This whole yoga at home thing…
It might sound daunting and difficult, but it’s really as simple as it gets. You don’t need much!
A yoga mat, an internet connection, and some awesome free resources like the ones in this post!
But one thing that can really help you make the most of your yoga practice at home are yoga props.
Yoga props are not necessary to your practice, but they can help you build MUCH more rewarding yoga moments.
Have you ever wondered how to get a little extra help in a challenging pose?
How to make the pose work better for you, so you can balance or stretch just a little bit more?
Today I want to share with you my favorite ways to use yoga props — and help your practice go from great to incredible!
There are many exciting and fancy new yoga props popping out on the market, but today I’m talking about two old favorites.
Yoga straps and blocks are by far the BEST, most affordable, easily accessible yoga props — and wildly beneficial to your yoga practice.
They’ve helped me reach a lot of difficult poses and to grow in my yoga practice.
And they can do the same for you!
How to use a yoga strap
Oh, the yoga strap.
Also known as… bathrobe belt. A scarf. A pair of leggings! You can get creative with this. All you need is something belt-esque and you’re good to go.
A yoga strap is especially useful if you have a lot of tightness in your muscles.
It’ll help you stretch your body and gain more flexibility!
You can make advanced poses more easily available to you, and you can also use it if you’re practicing binds in your yoga practice.
Get creative!
Here are just a few examples of how you can use a yoga strap in your home yoga practice:
- Hamstring flexibility: lie down, legs up, whip the strap around your foot and streeeeeetch
- Shoulder flexibility: use the strap to open your shoulders in an expanded forward fold (sitting or standing!)
- Binds
- Support in advanced poses: if you can’t quite reach a full King Pigeon or are struggling with the Dancer Pose, a strap can help you make them more available to you
How to use yoga blocks
Yoga blocks or yoga bricks are small little rectangles made of foam, cork, or other materials.
You can find them for only a few bucks — but in a pinch, you can also utilize a thick book or two!
Blocks are my favorite yoga prop. I use them every time I practice!
The idea is that they bring the ground a little bit closer to you.
So if you’re trying to do a balance pose like the Half Moon and can’t quite touch the floor, you can reach for the block instead.
The block will support you and always, always has your back.
Here is a small sample of the ways I use yoga blocks in my home practice:
- Support in balancing poses: half moon, triangle, extended side angle, pyramid, standing splits, forward folds, twists! Whenever you need the ground to come up to you, use your blocks.
- Camel pose: I have a weak back so I need all the help I can get in any back-bending poses.
- place the blocks on the outer side of your ankles and reach for the blocks instead of your feet
- or, place the blocks under your feet to lift your feet up and making it easier for you to reach your heels in the full pose
- Under my lower back in supported bridge
- Shoulders:
- lay on your back, place the block between your shoulder blades, and feel your shoulders open up
- in Child’s Pose: rest your shoulders on the blocks and place your hands in prayer position behind your head to open up your shoulders
- Arm balance aid: you can make some simple arm balancing poses more accessible to you with the help of yoga blocks.
- For Crow Pose: place your feet on the blocks so that lifting your feet up doesn’t seem like such a leap!
- For Scale Pose: place the blocks by your sides and use them to push yourself up.
- Chaturanga practice: you can practice your Chaturangas by placing the block right underneath your chest. Try to lower yourself down so that your chest touches the block. I know, it burns. Welcome to yoga hell.
- Core work fun: some people hate core work, some people love it. Either way, yoga blocks can make it more fun. Pass the block between your hands and feet, sit on a block in Boat Pose, or place the block between your thighs when you do leg lifts.
Learn how to use yoga props and transform your home yoga practice.
You don’t need to spend a lot of cash to achieve some yoga-revelations on the mat!
Yeah, there are a lot more yoga props on the market besides the simple blocks and straps. There are the wheels and the boulders and dozens of other accessories.
But it’s okay to start small with only the essentials!
And it’s always okay to get creative.
So the bathrobe belt becomes the yoga strap. A Harry Potter book the yoga block.
Got a big fluffy pillow? Congrats, that’s your new yoga boulder!
And I mean… A blanket is just a blanket. Doesn’t have to be specifically a yoga blanket.
Experiment with different props and find out which ones you enjoy the most. What benefits your practice the most.
Not into any of them? That’s cool, you do yoga your way.
Not my way. Not anybody else’s way.
Want more inspiration on how to use different yoga props and make the best out of your practice? Check out this 40-minute Yin Yoga Video for Flexibility and Relaxation!
What’s your favorite yoga prop to use in your practice? Please share down below!
Hi, I’m Vivi! I’m a transformation mentor, writer, and yoga enthusiast. My life’s purpose is empowering spiritually curious women to be and do whatever the hell they want to. I’m here to share my journey and truth with you — unapologetically, with a touch of sarcasm and a lot of heart. I want to help you grow and follow your soul’s desire, not anybody else’s rules. I write weekly about personal growth and yoga on this blog. You can join the List to receive a weekly letter of inspiration and guidance!
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