Five ways yoga props can deepen and support your yoga practice
Yoga props like blocks, straps, bolsters, and blankets are not just beginner tools; they’re powerful supports that help us explore poses more safely, mindfully, and effectively.
Whether you’re easing into a new shape or working with tight muscles, props make yoga more accessible and enjoyable for every body. Below you will find five practical ways to use props.
Five ways to use props
1. Find length and ease with a strap in seated forward fold
Tight hamstrings or a cranky lower back can make Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold) feel frustrating. Enter the yoga strap. Loop it around the soles of your feet and hold the ends gently, allowing your spine to stay long as you hinge from the hips. You’ll still feel a lovely stretch without the urge to round your back or strain. Straps also help in poses like Reclined Hand to Big Toe (Supta Padangusthasana) and Dancer’s Pose (Natarajasana), providing reach and stability.
2. Lift the floor to you with blocks in standing poses
Blocks are like an extension of your arms, bringing the ground closer so you can maintain alignment and avoid overreaching. In Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), place a block under your bottom hand to support your side body and keep your chest open. In Half Moon (Ardha Chandrasana), a block under your hand creates balance and spaciousness as you lift and lengthen.
3. Melt into restorative shapes with bolsters and blankets
Restorative yoga is all about surrender and support. Props help your body soften into stillness without effort. Use a bolster under your knees in Savasana to ease the lower back, or place it lengthwise under your spine in a gentle heart opener. A folded blanket under your head or hips adds comfort and encourages longer, deeper rest.
4. Open the Heart with your blocks in Supported Fish Pose
Let’s talk about Supported Fish, which is one of my all-time favourite poses. Sure, as you can see above, it doesn't make for the most flattering photo I’ve ever taken, but it feels so good, especially after a day hunched over my phone or beading board.
Using two blocks (one set up vertically on its high side under the mid to upper back, one set up horizontally on its low side to support your head), this pose gently unravels tension in the chest and shoulders. It’s a reset button for the posture and breath.
5. Explore balance and build confidence
Props are brilliant for building confidence in trickier poses. A block between the thighs in Bridge Pose helps engage the right muscles. A chair next to you in Tree Pose or Warrior III offers support as you build stability and trust in your body.
Why Eco-Friendly Props Matter
Just like your practice is about balance and harmony, so is choosing what you use on the mat. Eco-friendly yoga props, like cork blocks, organic cotton straps, and natural rubber mats, support your body and the planet. Cheaper alternatives often contain plastics, dyes, or synthetic fillers that can off-gas toxins and break down quickly. At Seeds of Wonder, all my yoga props are mindfully selected to align with your values - sustainable, beautiful, and designed to last.
Check them out HERE.
Remember...
Props aren’t about doing less or doing it the 'easy' way; they’re about doing yoga in a way that supports you. Whether you’re opening the heart in an unglamorous but delicious Supported Fish, or finding steadiness in standing poses, props help you meet your body with kindness and curiosity.
Get started with props today! What are you waiting for...?
