The Best Yoga and How to Use Them

The Best Yoga Props and How to Use Them

Yoga props are essential tools that help enhance flexibility, provide support, and ensure proper alignment in various asanas. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced yogi, incorporating props into your practice can deepen your understanding of poses and make yoga more accessible. At Maa Shakti Yog Bali, we emphasize the importance of using props to safely challenge and progress in your yoga journey.

Here’s a breakdown of the best yoga props and how you can use them effectively:

1. Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks are versatile props that come in foam, cork, or wooden variations. They are ideal for beginners who need extra support and advanced practitioners aiming to deepen poses.

How to Use:

Triangle Pose (Trikonasana): If your hand doesn’t comfortably reach the floor, place a block under your hand for support, helping you maintain alignment.

Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana): Sit on a block to tilt your pelvis forward, allowing you to extend deeper into the fold without straining your lower back.

2. Yoga Straps

Yoga straps, also known as belts, help with stretching and maintaining poses, particularly for those who struggle with flexibility. They provide an extended reach and make postures more accessible.

How to Use:

Seated Forward Bend (Janu Sirsasana): Loop a strap around your feet if you can’t reach them, allowing you to deepen the stretch in your hamstrings while maintaining a straight spine.

Dancer Pose (Natarajasana): Use a strap to extend your reach behind you, helping you achieve balance and alignment in this challenging pose.

3. Bolsters

Bolsters are firm, pillow-like props often used in restorative yoga. They provide support and comfort in poses that require prolonged holds.

How to Use:

Supported Child’s Pose (Balasana): Place a bolster under your torso to alleviate tension in your back and help you relax deeper into the pose.

Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana): Lie back on a bolster to open your chest and hips while keeping your body fully supported.

4. Blankets

Yoga blankets can be folded and used for various purposes, such as adding extra padding or elevating parts of your body during practice.

How to Use:

Shoulder Stand (Salamba Sarvangasana): Place a folded blanket under your shoulders to support your neck and avoid unnecessary strain.

Lotus Pose (Padmasana): Sit on a blanket to lift your hips, allowing for better alignment and less pressure on your knees.

5. Yoga Wheels

Yoga wheels are relatively new but highly effective props designed to enhance flexibility, improve balance, and help in deepening backbends.

How to Use:

Backbend Practice (Urdhva Dhanurasana): Use a yoga wheel to support your spine as you gently roll into a backbend, helping open your chest and shoulders without strain.

Forearm Balance (Pincha Mayurasana): Place your feet against the wheel to build strength and balance while working on inversions.

6. Yoga Chair

A yoga chair is a sturdy, backless chair that offers support in standing poses, inversions, and seated asanas. It helps in achieving proper alignment and extending your range of motion.

How to Use:

Seated Forward Bend (Upavistha Konasana): Use a chair to rest your head and torso, allowing for a deeper stretch in the legs and back.

Headstand (Sirsasana): The chair provides extra support and safety for those who are new to inversions or want to hold the pose longer.

7. Sandbags

Sandbags are used to add weight and grounding during restorative poses. They can help increase relaxation by providing gentle pressure to the body.

How to Use:

Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani): Place a sandbag on your thighs to enhance the grounding effect and deepen relaxation.

Reclining Hero Pose (Supta Virasana): Use a sandbag on your thighs to gently press them down, helping to release tension in the hips.

Incorporating Props into Your Practice

At Maa Shakti Yog Bali, we encourage using props as a means of exploration, support, and enhancement in yoga practice. They allow you to find balance, prevent injury, and make poses more accessible. The beauty of props lies in their ability to make yoga inclusive for all, regardless of flexibility or experience.

Props are not only for beginners—they’re tools that can challenge even the most advanced yogis. Whether you’re learning new asanas or perfecting your practice, props can help you achieve a deeper connection to your body and mind.