5 Best Yoga Props for Your Home Yoga Practice

Two blocks, one strap, and a blanket…….. sound like a fun Saturday night? Well, if yoga props are not what you had in mind…sorry! But if you would like to know what the best yoga props for your home yoga practice are, you certainly came to the right place.

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When you take a yoga class at your local yoga studio, it’s pretty much yoga props heaven and you have all the yoga accessories you could possibly imagine right there in front of you to support and enhance your yoga practice.

But I know that a lot of you beautiful warriors also practice yoga at home. And to keep your home yoga practice safe and/or to take your home yoga practice to the next level, it is definitely worth investing in yoga props at some point along your yoga journey.

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?

Yep, there can be many questions about yoga props. So let’s take a closer look at yoga props and work out what the best yoga props for your home yoga practice are and how they can benefit you in your daily yoga practice.

And then you can decide for yourself what the best yoga props for your personal home yoga practice are and whether you would like to invest in them or not.

Best yoga props, here we come…

What are yoga props?

First things first. Yoga props are wonderful ‘little helpers’ (objects) that are used to support and enhance your yoga practice.

Yoga props (or yoga accessories or yoga equipment) are super helpful for beginners. However, they are also great for advanced practitioners or practitioners with limited flexibility, and/or people who are recovering from injuries.

What are the benefits of yoga props?

As different and unique as our personalities are, so different are our bodies.

Some people are more flexible, others have a better balance or more strength, etc.

Yoga props help to personalize your yoga practice. They provide stability, accessibility, comfort, and alignment in the various yoga poses.

In addition to this, they allow you to go deeper and get the best possible experience for you in each of the different yoga postures.

Yoga props can also offer that extra bit of courage and confidence that is sometimes needed to get into one of the more advanced yoga poses.

Are yoga props only for beginners?

Short answer, nope! Yoga props are great for everyone, beginners as well as advanced practitioners. And honestly speaking, I would say the more you get into your yoga practice, the more you start to appreciate yoga props and how they can help and benefit you in your yoga practice.

The 5 best yoga props for your home yoga practice

The 5 best yoga props – overview

Below is my selection of the 5 best yoga props for your home yoga practice. If you are looking to buy yoga props, this is definitely a great starting point.

My choice 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.

• Yoga mat
• Yoga blocks
• Yoga straps
• Yoga blanket
• Meditation pillow

In the next step, we will dive deeper into the benefits of each of the yoga props listed above.

And in addition to this, we will also look at some watch-outs and considerations should you be looking to purchase one of these yoga props.

Best yoga props #1: yoga mat

A yoga mat is pretty much all you need to get started.

But 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. You need a good grip so that you don’t slip during your yoga practice. In addition to this, you need to consider the thickness of the mat.

The thinner yoga mats give more stability which comes in handy in balancing poses. But the thicker yoga mats provide an extra cushion which can be nice for people with more sensitive joints for example.

There are also some yoga mats that have alignment cues printed on the yoga mat as such in the form of lines, which I personally 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 to look out 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. Pick a colour that you like, maybe a yoga mat with a nice mandala, photographic image, etc. something you like coming back to and that adds to your personal wellness feeling.

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 yoga props #2: yoga blocks

Yes, yoga blocks are definitely worth it. If possible, I would recommend buying these together with your yoga mat so that you have them right from the start.

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.

Whenever your hand or another body part cannot reach the floor, yoga blocks are there for you to fill this gap. Like magic…..I know.

Especially if you are a beginner, yoga blocks are great to have for your home yoga practice.

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. But that is just me.

Next to the material of the yoga blocks, also consider the weight, and size of the yoga blocks as yoga blocks do come in different sizes too.

Just to give you an example, I am a small person and the small yoga blocks are better for me as the big ones are simply too big/clunky for me to grab with my hands. So yes, size matters here too!

Best yoga props #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. And yes, they also come in different colors. This is always the fun part, right?

Best yoga props #4: yoga blanket

Gotta love a 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, yes! 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.

So many options, I know. These yoga blankets are very versatile. That is why the yoga blanket definitely had to be on the list of best yoga props. And yes, they come in lots of different colors and beautiful designs too.

Tip: Did you know that there is a special way to fold your yoga blanket? Learn how to correctly fold a yoga blanket here.

Best yoga props #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 here.

When meditating, the meditation pillow or meditation cushion will enhance your meditation experience as it brings more comfort to your seat which in turn allows you to sit longer in your meditation.

In addition to this, 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.

Apart from all the benefits listed above, a meditation pillow is a super nice visual cue as they come in so many beautiful and vibrant colours and when you have friends over, it offers an additional seating opportunity too.

Tip: Alternatively, to a meditation pillow, you can also consider a yoga bolster. A bolster is a great addition to your yoga equipment set as it is super versatile. A yoga bolster offers additional support and alignment and you can also use it as a meditation pillow. So in a way, you have two of the best yoga props in one yoga prop. Boom!

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And this is my personal 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 out, 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.

If you are looking for one more yoga prop that you can add to the best yoga props we just spoke about, I would recommend an eye pillow.

Eye pillows are a really nice addition when you go into Savasana. Simply put them on your eyes when you get ready for Savasana.

An eye pillow can help you to relax and due to its weight on your eyes, it encourages you to draw your senses inwards and this enhances the mind-body connection.

Eye pillows also come with scent, my personal favourite is lavender. Super relaxing, not just in Savasana, but also after a long day at work or whenever you need a bit of relaxing downtime.

What about a yoga wheel?

Yes, yoga wheels are super popular these days. However, if you are a beginner, I would recommend focusing on the 5 best yoga props listed above to start with.

Yoga wheels help to enhance flexibility and balance and they also help strengthen the body overall.

But, I would recommend, focusing on the basics first, and once you have a strong foundation it is even more fun to play.

How do I store yoga props at home?

Now that you have all these wonderful yoga props to support your home yoga practice, you want to make sure to store them correctly and look after them so that you can enjoy them as long as possible. I totally hear ya on this one.

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.

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.

For the other props, simply follow the cleaning instructions that are provided.

Let Your Shadow Shine Yoga & YogaTX

In case you are looking for some on-demand yoga flows, check out my free yoga videos on YouTube YogaTX.

Alternatively, check out my weekly schedule or drop me a message for further details about my online yoga schedule. I would love to see you on the mat. I am ready when you are.

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All right beautiful warrior this is it from me for this week. I hope you enjoyed the read about the best at home yoga equipment and are now looking forward to including more yoga props in your home yoga practice moving forward.

Below are a few other blog posts of mine that I think you will enjoy:

• 7 Tips on How to Start a Home Yoga Practice
• 5 Tips on How to Create a Home Yoga Space
• 5 Benefits of Yoga in the Morning Including Bonus Special: 3-Day Morning Yoga Challenge

Make sure to give them a read and please leave me a comment below. It is always great to hear from you guys.

Happy flowing beautiful warrior and stay wild,

Nicolle

Featured image by Shashi Chaturvedula on Unsplash