Teacher Favorites & Wellness Resources
Recommended Products & Wellness Favorites
At Just Plain Yoga, we believe yoga is fundamentally about practice, presence, and connection — not buying more stuff.
Over the years, however, many students have asked what mats, props, books, and wellness tools our teachers genuinely use and recommend. Since many of these products are already commonly purchased online, we created this simple resource page featuring items we personally use in classes, trainings, and daily life.
Whenever possible, we still encourage supporting local businesses and mindful consumption. Yoga does not require expensive gear, trendy clothing, or a perfectly curated lifestyle. These are simply optional tools that may help support comfort, accessibility, learning, mobility, recovery, stress reduction, or consistency in practice.
Some of the links below are Amazon affiliate links, which means Just Plain Yoga may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Those commissions help support our classes, educational resources, teacher training programs, and community offerings.
We’ll do our best to keep these recommendations practical, useful, and aligned with the values of this community.
Programs & Educational Partners
Yogic Studies Courses:
One of our favorite resources for accessible, thoughtful, and academically grounded yoga education. CEU’s available for RYTs. Explore an incredible library of classes via our link below.
Teacher Training & Yoga Study Resources
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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Sri Swami Satchidananda The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali — Swami Satchidananda
This translation has been used in our teacher training for many years and remains one of Tina’s longtime favorites for introducing students to the Yoga Sutras. Swami Satchidananda’s commentary is warm, accessible, and deeply rooted in lived spiritual practice, making it especially approachable for those newer to yoga philosophy.
While the interpretation reflects a more devotional and nondual perspective, it offers practical insight into meditation, the mind, inner peace, and everyday spiritual practice. Many students appreciate its clarity, readability, and heartfelt tone as an entry point into the deeper teachings of yoga.
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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali — Edwin F. Bryant
A favorite of Tina’s for Sutra study, this translation offers a thoughtful balance of scholarly depth and accessibility. Each sutra includes the original Sanskrit, transliteration, English translation, and detailed commentary grounded in traditional yogic teachings.
Bryant’s approach makes the text approachable for modern readers while still honoring the depth and authenticity of the classical yoga tradition. A wonderful resource for yoga teachers, philosophy students, and anyone wanting to explore yoga beyond the physical practice.
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Yoga Anatomy — Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews
One of Ann Fields’ longtime favorites for teacher training, Yoga Anatomy has become a widely respected resource for understanding movement, breath, and the body through the lens of yoga practice.
Beautifully illustrated and highly accessible, this book explores how muscles, joints, the spine, breathing, and the nervous system work together in yoga postures and movement. The updated edition includes expanded sections on breathing, back health, and the nervous system, along with practical teaching cues and alignment visuals for many poses.
Helpful for both newer students and experienced teachers, this resource offers a deeper understanding of anatomy without losing sight of yoga as a lived and embodied practice.
As an Amazon Associate, Just Plain Yoga earns from qualifying purchases.
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Functional Anatomy of Yoga — David Keil
David Keil’s approach to anatomy blends traditional yogic practice with modern movement science in a practical and highly accessible way. Rather than focusing on achieving “perfect” poses, this book explores how individual anatomy, skeletal variation, breath, and movement patterns influence each person’s experience in yoga.
Many teachers and students appreciate Keil’s balanced and realistic perspective, especially his emphasis on curiosity, function, and adapting practice to real bodies rather than rigid aesthetic ideals. A valuable resource for those interested in anatomy, biomechanics, injury prevention, and teaching with greater awareness and nuance.
As an Amazon Associate, Just Plain Yoga earns from qualifying purchases.
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Teaching Yoga — Mark Stephens
A foundational resource we’ve used in teacher training for years, Teaching Yoga offers a comprehensive look at the art and craft of teaching. Mark Stephens covers everything from sequencing and cueing to ethics, observation, adjustments, and the practical realities of leading classes.
While rooted in a more contemporary yoga world, this book remains one of the more thorough and accessible teaching references available for both newer and experienced teachers. Helpful for developing confidence, structure, and a broader understanding of how to guide students safely and effectively.
As an Amazon Associate, Just Plain Yoga earns from qualifying purchases.
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The Bhagavad Gita — Eknath Easwaran Translation
One of the most approachable and readable translations of the Bhagavad Gita, this version by Eknath Easwaran presents the text in a way that feels both accessible and deeply meaningful for modern readers.
The Gita explores themes of purpose, action, devotion, self-awareness, and inner conflict through a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna on the battlefield. While rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, many students find its teachings surprisingly relevant to daily life, relationships, stress, and personal growth.
A beautiful starting point for students wanting to explore yoga philosophy beyond the physical practice.
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Yoga Props & Practice Tools
These are some of the props and supportive tools our teachers commonly use in classes, teacher training, and home practice. While yoga doesn’t require expensive equipment, the right props can help make practice more comfortable, accessible, and sustainable.
Gaiam Yoga Blocks
These are some of our favorite foam yoga blocks because of their density and stability. Supportive without feeling overly hard, they offer a comfortable balance of firmness and cushioning for standing poses, seated stretches, restorative work, and balance support.
The beveled edges and non-slip surface make them approachable for beginners while still being useful for longtime practitioners. A simple but versatile prop we use regularly in classes and teacher training.
Gaiam Yoga Strap
Yoga straps are one of the simplest and most useful props for improving flexibility, supporting alignment, and making poses more accessible. While we provide straps at the studio, many students enjoy having their own for home practice, stretching, travel, or online classes.
These straps are supportive, adjustable, and easy to use for everything from shoulder mobility and hamstring stretches to restorative poses and physical therapy-style exercises. A helpful tool for beginners and longtime practitioners alike.
Gaiam Yoga Bolster
While these aren’t necessarily our favorite bolsters on the market, they can be a practical and affordable option for home practice, gentle stretching, restorative yoga, meditation, or added support during relaxation.
Bolsters can help make poses more comfortable and accessible by supporting the body in seated, reclined, or restorative positions. Many students find them especially helpful for relaxation practices, nervous system support, and winding down at the end of the day.
Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster
One of our favorite bolsters for restorative yoga and relaxation practices. Hugger Mugger bolsters are known for their firmness, durability, and long-lasting support, making them especially helpful for restorative poses, gentle backbends, meditation, prenatal support, and nervous system-focused practices.
While they are definitely an investment compared to some entry-level bolsters, many longtime practitioners and teachers appreciate the quality, stability, and comfort they provide over years of regular use.
Amazon Basics Vinyl Coated Dumbbell Hand Weights
While these aren’t the exact weights we use at the studio, they’re a simple and budget-friendly option for adding light strength work, balance challenges, or bone-supportive movement into a home practice.
Lighter hand weights can be especially helpful for mobility work, functional movement, healthy aging, posture support, and building strength gradually alongside yoga practice. The vinyl coating also makes them comfortable to hold and easy to store at home.
Kinesis Yoga Knee Pad Cushion
These aren’t the same Sukha mats we’ve used at the studio over the years (and sadly those are hard to find now), but these are a practical and affordable option for home practice and added joint support.
Extra cushioning under the knees, wrists, elbows, or hips can make a big difference for many people, especially during kneeling poses, mobility work, restorative practices, or longer stretches on harder surfaces. A simple tool that can help make practice more comfortable and accessible without needing a full specialty mat.