For this month’s active accessory post we thought we would put together all of the essentials that you might need or want in your yoga bag! Finding a good yoga bag that could also double as a gym bag was not an easy task!

Unfortunately, this Adidas bag is not made from organic/recycled fabric but it is REALLY well designed and made which means that it should last a long time! See below for all of our eco-friendly yoga bag essentials!

12 Of The Best Yoga Bag Essentials:

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1. ‘NAMASLAY’ YOGA BOOK:
This yoga book was written by international yoga instructor Candace Cabrera Tavino from the blog Yoga By Candace. (check out her gorgeous insta also!). It details her journey recovering from a debilitating disease that had left her bedridden and depressed through to finding her passion and recovery through yoga and taking care of herself. It is full of beautiful imagery and contains over one hundred yoga poses broken down into different levels. Definitely, a must-have for any yogi looking to expand their practice! (Amazon)

2. BEST SHARED YOGA MAT:
This lightweight yoga mat is made from eco-friendly TPE (Thermal Plastic Elastomer). It is slightly longer than the standard yoga mat – yay! And it is suitable for all forms of yoga practice! It is also reversible, durable, and free of phthalates. Many yoga mats are made from PVC which is best avoided because it is heavy in phthalates! Off-gassing from PVC products has been linked with liver, respiratory, and reproductive disorders plus problems with your central nervous system. Although TPE in itself is not a perfect product it is still considered a much safer option than toxic PVC yoga mats! (Amazon)

3. YOGARAT YOGA STRAP:
Once you have been practicing yoga for a while investing in a good yoga strap is necessary to gain more flexibility and aid you to get into those harder poses! This yoga strap comes in a variety of different colours and is made from heavy-duty cotton. It is really long at almost 2.5 metres and is fully machine washable! (Update 10/21: The Yoga Rat Yoga Strap appears to no longer be available. This Tumaz Yoga Strap looks very hard-wearing and is available in a wide variety of colours!) (Amazon)

4. ADIDAS YOGA TOTE:
Not only does this sports tote from Adidas look gorgeous it is also very versatile! It comes with a separate smaller zipper bag to store all of those smaller, easy-to-lose items and it also has a slip-in pocket and zipper pocket built into the tote plus a handy padded area for your laptop if need be! Attach your yoga mat easily and conveniently onto the side of the bag with easy-to-use elastic straps! We also love the modern print! *no longer available* (Update 10/21: This Adidas gym tote is fairly similar it just doesn’t have the side straps to hold your yoga mat.

5. MEDITATION CUSHION:
This meditation cushion can be used for savasana at the end of your yoga practice or as a prop for assisting yoga poses! They are also designed to make long sitting meditation practices easier by providing support to the knees, ankles, and back. The outer is made from 100% organic cotton material or eco-friendly hemp depending on what colour/style you order. The cushion inner is filled with organic buckwheat hulls. It also comes with an attached carrying handle – perfect for carrying to your yoga class! The outer case can easily be zippered off for easy cleaning or hull replacement. (Amazon)

6. YOGA MAT SPRAY:
This Manduka yoga mat spray is made with organic essential oils and helps to naturally disinfect your yoga mat and keep it free of any nasty smells! It is also biodegradable, and phosphate, and alcohol-free. Suitable for all types of yoga mats! (Amazon)

7. BPA FREE DRINK BOTTLE
We are really trying to avoid having any plastic products on this site! But when we saw this sports bottle from Kor – we couldn’t resist! It is BPA-free (of course!) and is beautifully designed. Perfect for refilling at the gym or at the park! We also love how the drinking spout is completely covered when not in use which is much more hygienic! It is also designed with an easy-to-carry rubber handle and a cushioned base. (Amazon)

8. HAIR TIES:
How beautiful are these jewel-coloured hair ties! This design is guaranteed to be kinder to your hair and not leave dents/creases. They are handmade and come tied onto tree-free recycled paper that is embedded with tiny wildflower seeds! When the rain hits it outside and it starts to biodegrade they will grow. (Update 10/12: These hair ties are now unavailable, but these tie-dye ones are pretty similar!) (Etsy)

9. SO SIMPLE DEO:
‘So Simple’ is a New Zealand natural skincare brand which we recently discovered! This natural deodorant is available in three different scents. Conventional deodorants can contain hidden nasties like aluminum, propylene glycol, parabens, and phthalates. It claims to be gentle and non-irritating to those with sensitive skin but still very effective against body odor! (Update: ‘So Simple’ no longer sell natural deodorant but they have a range of natural skincare with an anti-ageing line that contains hyaluronic acid, retinol, B vitamins, and botanical extracts for younger, luminous skin) (So Simple Skincare)

10. ANTIPODES SKIN BALM:
This is the ‘saviour’ balm from widely recognised New Zealand skincare brand Antipodes. This can be used for almost everything! And it is perfect to keep in your yoga bag as a lip balm or skin soother for any dry patches or problem areas of skin. It consists of beautifully blended oils with New Zealand Tea Tree and Australian Totora for their anti-bacterial properties. The balm is also enriched with Vinanza Grape for its superior antioxidants! This fragrance-free cream is the ultimate all-in-one that is also scientifically proven to boost collagen production. What’s not to love?! (Antipodes)

11. SNACK/STORAGE BAGS:
We absolutely love these bright and fun snack bags from ‘Art of Lunch’ these bags are designed by artist Danny Ivan from Portugal. Perfect for storing any of your yoga snacks like raw nuts or homemade bliss balls! They are also great for storage. Stash your skincare or hair accessories in them so they don’t float around in your bag and get lost! They are designed with an easy-to-open zipper top and are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. They also are sold with a lifetime guarantee! (Amazon)

12. BIOPLASTIC HAIRBRUSH:
This Ecotools hairbrush is made from plant-based plastic. We love the small travel size – perfect for throwing in your yoga bag! It aims to detangle and smooth hair and can be used on both wet and dry hair. It is also vegan and PETA-certified cruelty-free. This size is also perfect for kids! (Update 10/21: This travel size is now unavailable but there is a paddle brush version  (Amazon)

13. CORK YOGA BLOCK:
Using a yoga block to assist you in your practice can be essential for beginners and experienced yogi’s alike! Blocks help to support and give a more solid foundation when flexibility is still developing. Natural cork is a great material for yoga blocks as it is very eco-friendly plus also very solid and durable. This yoga block is from Dragonfly is made from a combination of cork along with recycled EVA foam which makes it naturally anti-microbial. They are also very easy to grip and non-slip! (Update 10/21: The Dragonfly Yoga Block is no longer available, however, this one from Manduka is very similar (Amazon) ♡

*Last page update: 24/10/21*