If you are just starting out and attending your first yoga class, a yoga mat bag can really make things a lot easier. Here are the top six reasons, why a yoga bag is essential for beginners.
Your Yoga Mat
Even if you are brand-new to yoga, you need your own yoga mat. Although many studios will have spare mats, nobody really wants to use them. Your yoga mat becomes part of your practice; it might sound strange, but if you ever step onto someone else’s mat, you will soon realise just how different it feels, and by different, we mean wrong! Yoga mats are very personal; like the smell of home, your yoga mat feels and smells like it belongs to you.
So if you have to take a yoga mat to studio lessons and believe that you do, you will need a yoga bag.
Clean, Dry Yoga Mat
Whether you are driving or walking to yoga class, the weather can be changeable. Even if you’re just crossing the car park in the rain, you don’t really want your yoga mat to get soaking wet before you are about to use it. Keeping it rolled up means there’s less dirt that can accumulate. Always roll the side you use into the mat, leaving the side that touches the floor exposed. Depending on the studio, you may find it by the time you get home, your mat has accumulated quite a lot of dust and debris, but you can easily wipe that down with a damp cloth. Your yoga bag acts as a layer of protection from the elements.
Committed to Yoga
Having a designated yoga bag shows that you are committed to your new practice. It helps you feel part of the community when you arrive at your class and serves as a reminder during the week of your new commitment, making you even more determined to keep going with this new exercise for body, mind and soul.
Organised Yoga Bag
Another great reason to have a yoga bag is to organise everything you need for your class in one place. Beginners tend to need yoga blocks or straps to help them achieve positions their body is not yet accustomed to getting into naturally. The last thing you want to do is arrive at a yoga class with your arms full of loose equipment and drop it everywhere. A yoga bag gives you a chance to be nicely organised, especially if it has lots of pockets, as you can safely store your blocks and straps ready for class, and is a great place to leave your mobile phone, which needs to be on silent for the duration of your studio time, and your keys without having to worry about them.
Easy Transport Yoga Bag
Whether you are cycling to yoga class or headed there after work, having a yoga bag makes it easy to take everything you need and transport it with ease. There are many different styles of yoga bags, from rucksacks to cross-body bags, meaning it’s easy to pick the best type of bag for you.
Everything in One Yoga Bag
Finally, it means that when you leave your yoga class, everything is kept neatly together. We all know that rather disorganised, but a lovely person who attends yoga class with everything scattered across the back seats and boot of the car, and it takes about 15 minutes to find it all! Having a yoga bag means that you can simply pick and go whenever you need to. It also keeps everything neatly together at home, so you don’t have to scramble to get ready for a yoga class once you’ve got in from work.
Some of Our Favourites
Here are a few different styles of yoga mat bags that we simply love.
1. The Minimalist – Yoga Mat Carry Strap
To be honest, this belly qualifies as a yoga bag, but it is a minimalist way to safely transport your yoga mat. Simply roll up your mat and apply the straps at each end. When you arrive at class, the strap can double as a yoga strap and help you achieve them or hard-to-reach positions. It doesn’t offer any protection from the elements, and it won’t help keep it clean, but for some people, this is the best way to transport their yoga.
2. Just the Mat – Yoga Studio Lightweight Mesh Yoga Mat Bag
This is a lightweight mesh yoga bag, which is perfect because it offers breathability and allows air to circulate throughout the bag. A used yoga mat needs airing regularly, but naturally, once the class finishes, most people just roll up the mat and head for home. This breathable bag allows the mat to naturally dry out any sweat until you can get home and unroll it for proper airing. It also has an integral pocket where you can securely store your keys and phone.
3. The Whole Kit Yoga Studio Designed Yoga Kit Bag
This spacious bag is designed to carry everything you need for your yoga practice. Very clever shaping makes it perfect for accommodating yoga blocks, a blanket, your mat, and other yoga props, including straps. There’s also plenty of room for a water bottle, your phone and keys. These can be stashed in the internal pockets, keeping them well out of sight that easily available. It can be carried by the handles, slung over your shoulder, or even like a rucksack.
The Yoga Bag Takeaway
There are lots of reasons why a yoga bag is a good idea for those just beginning their yoga journey. It keeps everything you need easily to hand and protects it from any damage. However, a good yoga bag does not need to cost the earth, and if you are working within a budget, a strap to your mat tidy and a regular holdall could be a great way to start. It is certainly a good way to make a commitment to your yoga journey, and a yoga bag helps you turn up to your yoga classes looking like a seasoned professional, even if this is your first class!
