Heres a little blog post to point you in the right direction for your yoga props, Yoga mats and props aren't the be all and end all of our practice, we can practice anywhere with out a mat and if you look around the room I'm sure you have lots of helpful things that could be used as a prop! BUT I will say that they are super helpful, great to throw in your bag to bring to studio, hygienic and they are yours to enjoy. I love that our yoga mat becomes a new home, that it becomes a symbol of dedication to loving yourself more.
There are many yoga props on the market, varying in size, colour, shape, fabric, price and brand. Im sharing a few that I sell myself in the Wildlove shop and a yoga mat brand that I rate as I have got through a few of them over the years! If you have any recommendations please feel free to share them in the comments!
TRAVEL YOGA MAT
Travel yoga mats are great for... travelling! They roll up super small and can even be folded. The mat I bring along to classes is a travel mat, the top layer is soft so great if you get sweaty hands and feet but is soft enough to not get stuck on it. One thing I will mention is, they are thin. I think mine is 1.6mm, so if your knees need support these mats might not be the best, but remember you can always fold an edge over, double it up or even put another mat underneath. Great lightweight and easy to carry around.
YOGA BLOCKS
Now if there is one piece of equipment I would recommend any one gets for their yoga practice it would be blocks, not one but two, the same size and shape. They are AMAZING. The pictures are self explanatory for size and material. Foam is soft, cork is hard etc! They can be used in every single pose and I really would recommend in investing your time in becoming friends with them, I have used them for years and still do. They offer support in poses that feel too intense, they can take the edge away from an uncomfortable sensation, they can create height in lunges, down dog, they can 'lengthen arms' for arm balances! There really are SO many fun things to do with them.
BOLSTERS Probably my favourite prop of all, the bolster! A firm cylindrical pillow that can support body weight but also mould to the shape of the body. Bolsters are great for Yin or Restorative yoga practices where we stay in a posture for a long period of time, the bigger the prop/s the better! We can drape and soften the body over this prop and really get the most out of its support. Blocks create height in poses and bolsters allow us to soften closer to the ground, they also have the ability to take stress off the bones. The muscles engage to move the bones within the body and as we support the bones in the body, the muscles relax, as do the bones = a very happy relaxed body that requires no force or effort. I'll add Yin is an incredible practice that you need to try if you haven't, ultimate relaxation!
The bolster that I sell are softer, and are not buckwheat. They are squishy and support the body beautifully in each posture, if you have attended my Yin & Myofascial class you will have used one of these, so I would love to hear what you think about them! (Comment below).
Alongside the benefits of supporting with blocks, bolsters are high up on the 'must have' list.
Im selling these so drop me an email to get in touch! £30 each.
STRAPS
Not only are blocks and bolsters wonderful aids in our practice so are straps, they are helpful in 'getting the foot' in tricky balances and are amazing for releasing the shoulders. We can also create a loop with them to wrap around the arms or legs to help us with strength work within practice, if you're unsure what I mean have a look see at the blog post below!
PILATES BALL Don't they look wonderful, how can something so small and squishy be so misleading. Pilates balls, you may have used one, you may not but they are an absolute GAME CHANGER for your strength, posture, body awareness and control in practice.
When using a ball in practice it takes the mind out of what we are doing and we feel what the body is doing. They allow us to move with even more precision, grace (not necessarily ease), by slowing our movements down we can create more strength and stability which will create a more efficient practice.
KNEE SUPPORT
These circular pads are perfect for offering support to the knees, wrists and joints within each posture. As we all the props above they can be versatile and add support to your body in your way.
I have a few of these in stock so if you want one grab yourself one for £10!
Props are fantastic for adapting your practice and can really help you create more space within postures, the idea within practice is to create length and space within the muscles, to breathe deeply and clearly without any force or effort. Props can help us gain even more body awareness and perspective on how we move, I for one wont practice with out them!
Thank you so much for reading and I do hope it gives you a little direction and ideas for whats on offer, the best thing you can do is invest into your health and wellbeing!
*If you purchase from the direct links I have shared Wildlove makes a little money, all of your support helps, so thank you.
Here is the helpful blog post that shows you how to use props in certain postures, I'll be sharing another one soon, look at that hair!
All my love,
V x