Basic accessories for yoga practice

As you progress in your yoga practice, you may need some extra equipment to feel more comfortable and to gain proper body alignment. This may be because you are still a beginner and your body is not completely flexible or, perhaps, due to some special physical need, caused by an injury or pathology.

Yoga blocks will help you get into proper alignment, no matter your level of flexibility. Beginners will need them for the most demanding push-ups. There are blocks of different sizes and materials: foam, cork and wood.

Yoga straps will help you push your flexibility limit in poses that require stretching to your extremities. They can also help you stay in one pose for a long time. Some yoga straps come with buckles, D-rings, pins, or fasteners, others come on their own.

Yoga pillows or cushions help support you and ensure correct body alignment in the most demanding asanas. Use them to feel more comfortable and to relieve tension in the muscles of your back, abdomen and legs. Yoga pillows are available in different shapes, sizes, colors and materials, so you will surely find the one that best meets your needs.

Folded yoga blankets help cushion. You can also use them to cover yourself during restorative asanas at the end of a session, so they won’t be distracted by cold or drafts.

Yoga sandbags are used to accentuate stretches with some extra weight. Place one on your stomach to be more aware of your abdominal muscles as you breathe. They can also be used to support or lift certain parts of the body. Most yoga stores sell them empty, so you can fill them with sand, beans, grains of corn, wheat, or rice and adjust the weight.

There are several basic accessories for yoga. You can use all of them or just a few – it’s up to you how to improve your yoga practice.