Yoga is a practice that everyone can do at home. People have been practicing it for thousands of years. When yoga finally made its way to the western world, teachers were discovering that many of the poses were hard for people to perform. Common yoga props like blocks and straps were introduced to improve the alignment of students and make yoga poses more accessible. Today, it’s common for yoga students to practice yoga using equipment like a yoga mat, blocks, straps, bolsters and blankets. Those who are considering moving their yoga practice to their homes will want to invest in the proper equipment. Doing so will decrease the chances of injury and improve a yogi’s practice. The proper gear can also make a yoga practice flow more smoothly and enhance a practitioner’s sense of well-being. Here are seven pieces of yoga equipment that yogis need for their home practice.
Yogis who are ready to move their practices home should consider investing in a quality yoga mat. A good one will prevent the hands and feet from slipping during poses like downward dog and warrior. Rubber mats are ideal for yogis who have sensitive knees since the material offers support and protection on hard surfaces like a wood floor. A quality mat can even make performing balancing poses easier. Yoga mats are available in a wide range of styles, sizes and materials, so it’s important to shop around and even practice on a few different types before investing.
Yoga blocks bring the floor closer to the person who is practicing. They help yogis avoid twisting and pulling their bodies in unhealthy ways. Yoga blocks are incredibly diverse pieces of yoga equipment because not only can they be used for support, but yogis can also use them to help with alignment and strengthening. Blocks bring the floor closer in poses like pyramid and low lunges. Those who practice yoga can squeeze them between the hands or thighs to strengthen the arms or legs. Yoga blocks allow yogis to determine their proper hip alignment in balancing poses, and they provide support for core work and restorative poses.
Yogis who practice at home may want a yoga strap. This equipment piece is great for yin yoga poses that encourage stretching. Yogis can use a strap to enjoy a deeper shoulder stretch or a hamstring stretch. The equipment item can make challenging poses easier and safer to do. For instance, making a loop in the strap and sliding it around the foot can help a yogi perform a dancer pose or king pigeon. It can also help a practitioner obtain the proper shoulder alignment in warrior 2 and complete a deep neck stretch. Straps are even used in restorative poses for supportive relaxation.
Like other pieces of yoga equipment, blankets serve a variety of purposes. Yogis use yoga blankets to sit up taller during seated meditation. This elevated seat brings the hips higher than the legs for better circulation. Sometimes, during a long meditation, a practitioner’s legs may fall asleep from the lack of blood circulation. Sitting on a blanket prevents that. Blankets can be used for core exercises. An effective way to work the core is to press the hands down onto a sticky mat with the knees on a blanket and use the core to shift the body backward and forward. Blankets offer support in restorative poses too. For instance, a yogi can fold a blanket the length of his or her spine and lay down on it. Then, shift the blanket under the neck for support.
Yoga bolsters enhance a yogi’s practice in a number of ways. A bolster is a long, firm pillow type device that can protect the knees in kneeling lunges and support the torso in wide legged seated forward folds. Bolsters help yoga practitioners deepen their practice in a safe and healthy way. The equipment item is almost a necessity when doing restorative classes since it supports the body in twists, gentle backbends and meditation. A bolster can deepen shoulder stretches and make belly poses more comfortable.
Yoga wheels are a fairly new piece of yoga equipment, but yogis can use one to deepen their practice. This equipment item usually measures about 12 inches in diameter. They are made from plastic or wood and may have a soft rubber coating for added comfort. Yogis use them to increase flexibility or for support when performing challenging poses. It is great for a gentle backbend in easy pose or to get a bigger arch in the upper back in fish. A wheel can also provide support when a yogi is working toward full wheel pose, which is a deep backbend.
Those who practice yoga know that downward facing dog is a common and popular pose, one used for transitions and overall body conditioning. The problem with downward dog is that it can be tough on the wrists. A yoga wedge can decrease the strain on the wrists when performing this pose. Yogis who use a wedge will train their bodies to avoid putting too much pressure on the wrists in downward dog pose and plank. The equipment item can also support the heels in squats.
