Props for Home Yoga Practice
Confused about What to Buy?
Confused about what Props you need when starting a Home Yoga Practice? That’s understandable. When I started Yoga-ing @ Home, we barely had Mats, no less special Yoga Sox with toes! Let’s break it down and help you make sense of buying high quality gear, without breaking the bank.
THE BASICS
Good Quality 2-4.7mm Mat
Chunky Cork Blocks
Yoga Straps: 6’ & 10’
A good quality Mat is your best investment. Cheaper Mats don’t last, and they take forever to get ‘Sticky’. One of the worst Yoga Disasters is getting on a new Mat in Down Dog - only to have your hands slip all over the place. Bad News. if you think you are going to get into Yoga for real, I highly recommend you bite the bullet and invest in a quality Mat. They run between $45-150, and you can easily find a comfortable Mat with ‘Stick’ for around $70, plus shipping. Amazon is a great place to Shop for a Mat. Here is one I recommend.
A set of thick cork blocks are very helpful. Cork is lighweight and holds up much better than the cheaper foam blocks on the market. Cork is also lighter than traditional Wood Blocks (that make you go OUCH! when they fall on your toes). Imo, it’s best to purchase the thicker, wider blocks in a ‘Set of 2’, than the skinnier versions of the same thing. You can double up with the thicker blocks, using them for supported Backbends, as well as for assistance in Standing & Seated Poses. My Amazon Go-To for Cork Blocks.
Yoga Straps are a necessity. If you Practice with us in our Yoga Club (which we warmly invite you to do!), you will need two straps, a 6’ and a 10’. This is because we offer quite a bit of Restorative Yoga for those with Lower Back Pain. The longer belt is enormously helpful in stabiliizing the hips - so you can get at the hamstrings, which are (in most cases) what is actually causing the pain. If you don’t do a lot of Restorative Yoga, it is quite possibly that you can get away with one shorter strap. Quality Yoga Straps can be found on Amazon, as well. Here’s a brand that I have had luck with in the past. You want soft straps that buckle easily and can be thrown in the washer when needed. I buy most of my Yoga Straps from Tools for Yoga (see below), but they can be a bit on the pricey side for straps, which can easily be purchased on Amazon for a lot less money.
Blankets or Bolster?
The big decision is whether to invest in a Yoga Bolster. While super comfy and versatile, they can be quite expensive, especially if you go for a firm 100% cotton one (which you should). if you are on a budget, which most of us are, you might consider investing in about four or five good quality cotton-blend Yoga Blankets, instead. Blankets are the most versitle Yoga Prop of all. They can be used for every conceivable type of Pose Modification. They wash up well and last for years. If you are trying to keep your Home Practice ‘Start Up’ costs down, I suggest you go for the Blanket Stash - and put the Bolster on your Wish List (Christmas is right around the corner - wink wink). Here is a Link to the blankets I have used for decades. My recommendation for Bolsters is below.
Bolsters sure do come in handy, though.
But, You will still need Blankets for many Postures.
Bolsters, like Eye Pillows and Yoga Sox are a personal matter. Do you want a removable washable cover, a less expensive model covered with a thick cotton canvas that doesn’t show the dirt - or do you want to mix it up altogether and go rectangular, rather than round? So many choices! It is best to do your Homework. Google ‘100% Cotton Yoga Bolsters’ and Scroll Away. If you find something that strikes your fancy and want my experienced opinion (I have purchased several hundred bolsters in my day) - email me through this Website. I would be happy to take a look at what you are considering as a purchase. Add your Product Link to your mail.
My ‘Go To' for all Specialty Props is Tools for Yoga, an amazing small Prop Shop that has been in business for decades, even hand-sewing many of their products. They are warm, caring and resposible folks. They produce reliably high quality products, although they may be a bit more expensive than other retailers, these folks actually really Practice Yoga. And… You are helping out a small, locally-run business that would sincerely appreciate your purchase. Customer Service is awesome. They carry everyting and anything you may decide to buy as you are grow your personal Prop Collection: Sandbags, Woodware, Yoga Wheels, Slant Boards & Wedges, Yoga Stumps, Books, CD’s, and even Yoga Wall Ropes and Swings. Plus, they answer the phone and help you with Set Up!
A Word about Chairs
Yoga Chairs are pricey. No doubt about it. If you are practicing Beginner-Advancing Beginner Postures at Home, you do not need to go out and spend almost $100 on a special backless ‘Yoga Chair’. If you really get into it, you may want one as you start to practice more challening Backbends, for sure. If you are a Restorative Student, a dedicated Yoga Chair will become a necessity as you progress to Inverted Poses. But, don’t overdo it! Please, don’t stress your budget. Use what you have around the house until you see whether or not you are really going to spend time investing in Your Own Yoga. Once you see that you are really consistent and committed, you will seriously ENJOY buying these additional specialty Yoga Props - one at a time. Ready to Buy a Chair? Here’s a decent one for the money.
A Word about Priorities
Fancy Yoga Duds are Fun to Wear. But they are not important when you Yoga in front of your Dog.
The Most Important Prop to have in your Home Yoga Space is Peace & Quiet. After that, an understanding Teacher who is absolutely available when you need her (my commitment to all of my Students). Yoga Pals also come in close to the top of the List, especially the type of real friends that help keep you motivated when you, literally, fall on your face. Try to remember that Yoga is not a ‘Work Out’; it is a ‘Work In’ . What you wear on the outside, matters not. In Yoga, you are on a Journey toward the Shining Beauty Within. Whatever you purchase to support this epic inner Road Trip, should directly contribute toward your success or forget about it!
Here’s a little Video I made for you, highlighting some of the Props I have been using, many of them for decades.
Wishing You all the Happiness, Health and Heavenly Hip Releases You so Richly Deserve.
Namaste, Kate
Thanks for reading my Blog! Don’t become a Prop Hoarder, like me! It’s pretty easy to do ~ sort of like Shoes! lol
