4 Irish yoga teachers on the essentials in their at-home set-up

Erica Bracken, @erica_bracken

Liforme Travel Mat
I get asked a lot about what yoga mat I use. The truth is I have several! The velvety style mats are lovely for meditation and restorative types of yoga, however for a more dynamic active practice stickiness and grip is key. My go-to mat is the Liforme Travel Mat. It’s extra grippy and has alignment lines, plus it’s also biodegradable, non-toxic, and PVC-free. It’s on the thinner side so, at home, where I practice on a hard floor, I pop another thin mat underneath for maximum knee comfort. It’s much lighter than the standard Liforme mat, so great for bringing from home to studios too. When traveling was a thing this mat has been all over the world with me. I’ve brought it to Portugal, Bali, and Australia to name a few places. I even practiced at 30,000 feet in the Business Lounge aboard an Emirates flight! I also love the Nike Mastery Yoga Mat, it’s made from natural rubber and again has fantastic grip – plus it’s thicker than the Liforme mat so great for sensitive knees.

Tincture Yoga Mat Cleanser
To show my mat a bit of love I use this all-natural cleaning spray. It keeps my mat in top nick, but also as my mat is in constant contact with my skin I always want to ensure it’s fully clean to keep my skin healthy too! As well as that, I always think there’s a bit of a ceremony/ritual around cleaning down and rolling up your mat after a home practice, so this adds wonderfully to that process. I got mine as part of a Sustainable Yoga set from the Irish sustainable store Tus. You can buy it directly from Tincture also.

Fenix Incense
Aroma is a powerful medium that helps us alter our state of mind and the space around us for the better, and incense can be a great way to create a beautiful space to practice yoga and meditation at home. Fenix Incense is hands down my favourite incense brand. I met founder Ali selling incense at a market in Dublin years ago and between the smells of the incense and his story I was sold. The pure incense blends are made from ethically sourced, sacred plants and trees – like palo santo and breu resin, a sap extracted from the Almacegueira tree of the Amazon rainforest. The incense sticks are quite thick, so I only need to burn a little bit each time, and they last ages.

Nike Women’s Yoga Sweatshirt
Practicing yoga in Ireland means layers are key. This Nike sweatshirt is the one I always end up grabbing before heading to my mat. It’s cozy yet light, loose, and roomy so you don’t get too warm. It’s also super soft and made with 50% recycled polyester fibres.

Sinéad Mooney, @moonsyoga

Lulemon Mat
As a Lululemon Ambassador I love all things Lululemon but even when I wasn’t, I still always used a 5mm reversible mat. I’ve tried them all and come back to this mat time and time again for it’s support, grip and cushion!

Align Leggings
Again, not to repeat myself but I have been wearing the magical Lululemon Align leggings for years. I am all about comfort and these feel like a second skin that most importantly – stay in place.

Grounding Scent
I brought out a range of my own candles, Moon Shine, a while back but any fresh scent really creates a sensual setting for my practice. It differentiates the experience from the rest of the day. I also love using my Yogandha Oils roller on my temples and wrists to ground me when I arrive on the mat.

Support
Blocks, straps, bolsters – these days my practice is dramatically different every day so having the support I need is so important. I have a range of yoga wheels with Huku Balance which I love to use to counteract the flexion in my day – leaning over picking up bebe, curled over my laptop – all need some slow slinky rolling to soften.

Gigi Tynan, @gigi_tynan

Flowstate Mat
This colourful mat is perfect for my at home and on the go yoga practice. It has a carrying strap that doubles as a carrier for ease of transport, and a prop to assist you in certain poses. I love how after my yoga practice it can double as a piece of art in my home.

Leyo Yoga Set
These yoga activewear sets offer great support and comfort, so I can flow through my practice with ease.

Satya Sunrise Incense
I love the smell of incense when practicing yoga. I find having that specific scent takes me out of my head and drops me into my body. It gives me an instant sense of grounding and allows my mind to go into a meditative state as I flow through my practice.

S’well Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is key while doing any form of physical exercise. It helps your muscles contract, absorb nutrients, remove waste and lubricates your joints, experiencing less muscle fatigue and fewer muscle cramps. I love this water bottle in particular because it keeps the water cool for up to 24hours, it’s durable and fits snugly inside my bag.

Annie Kirwan, @reformation.ie

Sage
I burn my favourite Reformation Sage as a ritual to ground me and open the space.

Support Bolster
I love restorative practice at home where I can feel relaxed and unwind. Bolsters or pillows that you can lay across can give so much support.

Scented Candles
Candles, candles and more candles. My favourite is lemongrass scented which instantly reminds of Reformation and being in Studio.

Notebook
My at home practise is more yin than yang. It is about introspection and meditation. I have my favorite notebook close by to jot down anything that comes up. It is very therapeutic!

Featured photography by @erica_bracken.

We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.