A beginner’s guide to yoga props

I remember going to my first yoga class, being nervous AF and then walking into the room and seeing props. So of course my anxiety doubled as I thought, “What the heck do I do with these?”

And if you thought that was bad, now we have COVID restrictions (which of course opens a whole other can of anxiety worms). Many teachers are encouraging students to bring their own props. So, I thought I’d write you a guide.

First things first, why do we need yoga props?

Yoga props can help make your yoga practice easier, more comfortable or more supported. That’s why I love them. In other more precise styles of yoga they are used to help you get into the correct alignment.

Prefer to watch a video? Click here.

If you want to go down the comfort & support route, these are my 5 favourites -

1. A Yoga Mat

   Yoga mats are tricky ones because we all like different things. I think most of us want one that is a bit thick, but not too squishy. It’s easy to think the softer the better but as soon as you're standing on the mat like that it can feel really uncomfortable and quite unsafe. I like something that is going to stick to the ground, that’s not too squishy, but does have a little bit of support. Two thin mats can be another great option. It’s definitely trial and error.

2. Yoga Blocks

   Yoga blocks are (in my opinion) essential. They have lots of uses including helping those with tight hips to feel comfortable sitting on the ground, they can support you in standing poses like triangle, get you easily from low lunge to high lunge and can be a huge support in a yin yoga class. I know for my beginners, this all might sound a bit like a foreign language, but take my word for it, having two of these in your kit will never go to waste. I got mine from Kmart.

3. Yoga Strap

   A strap will help you give your body a bit more space which means your able to get into a deeper stretch. Imagine you are sitting on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Now try and get your head on your knees. Feels impossible? Now imagine you have a strap around your feet and you can leverage yourself down towards your knees. You might not get your head on your knees (yet) but you will get closer and it will be much gentler on your body. Straps are fantastic and as an added bonus, if you get your block from Kmart, it comes with a free strap.

4. Bolster

   Bolsters are used mainly for comfort and support. Imagine you are getting a facial. Pretty much any beauty therapy clinic you go to will put a long, circular cushion under your knees to make you comfortable while you lie on your back. That cushion is a bolster. We use them in yoga in exactly the same way as beauty therapists do but we have many other ways to use them too. Plus, in many cases they can stand in for blocks if you don’t have any. Bolsters can be expensive but I think they are worth the money. Or, you can easily make your own.

5. Yoga blanket

   Blankets might be the most versatile prop in your kit. You can roll it up like a bolster, you can use it like a strap, you can sit on it like a block and of course it keeps you cosy in savasana. But I think the best reason to have a yoga blanket is so you can have padding for your knees when you are in table-top position (on your hands and knees). I LOVE starting the class with a few table-top poses and if your knees don’t like that, just slide your blanket under your knees and your pain will diminish.

So by now I hope the yoga prop mystery has been solved. Which prop are you going to add to your kit? Tell me in the comments below.

And I hope to see you at a yoga class in Albany some time soon, or if you can’t make it there, join my online yoga program, Go With The Flow.