Yoga props are objects designed to assist the flow of learning in our yoga practice either by making poses more accessible for our bodies, or to help us understand specific elements of a pose. For instance, a yoga block on the floor can help us reach our toes in a forward fold (i.e. making a pose more accessible), or we can squeeze between the thighs in chair pose to learn more about our leg actions (i.e. assisting the flow of learning). 

When you go to a studio, they will likely have all the props you could ever dream of, and a teacher who will recommend props specifically for us. But for a home yoga practitioner, it can be difficult to know which props are good to have on hand or how to incorporate them in your practice. 

This article aims to guide you through your yoga prop options and to specify exactly when and how each prop is useful. For about $40 you can build your collection of common yoga props that will assist you in advancing and making your practice a more comfortable experience. But if you don’t fancy designating a budget for your yoga props, you can often substitute common household objects, which are also listed below. 

Common Yoga Props

Blocks

If you’ve been to a yoga studio before, you’ve likely used a yoga block, or have at least seen one. Yoga blocks traditionally come in two sizes: 9”x6”x4” ( ← this is the most common size) or 9”x6”x3” ( ← slightly smaller, better for people with smaller frames). Firm in nature, they are made out of either a high density foam which makes them very lightweight, or out of cork which makes them heavier and sturdier. The price for a yoga block will vary depending on the size, retailer and material (cork is more expensive), so it’s best to do some research to find the right prop and price for you. I’ve acquired many yoga blocks over the years and like to have a variety of cork and foam for different occasions. But for those just starting out, a pair of foam blocks is likely the most cost effective and the most useful. 

So what exactly can a block do for us? 

One of the block’s most useful features is that it can change the height of the floor, which can help make poses more accessible and comfortable. By choosing which edge is supported on the mat, we can get 4”, 6” or 9” additional inches of lift, and by stacking them we can get even more lift. This is useful for poses where the floor is too far away, like the hands reaching down in a standing forward fold; or for weight-bearing poses where the body drapes over the blocks for support.

Blocks can also be used to learn about muscle stability, and can be gripped in-between legs, hands or arms in order to learn key muscle actions in certain poses or correct common misalignments.  

Here’s a few common ways to use yoga blocks:

• Under the hands in a standing forward folds and low lunges to improve accessibility and comfort 

• Under the hands at the lowest height in downward facing dog, child’s pose or puppy pose to open and relieve the shoulders

• In-between the legs as stability training in chair, core work or bridge pose

• Underneath the sacrum (back of the pelvis) in bridge pose as a restorative alternative

• Underneath the sitting bones in sitting positions to create space in the low back (you can adjust these positions all the way up to chair if blocks aren’t big enough to provide relief)

• Under the neck and shoulders in restorative fish pose for upper back relief

• On the lowest height under the standing foot in balancing poses to strengthen the standing leg stabilizer muscles

If you want to substitute a common household object for yoga blocks, a few things will work depending on your intentions. If you want it to be weight-bearing, a couple of similarly sized hardcover dictionary-sized books will do. If they won’t be bearing too much weight, a couple of big tupperware containers from the kitchen will also work.  

Straps

Yoga straps are essentially long belts that are often used to extend the reach of our arms or to comfortable bind limbs together in restorative yoga poses (but I’ll get to that in a moment). They generally come in 6’, 8’ or 10’ lengths, and have a metal loop for tightening. Like yoga blocks, their price will depend on the size, material and retailer, and if you’re spending more than $10 for a strap, you’re probably not in the right place. 

Here’s a few common uses for yoga straps:

• Loop the strap around a foot to make hand to foot connections easier in balance poses, seated and reclined stretches, and backbends (examples: dancers pose, reclined hand to big toe pose, etc)

• Hold onto the strap in front of you with both hands shoulder-width distance apart, lift the arms up to the sky and back down to train the arms and shoulders how to move in the overhead position

• Bind the strap around the upper arms shoulder-width distance apart to train for inversions such as forearm stand and handstand

• Loop the strap around the legs in reclined bound angle pose or legs up the wall for additional support to relax into

If you want to substitute a common household object for a yoga strap, grab the most flexible and longest belt from your closet. Yoga straps are often made from braided cotton and have a loop closure, so if you have a long belt that mimics that, you’re in great shape. If you don’t have a belt, another flexible, long rope-like object will also do the trick. 

Blankets

Yoga blankets are about 4’x6’ in size and serve many functions for our yoga practice. For one thing, sometimes it gets cold. For another thing, a blanket is so malleable it can assist in ways a block or strap can’t, such as provide cushion under our knees or head when they’re on the ground, or folded up under the bottom for more support in seated postures. Retailing at $20 or less, it’s nice to have at least one blanket around for any comfort needs, and I find that I sometimes use up to 3 for some gentle and restorative poses.

Here’s a few common uses for yoga blankets: 

• Under the head in savasana as a pillow to level the forehead with the chin

• Under the bottom in a seated position to lift the hips and relieve the low back

• Under the knees in low lunge or table top position for added comfort

• Rolled up like a bolster and positioned under the knees or back in a reclined position for back support and relief

• Under the forehead in child’s pose or reclined pigeon pose for relief

A common household substitute for a yoga blanket is...you guessed it! A blanket! Grab a firm blanket and fold it in half first lengthwise (the hotdog way--do you know what I’m talking about?), and then in half again the hamburger way (I’m going to pretend like you know what I’m talking about), and then in half again. Viola! You have made yourself a yoga blanket.

Specialized Yoga Props

Specialized yoga props are not as universally used as the most common props, yet they each have a specific niche where they come in quite handy. Some of these props will be used depending on the type of yoga you practice (such as bolsters, which are commonly used in restorative yoga), personal preference (such as eye pillows and sandbags), or to assist with specific physical pain points (such as wedge boards, which make weight bearing on the hands and wrists more manageable). 

Bolsters

Bolsters are large, firm pillows that are sold in a variety of shapes and sizes. Used as seating cushions or as super comfy support for restorative yoga poses, bolsters are a wonderful prop to have on hand. Depending on the size and retailer, a bolster will cost anywhere from $30-$100. If that sounds like a lot of money, fear not! A couch cushion or firm pillow will often work in the same way, and will make restorative poses much more enjoyable. 

Eye Pillows

Eye pillows are small bags usually made of cotton and filled with flax seeds, grits or other materials. They are sold both scented--usually with lavender essential oils--or unscented, and are used primarily to relax the nervous system in reclined positions such as savasana or restorative poses. I often bring my home eye pillow with me when I attend studio classes. Eye pillows can retail between $5-20 or can be easily made at home from old t-shirt fabric and dried rice or beans. 

Sandbags

Sandbags are often sold unfilled and usually hold up to 10 lbs of material. These can be added as weights to assist with grounding and depth in a pose. For instance, imagine placing a sandbag on your low back in child’s pose to assist with grounding the pelvis, or on the hip bones in savasana to release the low back, or on top of your feet in legs up the wall to ground your thigh bones into the sockets. 

Wedge Board

A wedge board is a long piece of foam or cork that’s cut on an angle. Positioned at the top of the yoga mat, wedges are primarily used for poses where you are weight-bearing on your hands and wrists (such as downward facing dog, arm balances, wheel pose, etc.). By placing your hands on the wedge, it decreases the angle of the wrist and distributes more effort to the shoulders. Retailing around $15, a yoga wedge is a great investment for those who experience pain in their hands, wrists, arms or shoulders during or after weight bearing exercises.

Advanced Yoga Props

Headstand Chair

A headstand chair is designed to let you experience headstand with your head completely off the floor. This is ideal for beginners or anyone who headstand is contraindicated for (i.e. those with a neck or shoulder injury). By making headstand both accessible and comfortable, practitioners can often stay longer in the pose to receive the benefits of inversions or work on key actions in legs or core. 

Yoga Wheel 

The yoga wheel was developed recently as an aid to deep backbends and inversion poses. Some practitioners use it restoratively to roll out the spine, and others use it to advance their strength and flexibility of the spine and shoulders. Retailing anywhere from $30-100, yoga wheels are best suited for those who feel excited about them. 

Next Steps

Are you ready to pull the trigger on your home yoga prop collection? Check out my Ideas List on Amazon for all the props mentioned in this article. This list is not to suggest Amazon as a retailer, as most convenience stores (such as CVS, RiteAid, etc.) big box stores (Walmart, Target, etc.) and independent online retailers also have selections. Ultimately, I’ll leave it to you to decide which props to get and who to buy them from. If you’re looking for a bit of an extra nudge, I’ll tell you want I would get as a starter kit if I were just starting out: 

Home Yoga Prop Starter Kit: 

2 blocks

1 strap

1 blanket

Over To You! What are your favorite home yoga props? Have you found any household objects you use for yoga? Leave us a note in the comments below to add to the conversation! 

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