Packing List for Yoga Teacher Training - The 30 Items You Need

Yoga teacher training abroad usually takes 3-5 weeks, and packing for the trip and choosing the right equipment so that you have everything you need, but not too much stuff, can be challenging.

I have completed my own yoga teacher training abroad (200h/4wks in Transylvania, Romania and 300h/3.5wks in Bali, Indonesia), so here is my packing list for a yoga teacher training for a trip of about a month.

Let's start with the most important thing, yoga clothes. These days I mostly use Icaniwill yoga and workout clothes because of their quality, fit and style.

You can use Icaniwill discount code sinimalism20, which will give you 20% off when ordering from Icaniwill.

Usually, yoga teacher trainings allow you to do laundry, so you don't have to bring your own clothes for every day.

However, here is a list of yoga clothes you need for yoga teacher training.

I would bring 7-10 sports bras.

This may sound like a lot, but you will be wearing these every day and sweating almost every day.

Often ,after a morning workout, you will naturally want to change your bra after showering.

That's why it's a good idea to be prepared if you don't want to wash your clothes every other day. If you need sports bras, you can see here the Best Sports Bras.

The number of shorts and yoga pants you need depends on how hot the destination is.

However, I would take a total of 7 yoga leggings/pants/shorts.

Please note: If you do your Yoga teacher training in a traditional yoga destination, like India, they often wear loose-fitting cotton pants for practice.

However, it is normally perfectly fine to also wear typical, western yoga pants.

Just check the information of the exact teacher training course when making your reservation.

Instead of tight yoga leggings, I recommend getting 1-2 yoga pants/harem pants that are very comfortable for meditation or yin yoga.

You don't want a constricting elastic at the waist when you're breathing deep into your stomach.

It is a good idea to bring 5 shirts.

I usually don't wear a tank top or T-shirt over my sports bra during Ashtanga yoga, as I sweat quickly during the practice. So I didn't actually have to wash my shirts that much, as I did the sweatiest exercises in a sports bra.

Once again, you need to check does this work in all destinations. In Western countries and places like Bali practicing in your sports bra is perfectly fine.

Even if you’re traveling to a tropical destination like Bali, Costa Rica, or India for a yoga teacher training, a 5:00 AM morning meditation session will be chilly almost anywhere in the world.

So, depending on the destination and time of year, pack at least 1 hoodie and 1 thin long sleeve.

(Note: A shirt that covers your shoulders will also come in handy if you’re visiting a temple, for example.)

Yoga teacher training involves a lot of theory and lessons in addition to the yoga itself. I would also choose comfortable clothes as a non-yoga outfit, and nothing is stopping you from wearing yoga clothes throughout the training!

However, I prefer loose pants and tops, because even during the lessons you want your clothes to be flexible and you can demonstrate and test different asanas, for example when learning anatomy. So DO NOT pack jeans or other tight clothes with you.

For outfits, take linen pants and a comfortable T-shirt.

For example, these wide-leg Nimble pants (remember to use the ICIW discount code sinimalism20), and a top/long sleeve shirt.

Also pack PJS. I wear loose shorts and a T-shirt. (Normally I would sleep naked, but in both trainings I slept in a shared room so that wasn't an option :D)

Pack 12 pairs of underwear and 12 pairs of socks (you can also have fewer socks if you mostly wear sandals. And no, I don't recommend the sock-sandal combination, they are different Finnish tourist trips. :D)

Wool socks are a must, no matter where you are going. Okay, they are useless in the 35-degree tropics, but for example in Morocco in January I wore wool socks in the evenings, even though the temperature was 25 degrees during the day (Finnish wool socks often get compliments abroad too).

Don't forget your swimsuit or bikini, as most yoga retreats have at least a sauna (and yes, outside of Finland, people often sit there in swimsuits).

For the tropics, I also recommend taking a sarong scarf, as it is versatile as a beach wrap, a beach lounger, a scarf for your shoulders, or even a pillow for the plane.

Pack sandals that are easy to slip on. You'll be moving from one place to another many times a day, like from the yoga studio to eat, to your room, and back to the yoga studio, so you'll want easy footwear for this.

Bring comfortable walking shoes, such as sneakers or trainers.

Sneakers/Trainers are good for day trips and walks on days off.

Other yoga equipment that you shouldn't forget is the following:

Even if you are in a country where tap water is not drinkable, you will likely buy/receive an 8-litre water canister, so it is a good idea to bring a smaller refillable bottle that you can carry with you during classes.

Most of the times you don’t need to bring your own yoga mat, so this is optional.

However, if you are emotionally attached to your own mat or are still traveling after your yoga teacher training, I recommend bringing your own yoga mat.

I personally use Manduka's durable yoga mat, which has lifetime warranty.

You can use a Manduka discount code SINIMALISM when ordering from Manduka EU.

If you packed your things in a suitcase, definitely bring a tote bag or small backpack, as you will most likely want to carry at least a water bottle and note-taking supplies with you wherever you go.

This brings us to the next section, note-taking tools and books.

As note-taking tools, I recommend taking a notebook where you can write down everything you learn in (theory) classes.

Also take another notebook that you can keep as your diary. In yoga teacher training, you can mentally go through new kinds of feels that you want to write down.

Always carry this diary with you during practice, because you may want to write down a few emotional statements after yoga or in the mornings before the start of practice.

In addition, if your training includes pre-reading, you can take these with you if they fit. You can also consider taking some more relaxed reading with you, because it is a nice counterbalance to the continuous anatomy, yoga philosophy and mental teaching.

Personal hygiene products are important, but many can also be purchased in the destination country if you have time before your yoga teacher training begins.

Bring at least these with you.

You'll be sweating a lot during the month, so make sure you have enough deodorant for yourself.

(Note: Don't pack deodorant spray in your carry-on luggage, and I don't recommend putting it in your hold either, as sometimes the pressure on the plane makes it unusable.)

Since these chemicals often take up a lot of space, I currently prefer traveling with solid shampoo and solid conditioner.

I use these from Prozis. (Use discount code SINIMALISM10).

Shampoo and conditioner may also be available at the destination, or you can pack travel-sized bottles.

This is easily forgotten when you're all focused on your yoga gear.

But especially in the tropics, but also in other sunny locations, a good quality sunscreen quickly becomes necessary.

I personally prefer a waterproof, natural sunscreen spray because it's so easy to apply without being sticky.

I'm a pretty light sleeper myself, and in a shared room it's good to optimise your sleep as much as you can.

Especially when you usually wake up at 5am in yoga teacher training.

Medication is of course a very personal matter, but I recommend taking these “basic medications” with you.

Painkillers (Ibuprofen or paracetamol)

Allergy medicine

Patches/blister patches

Other personal medication

Note: For the tropics, you will also want to bring mosquito repellent (ask the pharmacy for the one intended for the country in question) and possibly diarrhoea medicine (yes, it is nice to have it ready in case the need arises unexpectedly. Ask the pharmacist/doctor for more information about these.)

Depending on the destination, you should make sure that you have all valid, important travel documents.

Take your passport to all destinations.

In Europe, I did not purchase any travel insurance other than making sure that I had a European Health Insurance Card with me. My home insurance included travel insurance. When traveling further afield, such as to Bali, you should also consider a visa and travel insurance.

A separate travel insurance that covers medical expenses is also necessary. Especially in Southeast Asia, medical expenses can skyrocket, so you want to have valid travel insurance.

So find out the visa requirements of the country in question (in Bali, you can stay with a Finnish passport for less than 30 days without a visa, and for more than 30 days you need a visa.)

However, the requirements vary from country to country, so make sure of this.

When traveling to distant destinations, bring a copy of your passport and your return flight (this is often required upon entry into the country).

Although yoga teacher training often includes all meals, this usually means 3 meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

If you’re like me, and used to eating 5 times a day, I recommend packing small snacks and a few supplements to keep your blood sugar from dropping and causing you to feel dizzy/headache.

Here are my personal supplements, but feel free to vary them based on what you feel you need and what you don’t.

I brought granola bars, nuts, raw chocolate and dried fruit, because these dry foods keep well and are a convenient snack anywhere, anytime.

For example, here you can order high-quality vegan snacks without unnecessary white sugar and junk.

I have also a discount code for Prozis for you: SINIMALISM10

When you exercise a lot and sweat a lot, magnesium helps you recover, fall asleep, and calm down. I recommned using highly absorbable triple magnesium.

Especially if you are traveling to a tropical destination like Bali, India or Costa Rica, staying hydrated is important.

Electrolytes help with hydration better than just water.

This is completely optional, but if you tend to feel weak, tired or lethargic, you may be iron deficient.

Especially as a vegan, you may need Iron/B12 vitamin supplement. Best way to figure this out is by doing blood tests.

This is completely optional, but if you tend to feel weak, tired or lethargic, you may be iron deficient.

Especially as a vegan, you may need Iron/B12 vitamin supplement. Best way to figure this out is by doing blood tests.

In Finland we have this easy system Puhti, that makes blood test results easiest for consumers. You can read more about it here.

Especially when traveling to a new continent, gut health is key and stomach ailments are not uncommon.

I start taking probiotics a couple of weeks before traveling, and every day during the travels. It helps boost the immune system and gut health.

My go-to brand is Yourbiology Gut+, because it is scientifically proven to include 10 probiotic strains, 3 digestive enzymes and 2 prebiotics + D3 vitamin.

They have a nice deals if you want to order bulk, you can see prices here.

My readers can also use Yourbiology discount code: sinimalism

Melatonin and other sedatives can help with jet lag. They reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and make it easier to shift your sleep pattern to the schedule of the destination country.

In tropical destinations, you will want mosquito repellent intended for the tropics and make sure that you have the recommended vaccinations valid.

I would also take care of your stomach and intestinal health and take diarrhea medicine with you just in case and take a course of lactic acid bacteria.

Also bring a raincoat, especially if you are traveling to the destination during the rainy season.

If you are bringing electronics, make sure to transport them so that they do not get soaked if the monsoon rain surprises you.

Check also if you will need an adapter.

Also remember sunscreen!

Avoid overpacking

Even though there are a lot of things on this list, try to avoid overpacking.

If your suitcase is already overflowing, you can leave out one yoga outfit or go with something really unnecessary, like a cute dress, heels, and makeup.

So, when you’re done packing, take out everything you don’t need and remember that you can also get groceries, like shampoo and nuts, at your destination.

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