Yoga Props

Using yoga props allow you to stretch, strengthen, balance, relax, improve your body alignment, and do yoga postures without sacrificing your form and technique. By adding props to postures, you can achieve the benefits and goals that you desire from your yoga practice.

Props provide support so that you can extend beyond habitual limits, begin to see that your body is able to do much more than you might have anticipated, and experience yoga poses more deeply and safely.

Choosing the Right Props

Here are the props that I most often use in my own practice and in my work with my students. You will want to choose quality yoga equipment, and I feel that the following list provides the best of the best.

	Foam Yoga Blocks These lightweight blocks are used for resting yoga poses as well as for active poses. In active practice, they are used to modify poses so that anyone with any level of flexibility can maintain proper alignment and correctly perform yoga postures. In restorative practice, they provide excellent support. Example: In Downward Facing Dog Pose, if you have a lack of flexibility in your legs with tight hamstrings, you can place a block under each hand to allow you to do the pose with better alignment and gradually stretch your legs. Or if you are doing the popular Triangle Pose, you can place your lower hand on a block to allow you to move into the pose with proper alignment.

	Hugger Mugger Yoga Bolster An essential for Deep Relaxation. A bolster provides support for relaxation and relaxed, deep breathing. Example: Here are some examples of restorative poses that make use of a bolster.

	Hugger Mugger D-Ring Yoga Strap, 8-foot Yoga straps are an essential tool for active and resting yoga. They are useful in a variety of poses. A strap can function as a link from one hand to another, or from a foot to a hand when inflexibility keeps you from reaching without assistance. A strap can also be employed to connect parts of the body. Example: In Cow Face Pose, if you are short of flexibility in the shoulders, you can use a strap to do the pose by holding a part of the strap with each hand. Or in One Leg Up Pose, you can place a strap around the foot and hold with a hand to stretch your hamstrings. In restorative poses, the strap can be used to hold the feet in place in poses like Reclining Butterfly pose.

	Deluxe Cotton Yoga Blanket Also an essential for Restorative Yoga! Use these blankets for supporting your body as you relax. They can be used as support under your head and neck, folded to support your torso, or open and covering your body for warmth. An all-round tool to enhance your relaxation and improve your yoga postures. Example: To support the knees, you can use a folded blanket on your mat in Child's Pose. Or you can use 2 -3 folded blankets in place of a yoga bolster.

	Hugger Mugger Silk Eye Bag Eye bags add gentle pressure, block out light, relieve tension, and calm active muscles around your eyes. Use them for deepening relaxation, meditation and Deep Rest. A natural remedy for chronic headaches. A MUST HAVE for relaxation.

	Hugger Mugger Silk Eye Bag with Neck Pillow Silk Eye Bags can help you in your quest for rest. They soothe tired eyes, block out light, relieve eye strain, and facilitate Deep Relaxation. The cylindrical Neck Pillow, with its buckwheat-hull filling, conforms to fit your spine to provide nurturing support. The removable outer cover is made from breathable silk and is hand washable.

	Hugger Mugger Pranayama Yoga Pillows These wonderful pillows are perfect for helping you to achieve relaxing breath -- I use them often for myself and for my clients. They gently support an opening of the chest, the home of your heart and breath. You will find that your breath comes easier when reclining on one of these pillows!

	Foldable, Hugger Mugger Meditation Bench Meditation Benches give welcome support to your body as you sit in a kneeling position. These benches fold up and stow away if you need to take them with you to meditation class. Example: If you have some stiffness in your knees, these benches can help you sit in the Hero's Pose..

	Hugger Mugger Back Arch This back arch provides your body with support for gentle back-bending and heart-opening work. It prepares you for deeper active poses such as Upward Facing Bow Pose (backbend), Camel Pose and Bow Pose. With it's lightweight and streamlined shape, it is an indispensable addtion to your yoga props.