Useful Yoga Props to improve your practice
With a plethora of different kinds of yoga props to purchase. Are they all worthwhile?
Yoga props can be a fantastic way to help make Yoga poses more accessible but also a great tool that can increase the intensity of poses as well. There are lots of different types of props on the market, but do you need all of them?
Depending on the style of Yoga you are practicing some props may be more useful than others. For example props such as bolsters, eye masks and chairs might not be a relevant to your Vinyasa practice but will be a useful tool to have if practicing Yin/Restorative Yoga or Iyengar Yoga. If you are more drawn to Hatha or Vinyasa most people will be fine to have no props at all outside of their Yoga mat. If you are a complete beginner blocks and a strap might be something you find useful. Let break some of the most popular Props down.
Yoga Mat
This might seem obvious but a Yoga mat is recommended for your practice. These come in different thickness & material and can be quite confusing to figure out which is best for you.
Materials can make a big difference when it comes to Yoga. Quite commonly mats will be made from plastic or latex/rubber, however you will see suede/faux suede and cork mats being used too. Plastic/Latex/Rubber mats can be more affordable and provide great padding for the joints. They are easily wiped clean too! However rubber mats can allow for sweat and moisture to ‘pool’ making them less grippy if your practice gets a little more on the sweaty side.
Cork and Suede/Faux Suede on the other hand become more grippy the damper they become which is great for anyone practicing Bikram/Hot Yoga or those who tend to get a little sweater and find themselves slipping on regular rubber mats. Alot of these can be thrown into the washing machine and they are often more durable and long wearing.
Thickness will make a huge difference to your Yoga mat. A mat that is too thick can provide too much movement and make balancing poses more difficult, however too thin and you might start to feel pains in the knees and wrists. Yoga mats will often come in roughly 3 different thickness types. These are:
6mm+ - Better for sensitive joints.
4-5mm - The most commonly used.
1-2mm - Travel Yoga mats, very thin but great for folding into a bag.
Alternatives: You can always stack two mats on top to trial out how a thicker mat might feel for your practice, fold over the side of your mat for extra padding, or add a blanket beneath your joints instead.
Recommended brands: Reebok (4mm or 6mm) Zen Bear (faux suede)
My own Yoga mats - Zen Bear Tessellate and Reebok Yo-Ga
Price: £10 - £100+
Blocks, Bricks, Wedges
One of the most versatile props are blocks/bricks. These can be used in a huge variety of ways. For example helping with proper alignment in poses, In poses such as Lunges or Triangle the block helps make the pose easier by ‘bringing the ground up to you’. Blocks/Bricks help reduce the stretch making the pose a little easier. They can also be used for feedback in poses such as Bridge pose to help the Yogi engage muscles in the thighs by placing the block between the legs and squeezing in. Placed under the lower back in Bridge can help make the pose more restorative by taking some of the weight away from the legs and lower back. Wedges are less commonly used but are still a very useful prop to have if you find you have tighter hamstrings / ankles in poses such as squats or down dog. Wedges can be placed underneath the feet to reduce the angle of the ankle when in the pose thus making the pose easier to perform.
As well as making poses more attainable props such as blocks and bricks can help progress your practice. For example in a forward bend over both legs a block can be placed at the soles of the feet. This increases the length of the legs and increases the stretch in the hamstrings.
In general these are very afforable props to have in your tool kit. I highly recommend every Yogi have a couple of blocks for their own home practice or in the case where your gym or studio do not provide these for you.
Variations:
Material (foam, wood, cork) Depending on the material the cost usually increases. Often foam is the more afforable.
Sizes - There are lots of different sizes available. From larger thinner blocks, bricks and wedges.
Alternatives - if you are practicing from home an alternative could be a thick hard back book.
Price - £4 - £15 per block.
Straps/Belts
One of my favourite yoga accessories to use in class are straps. Again a really useful and versatile aid to have to either help aid yogis with their stretching, increase flexibility, range of motion and decrease tension. Some great benefits of straps are the ability to make a pose easier by ‘extending the length of the arm’ in poses such as Dancer. They are also very helpful for anyone who struggles with hamstring stretches such as seated Forward folds or Boat as they can be looped around the feet and held onto to allow the Yogi to take some of the stretch out of the backs of the legs.
I also really enjoy using straps for mobility work such as shoulder rotations or wrapped around the thighs for stability in postures like chair pose or bridge and to help improve strength by creating resistance e.g. pulling the strap in opposite directions and holding. They are very adaptable in terms of the shape and length of the strap due to the D-ring, making it easy to adjust and create a loop.
There are many many more benefits and uses for straps than I’ve listed here. They are relatively cheap and again often available in Studios for you to use.
My own belts are from Decathlon.
Variations:
Material - Straps/Belts tend to be made from Cotton
Alternatives - if you are practicing from home an alternative could be a belt, dressing gown rope or towel.
Price - £5 - £10
Bolsters
One of my favourite props I own is my bolster. Not a necessity for most types of Yoga but a lovely prop to have. This is especially common in Yin and Restorative practices. Bolsters vary in shape and size and are a little more costly to purchase depending on the filling used. Bolsters provide a firm, sturdy support beneath the body. For example they can be placed beneath the spine for reclined postures to open the body and chest allowing deeper, longer breaths and a gentle supported take on a back bend. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced Yogi a bolster has a lot to offer.
Designed to be used vertically or horizontally beneath the body in a variety of poses. Some of my favourites are:
Under the hips to elevate in poses such as bridge pose
Behind the knees in Savasana
Along the Spine in Reclined Cobbler
My own Bolster is from Yoga Matters.
Variations:
Material - polyester or natural materials such as buckwheat are used to fill out the bolster.
Sizes/Shape - Rectangular and round bolsters are most common.
Price - £25 - £50
Blankets & Cushions
Something you already have a home, Blankets and Cushions can make Savasana and meditation even more comfortable and cosy, although they have many other great uses. Specific Yoga Blankets do exist and are often referred to as ‘Mexican Blankets’. Mexican blankets are often very thick and have noticeable heft to them although any regular blanket/cushion is absolutely fine too!
Blankets in general can be rolled or folded and used similarily to a block in seated poses to lift the hips a little higher or to pad out knees or tops of the feet/ankles in kneeling poses.
Cushions and Blankets can again help pad out the joints in weight bearing poses like table top, kneeling poses or as soft surface in poses like Headstands, Shoulder stands or hand balances or just simply placed under the head or behind the knees in Savasana is also a great way to make use of what you already have.
Others - chairs, eye masks, wheels, handstand aids etc.
There are lots more props available some of which won’t be listed here. I have focused this blog post on the most commonly found and those I find most useful across a range of styles of Yoga. Some of these such as eye masks, wheels, handstand aids etc are useful in specific scenarios. Depending on the practice of the Yogi these may or may not be beneficial.
If you have any questions, pop them in the comments below and I will try my best to answer.
