If you’re wondering what to get your favorite yogi this season, we have you covered. We’ve done the research and the testing, and put together a list, along with quick links to purchase our favorite yoga apparel and props. Every purchase made through the link helps Ignite Yoga, and you can also find many of these amazing items in-person at Ignite Yoga’s retail store. Either way, these tried and true recommendations for the best gear to use, wear, carry, and read will make you and your loved ones’ yoga practice as zen as can be.
Our favorite yoga apparel
When it comes to yogawear, there are countless cute and comfy options out there, so you can feel free to sport your favorite pieces in the studio and out in the world.
We adore Beyond Yoga because it is a female-founded company with a mission to redefine society’s standards of beauty by showcasing never-retouched photos of real people, and carrying sizes for every body. They manufacture locally, utilizing recycled and responsibly-sourced materials to create their signature “buttery soft” moisture-wicking, easy-care, stretchy Spacedye fabric.
Our preferred yoga pants are their best-selling Spacedye Outlines High Waisted Midi Legging. These extremely soft and stretchy leggings have a 5” waistband, 25” inseam, come in 15 colors from XXS to 4XL, and are uniquely created to flatter every shape.
Make it a set with Beyond Yoga’s Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank, which features spaghetti straps, a scoop-neck, a built-in shelf bra for medium support, and criss-cross racerback detailing in 17 colors from XXS to XL. Absolutely adorable and comfortable.
Our favorite yoga props
If you’re in the market for a a new, reliable yoga mat, check out our guide to the yoga mat variables you should consider when choosing the best mat for your yoga practice. Our pick is lululemon The Mat 5mm. It’s reversible and antimicrobial, made with FSC-certified natural rubber for extra cushion, with a top coating for a non-slip grip during sweaty practices. Their mats are responsibly sourced and contain recycled and renewable fibers in 11 color and pattern options. We love this mat because of its quality, durability, thickness, and density to support the joints.
If you’re looking for a soft, highly-absorbent, hygienic, and sustainable towel to stay grounded during those sweaty hot yoga practices, the Manduka YogiToes Yoga Mat Towel is for you. It grips the mat with silicone nubs on the underside, so you don’t slip and slide during Downdog. This towel is small, lightweight, quick-drying, and made with the material of recycled plastic bottles, so it’s eco-friendly too.
When you need a little extra support to find stability in your favorite balance poses, choose the Manduka Recycled Foam Block, made of 50-75% recycled material. It’s sturdy, extremely durable, yet soft, comfortable, and slip-resistant. It’s there for you when you need it.
Our favorite essential oils
Ambre Blends has created a solid version of their classic Essence Oil, the NEW! Ambre Natural Solid Essence. It is all-natural, organic, and vegan, with a simple and clean scent that lasts all day. It’s enhanced by the addition of sunflower and olive waxes, and the packaging is recyclable and biodegradable. (ambien) Ambre Essence is body-warmth activated, and creates a unique scent on each wearer, complimenting one’s own natural chemistry.
Especially during this cold season, we love the Defender Essential Oil Blend by Simply Earth. It cleanses, boosts immunity, and has a lovely spicy scent. Each bottle is certified pure with a batch-specific GC/MS report to demonstrate purity, quality, and safety. Simply Earth produces 100% pure essential oils at honest prices, with no added fillers or fragrances, and 13% of profits go towards ending human trafficking.
Our favorite reads
The Icelandic tradition of book giving and receiving on December 24th is called Jolabokaflod, which translates to ‘the Christmas book flood’. People typically spend the evening curled up with their new books and a warm beverage. Sign us up please! Here are three of our all-time top picks to curl up with this season:
- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
- A comprehensive and accessible guide on how to change your habits and make improvements to every aspect of your life.
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
- This book is about discovering what is essential in your life, by taking control of your decisions, choosing what is necessary and right for you, and giving yourself permission to spend your time and energy only on what truly matters.
- Journey Into Power by Baron Baptiste: An inspiring and transformative book that offers guidance for how to reveal your true and perfect self—physically, mentally, and spiritually.
The students and instructors who make up our Ignite Yoga community are total book worms, so if you’d like more recs, check out our yearly reading list. It is chock full of some of the best reads around.
Gifts for your favorite Dayton yogi
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things”
As seen in the cinematic classic, ‘The Sound of Music’, there are many ways to show love and appreciation for your loved ones. And during this holiday season, if gift-giving is your love language, be sure to treat your favorite yogi to something special from the heart. And if you purchase any of our favorite things from the links above, be sure to give us a tag on Instagram @ignite_yoga.
With gratitude, happy giving!
