While a basic yoga practice requires minimal equipment, certain accessories can transform your practice by providing support, comfort, and versatility. Incorporating props enables you to safely attempt more advanced poses, intensify stretches, and prevent injury. Yoga accessories also enhance meditation, relaxation, and balance/coordination. Here are 10 must-have items to elevate your home or studio routine.
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You may also want to know： How to Start a Yoga Practice
Yoga Mat
A non-slip yoga mat provides essential padding and traction for floor poses. Look for durable natural or synthetic materials with texture to grip floors. Thicker mats cushion knees and joints. Carry straps allow easy transport, and antimicrobial mats prevent odors.
Yoga Blocks
Foam or cork blocks offer support in poses like lunges, forward folds, and warrior by allowing you to keep proper alignment. Blocks under your hands, feet, or hips allow you to safely stretch deeper or try more challenging variations. They are extremely versatile props.
Yoga Bolster
Bolsters support and align the body in reclined and seated poses. Place them under the knees, ankles, or your back to relax muscles and open hips, chest, and shoulders longer. Bolsters can extend time in challenging seated postures. Rectangular or circular styles are available.
Yoga Wheel
Wheels enable the proper spinal extension in backbends while preventing overarching. They gently decompress the front of the spine when lying back over them. Wheels also assist with stretching the shoulders, chest, abdomen, and hip flexors when used upright.
Yoga Straps or Belts
Straps support and stabilize poses by providing an extension of your arm’s reach or a tether for balance. They allow you to bind more easily in seated forward folds or thread the needle pose. Straps assist with alignment in challenging balancing postures like a half moon.
Yoga Sandbags
Filled sandbags can be placed on the body to add gentle weight and pressure. They can ground you in seated poses, relax your abdomen when lying on them, or provide soothing compression against a wall during savasana.
Yoga Eye Pillow
These padded flaxseed or rice-filled cushions block out light, allowing you to relax in savasana, restorative poses, or meditation. Weighted eye pillows lightly press on tension trigger points around the eyes, sinus regions, and temples to relieve headaches.
Yoga Blanket
Versatile yoga blankets cushion bony areas, support the body in reclined positions, and cover your savasana warmth. They can also be folded into bolsters or rolled up for props. Non-slip bottom surfaces keep them in place. Natural fibers wick sweat.
Meditation Cushion
These firm yet supportive cushions elevate your hips to encourage proper seated alignment during meditation or pranayama. Angled cushions correctly tilt your pelvis and spine. Some come with a kneeling pad for comfort. Look for buckwheat or kapok fillings.
Yoga Towel
Towels with silicone nubs on the bottom grip slippery mats to prevent sliding in hot yoga or sweating upside down in inversions. They can also cushion pressure points in kneeling poses. Lightweight microfiber or natural jute fibers absorb moisture.
The right accessories can truly elevate and personalize your home yoga sanctuary. Experiment with props to see which allow you to deepest into poses in a stable, controlled manner. Let props help you progress!
Related Links：
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga
