After getting started with yoga, you quickly realize that a yoga mat alone is not enough. Some other yoga accessories are essential for the proper practice of this discipline. Among them, straps , bricks , bolsters , yoga towels ... and many others will be your best allies to practice without forcing, without hurting yourself and acquire good balance. Perfect alignment in all asanas allows the mind, breath and body to harmonize.

It is true that yoga tools are more commonly used in gentle yoga, such as Iyengar or restorative , where alignment and technique are emphasized. However, all of these yoga objects are perfect to support you in your practice and they will help you hold postures in a more controlled alignment. Indeed, it is important to maintain the asana for a certain time to be able to benefit from its benefits.

Also, contrary to popular belief, yoga props aren't just for beginners. And just because you're using them doesn't mean you're not strong or flexible enough. Sometimes yoga poses are more difficult to achieve than others, and even more experienced yoginis can use them to support their asanas.

Tayronalife asked yoga teacher Bénédicte Peroz to tell us what she thinks about accessories…

The yoga brick

Made of cork, foam (EVA) or bamboo, the yoga brick becomes a support for your hands, feet and/or torso. It is often used during standing positions, forward stretches, twists or to support your coccyx in Setu Bandha Sarvāngāsana . With its 23 cm long, 16 cm wide and 10 cm thick, this yoga accessory will provide you with support during your postures, whether standing or lying down. The yoga block will help you perform your asanas if they require too much effort or flexibility.

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The yoga bolster

The yoga bolster can be round or rectangular and measure more than 1 m long and 23 cm in diameter. When this yoga object is newly purchased, it is well rounded. After several uses, it gradually flattens to become more comfortable. Generally, the yoga accessory is densely filled with kapok or spelt husks to help you perform your postures, such as Supta Vīrāsana or Shavāsana , in a correct and comfortable way. It is seen as a support for practice, just like the brick or the strap. It is advisable to be careful to buy a yoga bolster surrounded by a removable cover in order to be able to wash it regularly.

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The yoga towel

With a dimension of approximately 172 cm in length by 60 cm in width, the yoga towel is thin, grippy and lightweight, which is why you will have no trouble carrying it everywhere with you. This yoga textile has three main functions:

  • Non-slip, if your hands sweat during your practice,
  • Cushioning, for your knees when bent,
  • Protection, to keep your yoga mat clean.

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The yoga strap

This yoga accessory , made of thick woven cotton, about 2.50 m long with a metal buckle, will help you progress in your practice and have good alignment during the most difficult postures. It also promotes all forward stretches if you are very stiff or allows you to extend your leg in balance positions. The yoga strap is well suited for people who are less flexible and for whom the bolster or brick is not enough.

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The Yoga Wheel

The yoga wheel , approximately 33 cm in diameter and 13 cm in width, is a perfect tool when you start practicing yoga. The yoga wheel will help you gain confidence in more technical postures (for example, a back extension) and perform your asanas safely. For more experienced yoginis, it will allow them to go further in their practice and exercise their balance.

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The yoga blanket

Generally, 2 m long by 1.20 m wide, the yoga blanket is most often made of cotton or recycled wool. Present in the rest or meditation phases, at the end or beginning of class, this yoga textile has several uses:

  • Wrap yourself up warm during meditation and cover yourself during Savasana so as not to be cold,
  • Like a cushion for the meditation phase ( yoga accessory folded in four),
  • As a support when performing several positions such as Sālamba Sarvāngāsana , Halāsana …,
  • Folded as support during postures such as forward bends or twists. If possible, it is recommended to have three blankets in order to have enough thickness to properly support your body during asanas.

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Yoga socks and gloves

These two yoga accessories are useful to bring you more comfort and more grip during your yoga practice. Specially designed to be non-slip, yoga socks and gloves will ensure you have a safe session. They are also perfect for people who are sensitive to the cold and want to cover their hands and feet to avoid getting cold when the mercury drops.

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The meditation cushion (zafu)

The meditation cushion can be found in different shapes: round, square or half-moon. Whether during meditation sessions or during your yoga practice, you will often be asked to hold yourself in the Lotus posture (cross-legged). The zafu , more comfortable than the brick, will allow you to enjoy this moment of plenitude without worrying about your buttocks suffering on a floor that is too hard.

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The yoga chair

This yoga object may surprise you and you may wonder what a yoga chair is for? It's simple, it is made on the one hand to support you during your asanas and on the other hand, it is used for a more regenerative yoga (Nidra or restorative) or in therapeutic yoga (Iyengar). This yoga accessory will be useful to you during your stretches. This chair will quickly become your best friend to progress in your postures and in your daily exercises.

To learn more about chair yoga , we recommend reading “ Iyengar Chair Yoga Practice

May 31, 2018 — Patricia Nagelmackers