A Guide to Yoga Accessories

Whether you’re just starting out on your yoga journey or already a seasoned pro, there are always moments during your practice when you might need a little extra oomph or support in certain asanas. Whether you can’t quite reach your toes in a forward fold, your hips feel sore in pigeon, or even if you’re working on your backbend, there’s an accessory for virtually every situation that may arise while you’re on the mat.

Yoga accessories or props can be a game changer when it comes to progressing your yoga skills. Certain yoga accessories are designed to deepen stretches and intensify certain poses, while others are great for improving your balance or even offering support for those with injuries and mobility issues. Pregnant, disabled, or older individuals may all find that yoga is more accessible and enjoyable when incorporating props and accessories into their practice. This extra support may be just what you need to level up your yoga proficiency.

“Certain yoga accessories are designed to deepen stretches and intensify certain poses, while others are great for improving your balance or even offering support for those with injuries and mobility issues. ”

While most yoga classes won’t require the use of props, some classes may be designed around a particular accessory (like our Yoga Wheel flow!). Let’s go over some of the most popular yoga accessories so that you can feel prepared to face any class, whether at home or in studio.

Blocks

Often made from foam, cork, or wood, yoga blocks are arguably the most commonly used yoga accessory. Yoga blocks allow you to express a yoga pose more completely when you might not yet have the flexibility or strength to perform the full range of motion. They are often used under the hands, feet, hips, back, and head in order to give support, and can be placed on different height settings depending on what’s needed for the specific pose or individual yogi.

Straps

Similar to yoga blocks, straps are often used to enhance a pose or allow a yogi to perform an asana they might not yet have the full flexibility for. They’re usually made of strong cotton or nylon, and may come with or without metal D-rings. When wrapped around the hands or feet, they are excellent for deepening a stretch and helping yogis to increase their flexibility. They allow yogis to practice poses that they might find challenging, which can help them on their way to achieving that pose in its fullest expression over time. Follow along to these programs with the assistance of a yoga strap.

Yoga Wheels

Yoga wheels are hollow cylinders that come in a variety of widths and diameters and are designed to relieve tension, enhance stretches, and provide support in various yoga postures. We love them for practicing backbends and deepening stretches in the legs and arms. Check out our Yoga Wheel for Beginners program for a full overview of the best ways to use this prop. 

Rollers

Foam rollers are fantastic for aiding in recovery from your practice or any kind of exercise. Whether you have a tight back, hips, hamstrings, glutes, or calves, rollers are a gentle but effective way to massage and loosen up these areas. Try our Roll Away Lower Back Pain program to learn how to use this awesome prop!

Bolsters

Yoga bolsters are great for more restorative and yin poses but can be used in any type of yoga to make a posture more comfortable and accessible. Child’s Pose, Pigeon Pose, Hero Pose, Seated Forward Fold, and even Shavasana are all great poses to incorporate your bolster into for more support and comfort. Learn more on using a bolster for support from any of these these yoga programs.

Blankets

Yogi blankets are used to provide cushion and comfort in certain postures, such as when your knees, ankles, hips, shoulders spine, or sit bones may be in contact with the mat or floor. They can also be used for support in poses where flexibility may be limited, and when a block may be too much. We also love to use them under our heads during Shavasana for an extra relaxing experience.

Chairs

Chairs are not only an amazing supportive tool for yoga but are probably the only props you won’t have to go out and buy especially for your yoga practice since you likely already have one at home! Chairs can be used to support your body weight in certain postures, provide stability and balance, and allow older people or individuals with mobility issues to access the practice of yoga more easily. Check out some of our chair-supported yoga programs!