Yoga Bag Must-Haves!
Whether you’re packing to go to the yoga studio, your favorite gym or wellness center, don’t forget these essential items!
Of course, like many of us, I have multiple bags. What can I say, I love to shop! Some days I’ll just need a small one with a change of clothes. Other days I’ll need my largest bag to fit quite possibly everything I own in it, just in case I need it. Packing a gym bag helps me feel more prepared, productive, and it makes me feel as though my life is put together. 😅
This list could be pages upon pages long, but I’ll keep it simple and just post the essentials, the ones I can’t live without.
These are the things that I like to have on me for my personal lifestyle and activities. Maybe you don’t have a need for some of these and that’s okay! If you have any others that you use that aren’t on the list, share them below! We love getting ideas and chances are someone, somewhere would very much appreciate knowing what you use in case it helps them!
Let’s get going!
⇟ ⇟ FEATURED FAVES!! ⇟ ⇟
I recently discovered YinSide Yoga on Instagram. Oh. My. Gosh. To say I’m obsessed is an understatement. The products and their history certainly speak for themselves, but I’ll fill you in since you’re already here. :)
One of my favorite elements about YinSide, is their earth-friendly products. It is so difficult to find good quality, sustainable materials in the yoga industry, and YinSide does an impeccable job. Their products are so well thought-out, simple and functional, and super cute! I’ve found that they offer many things others do not, and that they actually care about their community. They also have a zero-waste promise so their excess fabrics are put to good use! Hello, a girl can never have too many scrunchies!
YinSide is a one-stop shop to (y)inspiration and self-discovery, while supporting local and sharing worldwide. I love that they offer classes to their community, make awesome products you can stand behind, and even host RETREATS. You heard me. I’m pretty sure Bali is on everyone’s bucket list, right!?
One of my personal favorites is their unique, handmade macramé mat bags! I loathe toting my mat to the studio or park without it being secure. More often than not it always slips out of my grip and unravels and I just look like an awkward penguin trying to get to my spot without it completely falling. I also love their cork props and mat; I have a few of these and they are so amazing! Cork is a natural anti-microbial and it works so well in a heated class. Let’s not forget the super cute, sustainable clothes as well!
I am so glad I found these wonderful products and I can’t wait for you to see and feel the difference as well.
The products above are just a few items from their shop. If you’re ever in Bali, make this a priority stop. Until then, visit YinSide Yoga wherever you are. 🙏
As a special treat, use code NADIYOGA10 and receive 10% off sitewide!
Now on to more goodies! None of these are sponsored, I just LOVE them so much I had to share in case anyone out there has a picky body like I do. :)
DRY SHAMPOO
Not gonna lie, I live off of this stuff. I could have just washed my hair and once it’s dry the roots are already super oily. That’s just my hair type (trust me, I’ve tried oodles of products!) I use this on clean or dirty hair. If I’m crunched on time and can’t shower after a yoga class or dreadful cardio, I use this little lifesaver. It took me a long time to find one that works well for my hair, and I’m so glad I finally did! I personally use OGX (purple can with biotin & collagen) as it wicks away the oil, adds volume, doesn’t feel heavy and smells pretty darn good.
LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER
I don’t know about your studio or gym, but mine doesn’t have the best hair products in the shower. They’re useable, but it can be super harsh on your hair and dry it out. I try to use very little shampoo on my roots and only condition my ends. After I’m out of the shower I’ll try to towel dry my hair if possible and then give my ends a little sprits of leave-in conditioner to help detangle and provide an extra layer of protection. I like to use Briogeo or It’s a 10. I haven’t tried many other brands, but these worked for my hair and I didn’t feel like they made it more oily. They’re a little pricier, but totally worth it. Briogeo has many products for different hair types and I love how their products are 100% cruelty-free and have no harsh sulfates, silicones, parabens, phthalates, DEA or artificial dyes.
DEODORANT
This one seems like a no-brainer, right? Well, let me tell you. I ALWAYS manage to forget deodorant. I don’t know how. But I do. So, I’ve resulted in buying multiple packs and keeping one in all of my bags in the event I change to a new one. Boom. Problem solved. Expensive, but solved. I know it sounds silly, but I’ve always struggled with finding a good deodorant for my body. They either wouldn’t last long or they would make my underarms feel really gross. I would often have darker pigment in my armpits, and resorted to “home remedies” to try and remove said stains - OW. Eventually, I tried a few sprays. I was always hesitant, thinking how on earth could a spray can last all day and cover up any odors. Well, holy shit I was surprised. Not long after switching to a spray, the discoloration was gone and I felt less “gunky” there. It was a lightweight feeling and it truly lasted all day. I know this may not be a big deal to a lot of you, but I sweat like NONEOTHER. My favorite one is Degree MotionSense. I use the Ultraclear Black + White spray. It doesn’t leave any marks! Super glad I found this one.
BROW PEN
I’ll be honest, I didn’t get on the brow trend until about a year ago. My brows were always sparse and very light in color. Practically non-existent. Just last year they started to darken and look a little more noticeable, but they still have sparse spots. I’m not normally a person who wears a lot of makeup but I decided I wanted to help them out a bit on certain occasions. I won’t always do my brows, but when I do it’s a struggle to find the right product that doesn’t smudge or look super fake; I don’t like powders. I used to like any brow pen that had the rake tip, to give brush-like, natural strokes but they would always dry out quickly, smudge and if I dare touched it to a spot of foundation or any other makeup then the pen would no longer work. I’ve recently come across a new one and I have high hopes! It’s NYX Lift & Snatch pen and I absolutely love it. It took a little bit to get my coordination down, but it makes my brows look naturally fuller due to the fine brush tip. Honestly, I almost resorted to using my eyeliner, same thing, right..? While they list it as smudge & transfer-resistant, I’ve found it’s actually quite difficult to smear it off which is a plus.
EYELINER
I am OBSESSED with EM Cosmetics’ Illustrative Eyeliner. I personally like the brush tip, but they also have a felt tip and a matte gel! It’s waterproof (a must!) and the precision you can get with this tip is OP. I’ve never felt fancier and will never use a different eyeliner again.
MASCARA
I could not live without IT Cosmetics’ Superhero mascara! This is the only mascara I’ve found that does a great job at separating the lashes and making them look fuller and longer. While this isn’t a waterproof mascara, I have never had an issue when swimming or showering with it on and it just looks phenomenal. It comes in a travel size and normal size. The bristle brush it perfect, and I’ll often just wear this mascara and nothing else and it makes a world of difference. IT also makes this wonderful night cream!
Change(s) of clothes
Another one you wouldn’t think of forgetting. Haha…. Surprise: I do! I’ve often forgotten underwear or a bra, or somehow a shirt. I really need to work on this mind of mine apparently. Even if you don’t sweat during your workouts (what’s your secret??) I always recommend a change of clothes. It may sound overkill and take up more space in your bag but you never know if your plans may get changed and you need to wear something dressier. I try to keep an extra set of workout clothes in my bag (hello, comfort) as well as a dress-casual set of clothes just in case I end up getting bottomless mimosas after the girls and I are done at the gym. 🥂
HONORABLE MENTIONS!
Your own travel shampoo/conditioner - I used to carry my own travel size products with me, but have since stopped. It just seemed like too much work carrying all of the little bottles awkwardly to the shower! Especially when you get out and now they’re all wet and falling out of your hands. However, if you have more patience than me then taking your own products can be a lot better for your skin and hair!
Loofa - This is another item I rarely take anymore. I love the feeling of scrubbing my skin off after a sweaty yoga class, but it just gets to be another wet item left in the gym bag longer than needed. I’ll typically use the washcloth at the gym or just my hand and lots of soap to get a good lather.
Earrings - Pre-covid, I would always make sure I had a set of earrings in my bag. This small (or big!) accessory is the perfect way to feel refreshed and put-together effortlessly after an intense workout. This should probably be an essential!
Water bottle - Like bags, glasses, shoes….. I have oodles of water bottles. Definitely don’t forget this one! You’ll need this to get you through your Hot Yoga class or intense workout. 💪
And there you have it. All of the goodies you won’t want to forget in your gym bag or yoga bag! I hope this spikes a memory in case you leave something out, or gives you an alternative to a product to try.
I would love to see what you are carrying in your bag! Who knows, maybe I’m forgetting so many things! Comment below, share this with a friend and check don’t forget to check out YinSide Yoga for a special treat just for you. You’ll absolutely love them!
