I used to think props were optional. Helpful, maybe. But not necessary. Something you used if you couldn’t quite do the pose.
Now, I can’t imagine my yoga practice without them.
Most days I do yoga at home. I have my blocks, my strap, my blanket, even a second mat for padding. It’s just how I practice.
Recently, I went to a community class and didn’t bring any of them. I noticed it right away.
My knee on the hard floor in lunges didn’t feel great. Lying on my back, my spine didn’t feel supported. The room was a bit cold, and I kept thinking how nice it would be to have my blanket in Savasana.
I didn’t enjoy the class as much as I usually do.
The next time, I brought everything with me. I felt more comfortable, more supported, and more able to actually be in the poses instead of managing discomfort.
Yoga props (blocks, straps, blankets) aren’t a backup plan.
They’re tools that can make a pose more effective, more interesting, and more healing.
And we deserve that kind of support.
My go-to props
I use these regularly:
- Blocks
- Strap
- Blanket
- Rolled-up mat (Used a lot in Forrest-style yoga)
What changes when you use them?
Using a prop isn’t about making a pose easier. It’s about changing your relationship to the pose and how it feels in your body.
Sometimes that means:
- Feeling a muscle engage that you didn’t notice before
- Having space to breathe instead of bracing
- Being able to stay in the pose long enough to really experience it
- Creating more length or spaciousness
In a lot of ways, it’s a more advanced practice.
A few ways I use props
1. Triangle pose
Using a block under your bottom hand (I like outside the foot) brings the ground closer. This lets your spine and side body lengthen instead of collapsing.
2. Extended side angle
Put your hand on a block, and suddenly there’s lift and space across your chest. You may find this feels better in your back than going lower (even if you can!)
3. Standing wide straddle forward bend
Use one or two blocks under your hands to avoid collapsing into your low back and rounding forward. Think lengthen then fold.
If you’re reaching arms up and overhead, hold a strap instead of clasping your hands. It creates space in your shoulders and lets you lengthen more easily. Imagine piking your hips up as you fold.
4. Lunge (or any pose with the knee down)
Padding your back knee with a blanket changes everything. You can relax into the pose instead of guarding the knee. Honestly the best.
5. Warrior I (with archer arms)
Use a strap between your hands instead of clasping them together. There’s more space in your shoulders and it creates a sense of opening through your chest with less strain in your arms, shoulders and neck.
A prop is not a crutch!
It’s easy to think using props means you’re “not there yet.”
But what if it’s the opposite?
Using a prop might mean you pay closer attention. It can help you practice with more precision, more awareness, and more feeling.
Maybe it means you have arrived.
Try it
Next time you practice, pick one pose you do all the time. Add a prop. Not because you need it but because you’re curious. See what changes!
Do you use props in your practice? I’d love to hear what you reach for most.