Rustic U.S. yoga centers

• Eye mask and earplugs – if staying in dormatory housing
• Clogs or other slip-on shoes because shoes may not be allowed inside
• Travel mug so you can have tea with you
• Flashlight for large campuses
• Reading light for dorm housing

Indian ashrams

Ask what you will need in advance. You will likely need a towel and check what clothes will be required. Some require white tops and pants, which I recommend buying on arrival. But consider undergarments if that’s required.

• Mosquito wipes: Sometimes needed for class. Always needed for treks into the surrounding jungle or to visit the ruins of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram famous for its Beatles ties.
• Tennis shoes: A trip to one of the waterfalls can be treacherous without proper footwear.
• Flip-flops or similar easy on and off sandals: Shoes are not allowed in many parts of the ashram and even in some stores. After seeing the streets you’ll take them off at your door as well. That constant changing requires easy footwear.
• Notebook and pen: Good for taking notes in yoga history or just your thoughts.
• Travel tissues: Pranayama yoga practice requires tissues. So does the spicy food.
• Earplugs: People equal noise and both are everywhere in India. Bells and chanting start at 4:45 a.m. If you plan to sleep later, you’ll need earplugs. Other times they’re needed to sleep through the party raging across the street until 2 a.m. when you have 6 a.m. yoga class.
• New sports bras: Twice-daily and sweaty yoga classes do a number on undergarments.
• Refillable water bottle: The two ashrams I’ve been to both provide purified water. I also have a SteriPen so I can purify tap water easily in my room when needed. Having the water bottle means I’m not contributing as much to the massive garbage problem they have here and I don’t have to think about buying water when I’m out.
• Knife: For cutting up fruit and peeling apples.
• Nail brush: I have no idea how my nails get dirty but they do. Some days it’s like I’ve been in the garden. And it can do double duty scrubbing clothes.
• Laundry soap: Easy to buy here, but possible to bring your own.
• Sinus medications: Most everyone in my class is stuffed up. It’s one medicine I didn’t bring.
• Yoga strap: They’re not provided and I always like my own stuff touching my feet. I’ve also used my water bottle to double as a yoga block.
• Braces: Any type of knee, elbow or back brace you occasionally have to use. You always sit cross-legged and two workouts a day is more than most are used to. That does a number on your joints.
• Headlamp: The power goes out at least once a day.