Embrace the Support: A Guide to Yoga Props

In the early days of yoga, practice was simple - just the body, the breath, and the ground beneath. But as yoga has evolved and spread across the world, so too has our understanding of how to meet each body where it is. That’s where yoga props come in: not as crutches, but as tools of empowerment, awareness, and grace.

 

What Are Yoga Props?

Yoga props are any items that support your practice. They help you access poses with more stability, comfort, or depth. The most common props include:

• Yoga mats – The foundation of most modern practices. A good mat offers grounding, traction, and a sense of sacred space.
• Yoga blocks – Typically made of foam, cork, or wood. Used to bring the ground closer to you or provide stability.
• Straps – Extend your reach and support alignment in stretches.
• Bolsters – Soft, cushion-like supports ideal for restorative poses and deep relaxation.
• Blankets – For warmth, padding, or gentle elevation.
• Cushions – Great for seated postures and meditation, helping you sit taller with less strain.
• Yoga wheels – Circular props that help open the heart, massage the spine, or challenge your balance.
• Walls, chairs, or the floor itself – Yes, even your environment is a prop.

 

Why Use Props?

 

There’s a common myth that props are only for beginners or people who “can’t do” certain poses. Let’s rewrite that story.

Props are for everyone. Whether you’re a lifelong practitioner or stepping on the mat for the first time, props can:

• Refine alignment – Helping you feel the pose in your body rather than pushing into it.
• Prevent injury – Especially if you’re recovering or navigating chronic tension.
• Deepen awareness – By giving feedback or support that encourages subtle adjustments.
• Invite stillness – Particularly in yin or restorative yoga, props allow the nervous system to truly rest.

Examples of How to Use Yoga Props in Your Yoga Practice

 

1. Block in Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)

If your hand doesn’t reach the floor without collapsing the chest or straining the hamstring, place a block under your lower hand. This keeps the spine long and heart open.

2. Strap in Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold)

Loop a strap around the soles of your feet and hold it with both hands. Instead of yanking yourself forward, use the strap to hinge at the hips and lengthen the spine.

 

3. Bolster in Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Bound Angle Pose)

Place a bolster along the spine and let your back melt over it. Add blocks under the knees for additional support. A deeply nourishing heart opener.

 

4. Cushion for Meditation or Seated Poses

Sitting on a cushion or folded blanket in Sukhasana (Easy Pose) or Padmasana (Lotus) gently tilts the pelvis forward, helping the spine stay tall and the hips release.

 

5. Yoga Wheel for Heart Opening

Gently roll the wheel under your spine in supported backbends like Fish Pose. It can help release tension in the chest and shoulders or strengthen your balance in more advanced flows.

6. Blanket in Shoulderstand 

Under the shoulders in Sarvangasana (shoulderstand), a folded blanket or a very thin cushion can protect the cervical spine. Or use it under the knees in child’s pose or any kneeling posture for some gentle cushioning.

7. Chair for Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall)

If the floor feels too intense, elevate your legs on a chair instead of a wall. You still get the benefits of lymphatic drainage and nervous system reset—without the strain.

A Prop is a Portal

Yoga is not about achieving an aesthetic shape - it’s about creating space: in your body, breath, and life. Props can be portals into that space. They teach us patience, humility, and how to receive support - lessons that ripple far beyond the mat.

So next time you reach for a block, a bolster, a cushion, or a wheel, know this: it’s not cheating. It’s listening.

And in yoga, listening is the practice.

Bonus Tip: If you’re practicing at home without “official” props, you can improvise. A stack of books = a block. A belt = a strap. Couch cushions = bolsters or meditation seats. Yoga meets you exactly where you are.