I’m a certified instructor, primarily hot power and vinyasa yoga. A lot of my picks reflect that. I love Peloton yoga for a variety of reasons.
Kristin and Anna are, to me, teachers teachers. They say things clearly, they are very intentional. I think they are super beginner friendly. Aditi is amazing when I want to move a little quicker but I don’t necessarily find her as beginner friendly. Her power classes are wonderful.
Mat: my favorite mat that I have used is the Lululemon 5mm reversible mat a lot of grip, plenty of cushion, good width and length. It comes larger for taller yogis. I liked my Manduka eKO but was never able to get grip and always used a towel with it, even in non sweaty classes. They can usually be found at TJMaxx for pretty inexpensive and are a great mat with plenty of cushion for newbies.
Blocks: I use Amazon Basics because they were cheap and my kids love to play with them. They’re light and still supportive, though I don’t think they will stand the test of time. When my kids are older and don’t think these are the best toy, I plan to upgrade to Manduka blocks that are heavier and firmer. They’re the best blocks I’ve used.
I also have a Upcircle Yoga Wheel that’s pretty cool but I haven’t used nearly as much as I would have hoped. There are tons of ways to utilize it.