5 Must-Have Yoga Props for Your Home Yoga Practice – Recommendations From A Yoga Teacher
Set yourself up for success with the 5 best yoga props and yoga essentials for your home yoga practice.
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When you take a yoga class at your local yoga studio, it’s pretty much yoga props heaven as you have all the best yoga props and yoga accessories one could possibly imagine right there in front of you to support and enhance your yoga practice.
But I know that many of you also have a home yoga practice and do yoga at home. To keep your home yoga practice safe and/or take your home yoga practice to the next level, it is definitely worth investing in yoga props.
But what are the best yoga props for your home yoga practice? What are the best yoga props for beginners? And what are the best yoga props for advanced yogis? Is there a difference? And apart from that, what are the benefits of yoga props in general?
Let’s take a look at yoga props in general and define what the best yoga props for your home yoga practice are and how these yoga props can benefit you in your daily yoga practice.
What are yoga props?
Yoga props are versatile objects designed to enhance and support your yoga practice, making it accessible to individuals of all skill levels.
Yoga props or yoga accessories are items like yoga blocks, yoga straps, bolsters, yoga blankets, yoga wheels, etc. Each yoga prop serves a unique purpose to support alignment, and stability, and help to deepen stretches.
Benefits of yoga props
Yoga props provide the necessary support to safely explore new yoga postures, maintain proper alignment, and ultimately, deepen your connection to the practice, both physically and mentally.
- Improved alignment and posture – yoga props help you achieve proper alignment in various poses, ensuring that your body is in the correct position. This reduces the risk of injury and helps you get the most out of each yoga posture
- Enhanced flexibility and strength – yoga props like straps and yoga blocks allow you to gradually deepen your stretches and strengthen muscles safely, making it easier to progress in your practice over time
- Increased stability and balance – using yoga props can provide additional support and stability, especially in challenging poses. This helps build confidence and balance, enabling you to hold yoga poses longer and with better form
- Adaptability for all levels – yoga props make yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of their experience level or physical condition. They can be used to modify yoga poses to suit beginners, those with injuries, or individuals with limited flexibility
- Deeper relaxation and comfort – yoga props like bolsters and blankets enhance restorative yoga practices by providing comfort and support. This encourages deeper relaxation and allows you to fully release tension and stress from your body
Are yoga props only for beginners?
Short answer, nope. Whether you are a yoga beginner looking to ease into yoga poses or an experienced yoga practitioner aiming to refine your technique, working with yoga props can significantly improve your yoga practice.
5 Must-have yoga props for your home yoga practice
Below is my selection of the 5 best yoga props for your home yoga practice.
The selection is based on my personal experience with yoga props along my yoga journey as well as my experience teaching yoga (beginners and advanced yoga classes alike) in different studios around the globe.
1. Yoga mat
Whether you are new to yoga or not, finding the best yoga mat for you can be a bit of a challenge as there are so many different options out there.
A good grip is key so that you don’t slip during your yoga practice.
In addition to this, you need to consider the thickness of the mat. Thinner yoga mats provide more stability, which comes in handy in balancing poses. But thicker mats provide extra cushion, which can be nice for people with more sensitive joints, for example.
Some yoga mats have alignment cues printed on the yoga mat which I find super helpful. When you practice by yourself the alignment cues on the yoga mat can be a great way to check in and adjust your alignment (if needed) during your home yoga practice.
And then there are different sizes of yoga mats too. If you are a tall person, I recommend you look for longer and wider mats.
Last but certainly not least, pick a yoga mat that motivates you. Your yoga mat will be your number 1 best yoga prop and you might end up spending a lot of time with your yoga mat depending on how regular your practice is.
Tip: Before you purchase your yoga mat, get clear about your expectations for your yoga mat, e.g. grip, thickness, size, weight, colour preferences, etc. as this will all help to guide your decision-making process.
Best in class, responsibly made yoga mat available in different colours, sizes and thicknesses for your personal comfort during your yoga practice.
2. Yoga blocks
There are so many benefits of yoga blocks. They give stability, they help to deepen stretches and most importantly they help you to create alignment in a yoga pose.
Yoga blocks are usually made from foam, cork, wood, or bamboo.
Personally, I think the best yoga blocks are cork yoga blocks. To me, they feel more stable than foam yoga blocks but still have a tiny bit of softness to them.
Tip: Next to the material, also consider the size and weight of the yoga blocks as they come in different sizes and depending on the material, weight.
Made of sustainable cork, this high-quality cork yoga block is easy to grip due to the textured surface and comes with rounded edges for better comfort. These blocks are the perfect addition to support your home yoga practice.
3. Yoga straps
Yoga straps are great for people with less flexibility. Simply consider your yoga strap as an extension of your arms.
With the help of a yoga strap, stretching becomes more effective. If you have tight hamstrings or shoulders, yoga straps come in super handy. In addition to this, they can also help with your alignment.
Yoga straps usually come with adjustable buckles to loosen or tighten as you need them.
Tip: When looking at yoga straps, check the sizes as they also come in different sizes and if you are a tall person you might want to consider the longer straps.
Made with unbleached natural cotton webbing and an innovative sure-secure interlocking buckle this yoga strap will enhance and support your yoga practice. Your perfect partner in crime.
4. Yoga blanket
Yoga blankets offer comfort and support at the same time.
What is a yoga blanket used for? Savasana is a classic for adding a yoga blanket. The yoga blanket provides that little bit of extra comfort leaving you to feel warm and comfy, but at the same time, the additional weight of the blanket helps to ground and calm the nervous system.
You can fold a yoga blanket, pleat it, or roll it, so it can turn into lots of different shapes which is great for support in restorative yoga poses as well.
For yogis with more sensitive joints, a yoga blanket is always a very welcome friend e.g. under the knees.
In addition to this, the yoga blanket folded, can also offer additional height in sitting poses, to help lengthen the spine, and act as a pillow.
Tip: Learn how to correctly fold a yoga blanket here.
The perfect yoga blanket: handmade, versatile and stylish, soft and durable, a must-have yoga prop for your home yoga practice and a beautiful decor item for your sanctuary.
5. Meditation pillow
Finding your perfect seat for your meditation practice is key. And a meditation pillow also called a meditation cushion can be a great support.
When meditating, the meditation pillow or meditation cushion will enhance your meditation experience as it brings more comfort to your seat, allowing you to sit longer in your meditation.
In addition, a meditation pillow will help to elevate your pelvis so that your hips are above your knees. This helps to align the spine so that the energy can flow. You will also notice better stability once all your bones are stacked and aligned. All help you to sit longer in your meditation with more comfort and ease.
Tip: When you order your meditation pillow online, make sure that you can return it. Sometimes it is good to test different meditation pillows to ensure that it will be the perfect fit for your seat.
Made from a soft velvet, and featuring a beautiful mandala design, this Tibetan meditation pillow is the perfect addition to your yoga practice and a stunning home decor item for your sanctuary.
And this is my selection of the 5 best yoga props for your home yoga practice. This is a great yoga equipment list to support your home yoga practice. The best yoga accessories for beginners as well as advanced practitioners.
If you are just starting, I would recommend getting a yoga mat as well as a couple of blocks. And after a few months, see how you feel and where you stand with your practice. You can always add to your selection of the best yoga props over time.
Yoga props FAQ
What about a yoga wheel?
Yoga wheels are super popular these days.
Yoga wheels help to enhance flexibility and balance and they also help strengthen the body overall.
However, if you are a beginner, I would recommend focusing on the 5 best yoga props listed above to start with. Once you have a strong foundation it is even more fun to play.
Enhance your time on the mat with this yoga wheel to help you gently stretch and increase your mobility and flexibility.
How do I store yoga props at home?
Now that you have all these yoga props, you want to make sure to store them correctly and look after them so that you can enjoy them as long as possible.
To store your yoga props, a nice big basket usually does the trick. Make sure to get a decent-sized basket that can hold all of your best yoga props.
I recommend picking a natural material rather than plastic. Natural material will look nicer visually in your yoga corner and also allow your yoga props to breathe.
The finest rope basket made of handwoven natural cotton free from toxins helping you to keep your sanctuary clean and tidy.
How do I keep my yoga props clean?
To get the best and longest usage out of your yoga props, simply follow the steps below:
- Treat your yoga props mindfully
- Always leave your props exposed to the air, let them breathe
- Keep your yoga props dry and clean
- Make sure to store them away after each practice
I would recommend getting yourself a yoga mat cleaner. You can use the yoga mat cleaner to wipe down your yoga mat as well as your yoga blocks after your practice.
This yoga mat cleaner is infused with essential oils providing aromatherapy benefits while keeping yoga accessories clean and fresh.
Tip: For the other yoga props, follow the cleaning instructions provided with each yoga prop.
Let Your Shadow Shine Yoga & YOGATX
Join me for a beginner-friendly morning yoga flow in beautiful Nicaragua. Enjoy some waves in the background, set an intention for the day and start your day with self-love.
Tip: If you are looking for some on-demand yoga flows, check out my free yoga videos on YouTube YogaTX.
All right my friends 🖤, this is it from me for this week.
I hope you enjoyed reading about the best yoga props and yoga equipment for your home yoga practice and are now looking forward to including some of the best yoga props from my selection above in your home yoga practice moving forward.
I am a certified yoga teacher and I would love to support you along your yoga journey. I offer in-person classes as well as online yoga classes. Check my weekly schedule and yoga offerings and please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
Stay wild,
Nicolle
Featured image by Shashi Chaturvedula on Unsplash
Hi, I am Nicolle, a Senior Marketing professional, certified Yoga Teacher and Wellness Blogger. I am the founder of Let Your Shadow Shine Yoga and this blog. I am here to support you along your self-discovery journey, offering empowering tools like yoga, holistic well-being tips and transformative personal growth strategies.
Perfect timing. I was just about to invest in props! Thank you for this,..
Amazing! Thanks for stopping by Amanda 😉
A good yoga mat is so important! The one I use is thicker and I love it. I had a thin one for travels and it felt like I was doing yoga on the floor without a mat. It was so thin which was so uncomfortable for me.
I also have a thinner one for travel…..it does the job for a few days, but no long term solution for me either. Thanks for your comment, Ivana!
I am just starting to get into yoga at home, and this is extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing this!
You are very welcome, Meghan! Thanks so much for stopping by 😉
Been seeing your blog but didn’t pay attention. Just saw this post and then your Pinterest profile and I love it here. Definitely sticking around. Thanks for the tips!
Hi, thanks so much for all your nice words, very much appreciated.
Look forward to seeing you here more often 😉
Oops! I didn’t understand the importance of properly cleaning a yoga mat! Thank you for the reminder and the product suggestion.
You are very welcome!!
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment 😉