How to Incorporate Yoga Blocks, Straps & Bolsters into Your Home Practice

As a yoga and meditation teacher in Rotherham, South Yorkshire I always have props close by. I encourage my students to explore the benefits of using props like yoga blocks, straps, and bolsters in their practice. Trust me, these tools can only enhance your practice, never detract from it. Whether you’re new to yoga or have been practicing for a while, props can be wonderful allies in deepening your practice.

Here I’ll share how to use these props in ways that feel supportive and nurturing. Incorporating them into your practice can help you find more ease, improve alignment, and bring a sense of calm and comfort to your practice.

Yoga Blocks: Simple Support for Better Alignment

If you’ve attended a class with me in person, you’ll have heard me say many times that yoga blocks bring the ground to you, making poses more accessible for all bodies.

How to Use Yoga Blocks

Under Your Hands or Feet: If you find it hard to reach the floor in a low lunge or forward fold, a block placed under your hands or feet can provide extra height and comfort, helping you feel more stable.

For Seated Poses: When sitting in poses a block placed under your seat can lift your hips slightly, encouraging better posture and making the position more comfortable.

For Better Balance: In standing poses, blocks can help improve balance. Try placing one under your hand in poses like Warrior III to help maintain steadiness and alignment.

Yoga Straps: A Simple Way to Deepen Your Stretch

Yoga straps are great for helping you reach deeper into stretches, especially if flexibility is something you’re working on. They also support your alignment, making stretches feel more manageable and enjoyable.

How to Use Yoga Straps

For Hamstring Stretches: When doing a Forward Fold or Seated Hamstring Stretch, loop the strap around your foot to gently pull your leg in closer. This helps you get a deeper stretch without straining.

For Shoulder Openers: In poses like Cow Face Pose, where you're trying to reach your hands behind your back, a strap can help bring your hands closer together, allowing you to hold the position comfortably.

In Bound Poses: A strap can be used to connect your feet in poses like Bound Angle Pose, helping you find more length and openness in the hips without forcing your body.

Yoga straps allow you to explore your range of motion gently and supportively.

Yoga Bolsters: Rest and Comfort During Your Practice

Bolsters are larger cushion-like props often used in relaxation and restorative practices. They are perfect for those seeking a softer, more comforting approach to yoga. Bolsters provide support during poses that aim to release tension and bring ease to the body.

How to Use Yoga Bolsters

For Seated Poses: In poses like Sukhasana or Virasana (Hero’s Pose), sitting on a bolster gently lifts your hips, promoting a more comfortable position and supporting your spine.

For Backbends: In poses like Supported Bridge Pose or Supported Fish Pose, placing a bolster under your back helps you release into the stretch, allowing your chest to open and your breath to deepen.

In Restorative Yoga: During poses like Child’s Pose or Legs Up the Wall, bolsters can support your body, allowing you to hold the pose for longer periods and deeply relax.

For Relaxation: If you find it uncomfortable to lie in Shavasana due to lower back tension, I recommend placing a bolster under your knees. This simple adjustment alleviates pressure on the lower back, allowing your body to settle more comfortably on the mat and fully embrace the relaxation.

Bolsters are ideal for moments when you need to slow down and truly relax, whether in class or practicing at home.

Why Incorporate Props into Your Yoga Practice?

Using props like yoga blocks, straps, and bolsters isn’t about making the practice "easier," but rather about making it more accessible and enjoyable. These tools help you feel supported, create space for deeper relaxation, and enable you to explore your body’s range of motion in a nurturing way.

Whether you’re practicing with me in Wath-Upon-Dearne, Rotherham, or on your own, these simple tools can help you tap into a deeper sense of mindfulness and presence. So, if you haven’t already, consider giving yoga props a try in your next session. You might find that they make your practice feel more grounded, comfortable, and fulfilling.

If you're looking for an accessible yoga or meditation class in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, I’d love to have you join me! You can view my full class timetable HERE. And if you have any questions or need more details, feel free to reach out.