When stretching, yoga props can provide support, help you deepen stretches, and add comfort. Two common props are yoga straps and blocks. Even if you don’t have them, you can often substitute blocks with pillows or a stack of books and use a belt in place of a yoga strap.
Here’s how to use them to make your next stretch session more effective and comfortable:
Yoga Blocks for Support
Yoga blocks help bring the floor closer to you, allowing you to maintain proper form, reduce strain, and make it easier to relax into a stretch. You can experiment with different heights of the blocks to see what feels best.
1. Block Under Knees in Reclined Butterfly: Placing a block or pillow under each knee in reclined butterfly pose allows you to completely relax for a gentle hip release without overstretching.
2. Block Under Knee in Reclined Twist: If your knee doesn’t comfortably reach the floor in a reclined twist, placing a block or pillow underneath provides support and prevents strain on your lower back.
3. Block for Hands in Low Lunge: If reaching the floor feels challenging, placing blocks or a stack of books under your hands in a low lunge helps maintain balance and proper posture. When your arms are able to comfortably support you, you’re able to relax your lower body, and sink deeper into the lunge.
Yoga Strap for Deepening Stretches
Yoga straps are excellent for increasing flexibility and helping you ease into poses.
4. Strap in Hamstring Stretch: Loop a strap or a belt around your foot in a seated or reclined hamstring stretch to keep the foot in a flexed position as you stretch your hamstring. This will help increase your flexibility and stretch your calf as well.
5. Strap in Chest and Shoulder Stretch: Hold a strap or belt above your head and gently draw your arms back until you feel a deep stretch across the chest and front of your shoulders.
6. Strap in Quad Stretch: If reaching your foot in a low lunge or side-lying quad stretch is difficult, loop a strap or belt around your foot, and draw the other end over your shoulder and pull downward with the strap to ease into the stretch gradually.
Props for Comfort
Props that provide extra cushioning can relieve pressure, and improve posture, making stretches more comfortable.
7. Blocks or Pillow to Sit On: When hips are tight, sitting on blocks or a pillow in cross-legged position helps bring the pelvis in proper alignment, allowing you to sit up tall with proper posture. It also allows the pelvis to tilt forward more easily to stretch effectively in forward folds.
8. Folded Blanket Under Knees: Placing a blanket under your knees in poses like low lunge or tabletop relieves pressure and adds cushioning.
9. Blanket Under Head and Pillow or Rolled Blanket Under Knees in Final Resting Pose/Savasana: Supporting your head and elevating your knees helps release tension in the neck and lower back for deeper relaxation.
Yoga props can benefit everyone! Try these suggestions and find what works best for your body. Happy stretching!
