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Cultivating a studio-worthy yoga practice at home is easier than you’d think — it just might require a few purchases. While a yoga mat or towel is really all you need, props can take your flow to an entirely different level.
The right accessory can do a lot for your practice, from deepening a stretch to mastering more complicated poses. To help you elevate your om-from-home, here’s a list of the best yoga props to invest in. Namaste, friends.
We selected these items based on the below criteria:
- Ease of use. No one wants a yoga prop that makes their practice more complicated. Each item below is easy to figure out and convenient.
- Degree of comfort. Do your wrists ache after spending a half hour in down dog? Can you never seem to get Zen enough during Savasana? We’ve got you covered.
- How much use they would get. There’s no reason to spend your money on a prop you’ll use once before it sits there collecting dust.
- Durability. Each of these items will last a long time, no matter how sweaty they may get.
Price guide
- $ = under $25
- $$ = $25–$75
- $$$ = over $75
One of the most popular yoga accessories is the yoga block, which can help you learn new poses, deepen stretches, and keep you safe by offering support.
This Gaiam Essentials Yoga Block is a favorite because of how lightweight and stable it is. Made from EVA foam, it’s free of latex and has a nonslip surface that’s really easy to grip. These are versatile, easily used under your hands or feet, and surprisingly durable for how light they are.
Tip for use: Place them under your hands while performing movements like triangle pose, a forward fold, or really any move where you feel you aren’t flexible enough to reach the floor.
Price: $
Yoga bolsters are a great tool, especially for restorative yoga, because they offer comfort and support. They can be placed under different parts of the body to encourage stretching and relaxation.
The Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster’s rectangular shape offers support for a variety of poses. It has a foam core and cotton filling that’s just right in terms of firmness, with a soft cover that is pleasant to lay across. We’re also fond of the handles, which make moving and rearranging easy peasy.
Tip for use: Prop it under your lower back during legs up the wall pose to deepen your stretch and ensure your back is at the right angle.
Price: $$$
Want to nail a specific pose but can’t… quite… reach? Enter yoga straps. A yoga strap can help make stretches safer and more accessible, aid in flexibility, and improve alignment.
The Manduka Align Yoga Strap is made of a natural cotton webbing with an interlocking buckle that keeps it very secure while also being easy to loosen or tighten without much fidgeting. It’s high quality and very durable, so it won’t feel like it’s going to snap, and at 8 or 10 feet, it should be long enough for anyone.
Tip for use: Wrap the strap around your feet when doing a seated Forward Bend to open up your hamstrings and improve flexibility. For optimal placement, wrap the strap at the ball of the foot rather than the arch.
Price: $
A meditation cushion makes a wonderful addition to any yoga practice, especially prenatal or restorative yoga. It lifts your hips and allows them to roll slightly forward, which supports the natural curve of your back and aligns your spine for a more comfortable seated position.
The Mindful and Modern Velvet Meditation Cushion is incredibly comfortable to sit on with a plush velvet cover that can be removed for easy cleaning. Filled with organic buckwheat hulls, it has the perfect amount of firmness without being too soft. As a bonus, it makes for a nice piece of decor when not in use.
Tip for use: Sit on your cushion in Quarter Lotus Pose or sit cross-legged to keep your hips open and prevent your spine from rounding.
Price: $$
Yoga can feel great, but some of the poses can be really hard on your joints, especially your wrists and ankles. A yoga wedge can alleviate some of that pain by offering support and decreasing risk of injury.
If you find your wrists are aching after a practice, buy the StrongTek 13″ Large Foam Yoga Wedge. Made of super lightweight EVA foam, these are easy to use, very portable, and durable. The large size make them versatile enough to use under your hands or feet.
Tip for use: Place the wedge under your hands during Downward Dog to offer more support for your wrists. You can also step on them during Downward Dog to stretch out your calves.
Price: $
A yoga wheel is like a hollow, circular foam roller that is meant to release tension, deepen stretches, and improve flexibility. And, not for nothing, they look really fancy.
The UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel is a favorite choice for its super thick foam padding that makes it comfortable to lean on and its impressive strength. Made of non-flexing ABS instead of PVC, it’s incredibly durable and is able to withstand up to 550 pounds. The padding is also sweat-resistant.
Tip for use: Prop the wheel under your back in Reclining Hero Pose to open up your chest muscles and safely stretch and arch your back and abs.
Price: $$
Think of yoga sandbags as a little extra gentle weight. They’re meant to increase stamina and muscle tone by creating resistance and adding weight.
These HealthAndYoga Yoga Sandbags are made of durable heavy-duty cotton and couldn’t be easier to use, no matter what pose you’re in. Handles make them easy to grip, and their large size make them more versatile.
There’s also a little zipper that allows you to control how much sand is in there, making them customizable.
Tip for use: Place one sandbag on each thigh during Seated Wide-Angle Pose to help encourage the external rotation of the legs.
Price: $
Yoga can be a killer on your knees even with a good mat. A knee pad adds extra comfort and cushioning to your mat or the hard floor, making it easier to get into certain poses.
This SukhaMat Yoga Knee Pad is soft and secure, and it’s lightweight and small enough to fit in your yoga mat bag for easy storage and portability. It’s also mat-width, which means it’s the perfect size and won’t awkwardly hang over your mat.
Tip for use: Place this underneath your knees when doing any sort of kneeling pose.
Price: $
Savasana, the relaxing pose at the end of your yoga practice, is meant to be comfortable. If it’s not, you might need a neck pillow.
Hugger Mugger’s Silk Neck Pillow is the perfect size to slip underneath your neck, giving you instant support and relieving tension. The buckwheat hull filling molds to the shape of your neck so that you won’t slide around, and the silk feels pleasantly cool. It comes in a drawstring bag so it’s easy to keep it safe.
Tip for use: Place this under your neck during Savasana to really get into the pose.
Price: $$
When all is said and namaste’d, you’re going to need a place to store that yoga equipment. Bonus points if it’s eco-friendly, comes with cute patterns, and can be stored almost anywhere.
The Mache Yoga Tube is an all-in-one holster for your mat, blocks, and bands. If you’re a level 15 yogi with all the yoga gear you can own, you might need a more substantial bin, but this gorgeous series of holders is a fantastic option for most yoga levels.
Price: $$$
