Finally starting that home yoga practice you’ve been dreaming of but need some guidance on what props will set you up for success? Look no further; below you’ll find the best yoga props for your at home lily pad.
Hi everyone!
I think we are all spending more time at home than usual these days which means yoga practices from home instead of our favorite studios! Many of us no longer have access to those amazing yoga props studios provide. So we want to get some…but what do we get? What size? How many? Ahhh?! Well lucky day, I’m here to help! I have compiled all of the “essential yoga props” I use in my personal home practice and share them with you so theres no guessing!
Even though I usually practice at studios I find having the right props available at home can really come in handy for those days I just want some alone time with me, my mat and I! For those of you looking to start a home yoga practice this list will break down the 5 essential yoga props to get you started!
When I first started practicing yoga I really didn’t go for the props. I kind of looked at them from a distance with a side eye and walked the other way. I’m not sure if it was a lack of understanding about how to use them or if it was that I felt silly grabbing all of the props. But now, I LOVE PROPS. You’ll find me with minimum two blocks, (you see this in all my YouTube Videos haha) usually a strap and blanket within arms reach as well. Yoga props are so useful in supporting many yoga poses on our way to the full expression, they are good helpers when trying to find the right alignment, they are wonderful at teaching certain hard to turn on muscles when to fire and they are supportive when you need to just melt down and let it all go. There is a prop for every situation and they are here to support you! So let’s take advantage of them!
Let’s get to it! Scroll down for the 5 Essential Yoga Props!
5 Essential Yoga Props for Your Home Practice
My personal prop pile to the right 😊
Yoga Mat
This is ESSENTIAL. I’ve known a few people to not practice on a mat but I prefer the gentle cushion separating me from the hard wood or tile floor. Also the yoga mat makes it a little easer on your spine and sitting bones when lying or sitting down. I’ve had many mats over the years from really really cheap to quite expensive. I have to say there are great mat options at all price points, below are my favorites from each.
Liforme Mat
The mat I’m currently using is a Liforme mat. I recently purchased it and I completely love it. I think I’ll do a review soon (Not Affiliate/Sponsored just really like it). This mat is on the expensive side, $140.00-$185.00; but does come with a sturdy carrying bag which is nice for transport and storage when the mat is not in use. Its very grippy and has guides on the actual mat for where to put your feet and hands alignment wise. Great for beginner yogis. I’ve been thinking about getting one for a while and I’m glad I did! There are also lots of coupon codes floating around the internet for discounts on these.
lululemon “The Mat”
I have also practiced on Luluemon “The Mat” for YEARS. This is a great mat at a mid-range price point about $68.00. The Lululemon mat is good for regular yoga or hot yoga because it is very absorbent and grippy. I find that my Lululemon mats last about 2 years and I use them 5-6 times per week (I beat them up lol). However I will say I have had one of these for 5 years and I can still pull it out and use it; it has lost some of the grip but it’s still acceptable. This mat does not come with any carrying case.
Amazon & TJMAXX Yoga Mat Finds
I have used trusty Amazon and TJMAXX Mats as well! In fact I always have a few lying around in my car, back yard and living room. I find the brand is usually Gaiam. For a home practice they are GREAT. Price point is usually $30.00 or LESS and they are grippy! These mats come in many different colors and designs and are just downright fun to look at and practice on! Here are some great ones below:
Gaiam 4mm Yoga Mat - $21.99
2. Yoga Blocks
Yoga blocks are my BEST friends. They bring the floor to you. They transform poses that seem completely inaccessible into poses that are magically available to you. Yoga blocks hold you up during powerful practices and support you for our deeper restorative practices. We can use them as tuffets to sit upon and shelves for our snacks…wait. I got distracted. But in all seriousness two yoga blocks are a necessary addition to your at home yoga prop collection. I guarantee you, you will use them in more ways than one! There are generally two types of yoga blocks, cork and a harder foam material. I personally prefer the foam because I can move them easily and when I use them to support my low back they aren’t too hard. BUT cork yoga blocks can be great if you want something a little sturdier that will stand the test of time. I have linked the yoga blocks I use and some cork ones below!
FOAM YOGA BLOCKS
These are my yoga blocks (I have them in Lime Green color) - They go for $12.98 for a pair of two. I’ve had a similar pair for 4 years and they still look almost brand new!
CORK YOGA BLOCKS
Cork Yoga Blocks - I found this set on amazon that has great reviews! About $25.00 for a pair
BONUS BLOCKS
I found these beautiful blocks while researching for for this post and they are SO PRETTY. They are foam and come in beautiful cloud printed colors, pink, blue or green. I think I may have to add them to my collection and wanted to share the wealth!
3. Yoga Strap
Yoga straps are great for many things. You can use your yoga strap to magically make your arms longer if you cant reach your feet in forward folds. You can use yoga straps to help with your back bends and hip flexor stretches. Yoga straps can be a good tool when learning inversions to keep the elbows shoulder width apart and help you work on challenging binds. This makes a good sturdy yoga strap a staple for your home practice!
Here is the link to the exact yoga strap I have (Very affordable - $7.49); no surprise mine is lime green (I must keep up with my theme!) But don’t worry, it also comes in 5 other colors! I ordered the 8 ft long one, it’s also adjustable so you can use it for whatever your heart desires!
4. Yoga Bolster
Ah the yoga bolster. These are the big pillow looking things you see us yogis laying all over. I didn’t purchase a yoga bolster until I did my restorative yoga teacher training. But now that I have one, I wonder how I survived my home practice without one. I use it not only for restorative postures but also as a meditation cushion, a seat for working on my laptop and sometimes a Netflix watching lily pad lol.
I have a rectangular bolster made by Sol Living in..GREEN, it’s very heavy duty and organic. However it seems to be out of stock online everywhere so I’ve linked a similar bolster here in grey from bed bath and beyond. I also recently bought a bolster off of amazon for my momma to use during her restorative yoga classes. It’s lighter weight than the Sol Living bolster making it easier to pick up and move around, she approves! Lighter weight bolster linked here.
5. Yoga Blanket
Last but most definitely not least is ‘drum roll please’ the yoga blanket! Yoga blankets create a soft space for your knees to land in knee down poses, or backbends such as camel where there is more pressure than usual on the knees. Yoga blankets can also be used as restorative props or pillows, a core work-out add on…and sometimes we even use them as actual blankets! Having a yoga blanket at home opens up the possibilities you have in your home practice making them a staple!
I have a family friend who gifts me beautiful and colorful yoga blankets so I am lucky and have never had to purchase one. However if I did, here’s a good option for a decent price ($29.95), I like the colors in the Turquoise option!
Here’s a Recap of the 5 Essential Yoga Props
Yoga Mat
Pair of Yoga Blocks
Yoga Strap
Yoga Bolster
Yoga Blanket
I hope these yoga prop suggestions help you to create your at home sanctuary!
- Jess
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