No props? No problem.
Here are some great options for prop alternatives if you do not have access to yoga props. Use what you have on hand! Yoga is flexible :)
BLOCKS
Yoga blocks — dense blocks made of foam, cork, rubber, and other materials — are one of the most popular props that you can use in yoga practices to accomodate your body. These blocks are typically used to extend the arms but can be used to support the back, hips, and head.
Pictured left is The Block in Ladybug by Yoga Hustle, purchase here.
BLOCK ALTERNATIVES
Overturned trash can
Heavy hardcover books
Chair, Stool, or coffee table
Boxes, empty or otherwise
Anything sturdy that lends a few inches of height works!
STRAPS
Training muscles to adopt new range and flexibility takes a little help. A yoga strap can make all the difference. As a beginner, they can help you reach for hands and feet that feel a little too far away. As you progresses, straps allow you to go deeper in your stretches.
Pictured left is The Strap in Tulum by Yoga Hustle, purchase here.
STRAP ALTERNATIVES
Belt
Dog leash
Bathrobe sash
Stretchy t-shirt
Scarf
Ribbon Dancer
Our personal favorite option is a dog leash—because that means you have a sweet lil friend who might even join you on the mat :)
BOLSTER
What is a bolster?
While a block is firm and rigid, a bolster is giving and soft. It is usually larger than a block. Adapt it to your back, bottom, and joints. Bolsters can be used as a prop during a flow practice, as a comfy cushion in meditation, or as a place to rest during restorative yoga.
Pictured left is The Bolster in English Gardens by Yoga Hustle, purchase here.
BOLSTER ALTERNATIVES
1-2 large pillows
Couch cushion
A really squishy dog bed that isn’t stinky
a particularly voluminous duvet or body pillow
Something soft, cozy and with a little bit of fluff is what we lean towards in our practice.
BLANKET
Blankets can be used for warmth during practice, but can also be rolled or folded for added support in poses. Use a blanket to create more cushion when a block or bolster just won’t fit.
Pictured left is The Blanket in Savanna by Yoga Hustle, purchase here.
BLANKET ALTERNATIVES
Large sweatshirt
A bed comforter
That quilt your grandma made you
That really ugly company blanket gift that you were thinking about regifting
A beach towel
The point is to have something flexible and easily manipulated. Anything soft and malleable that takes up real estate works!
Yoga is for you. Wherever you are, whenever you need it. Don’t sweat the little things, using what you have can be part of the flexibility.
