Gear
You can start on a rug. When you want a tool, these are the ones the routines on this site actually use.
You can do every routine on this site on a rug. This guide is for the day a tool would make the shape clearer: a mat that keeps your hands from sliding, a block that brings the floor up, a strap that reaches a foot you cannot yet hold, a bolster for a supported rest, or a beginner kit that collects those pieces.
Each item says what to look for and when to skip it. We do not show Amazon prices or star ratings, because both change and because a rating is not a measurement we made. The first card is a top pick, the Trauma-Informed Yoga Card Deck, with the publisher’s description and an affiliate disclosure above the link. The other links use the same associate tag.
A mat is not a medical device, and a block is not a treatment. If you are buying gear because of pain, consult a doctor about the pain before you consult a shopping page about the tool. The pose pages say when a prop is part of the modification. Start there if you are not sure you need one.
Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links (tag seperts-20). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission. That does not change what you pay. We do not show prices or star ratings, because both go stale. Read the affiliate disclosure.
Kit
A mat, a block, and a strap in one box is enough for every routine on this site. The mat in this kit is on the thinner side, so it is a starter, not a forever mat if your knees are sensitive.
Skip it if: You already own a mat you like. Buy a block and a strap on their own instead.
Mat
Cork feels grippy once it warms under your hands, and it does not have the plastic shine of a basic PVC mat. A cork-top mat is a good second mat when you know you will practice more than once a week.
Skip it if: You want the thickest cushion for sore knees. Look at a 6 mm studio mat instead.
Mat
A dense 6 mm mat stays flat, cushions wrists in Plank, and is the mat many studios keep on the floor for years. It can feel slippery until the surface breaks in.
Skip it if: You travel with your mat. This one is heavy. A thinner travel mat is easier to carry.
Block
A firm block brings the floor up to your hand in Triangle and Half Lift. Cork is heavier than foam and does not squish, which makes standing poses feel more honest.
Skip it if: You want something light for travel. A foam block weighs less and still works for seated poses.
Strap
A strap lets you hold a hamstring stretch in Reclining Hand-to-Toe without rounding your back to grab your foot. The buckle should be easy to slide with one hand.
Skip it if: You can comfortably hold your foot with a long spine. You can wait on a strap.
Bolster
A firm rectangular bolster supports the knees in Easy Seat, the hips in a supported Bridge, and the chest in a gentle rest. The flat top stays put on a wood floor better than a round cushion.
Skip it if: You are only doing standing routines. A folded blanket under the knees is enough for now.
Choosing a mat is mostly about your knees and your floor. The mat guide walks through that without a shopping list of numbers.