ease into extras like sand bags and straps so as not to get too overwhelmed. For a home yoga practice, items such as belts and rolled-up towels can also stand in as substitutes if you really need them.

Click here to read the rest of this article on AskMen, including experts’ top picks of yoga equiment.