A Guide To Yoga Props

Yoga props can serve many purposes in your practice. Exploring and experimenting with props opens up endless possibilities to experience new movements, emotions, and deeper connections between your body and mind.

There’s often a misunderstanding around using props, and some people think they mean you’re struggling with a pose. But props aren’t a sign of weakness they’re a smart, evolving part of any practice. When used thoughtfully, props can help support and elevate your practice no matter your experience level.

We’re here to clear up the myths and mysteries about yoga props. Whether you’re just starting out or have been practicing for years, we hope this guide helps you understand what tools are available to support you at every stage of your journey.

Yoga Strap

The yoga strap is one of the most versatile tools in your practice! It helps you deepen your poses, create gentle traction, extend your reach, and improve balance.

By giving yourself a little extra space, straps open up new possibilities for all levels from easing into a stretch more comfortably to finally achieving that advanced bind you’ve been working toward.

If you’re aiming to boost your flexibility or release tight muscles, a yoga strap is a practical and supportive tool to have by your side.

Which Length Is Best for Me?

If you’re using a strap to gently extend your reach toward a pose that feels just out of grasp, a shorter strap will likely do the trick.

For restorative practices, a longer strap offers more versatility, allowing you to adjust and move within poses comfortably.

If you plan to attach your strap before moving into a pose, a longer strap gives you the freedom to shift and stretch without losing your grip.

Our straps come in two lengths: 243 cm (8 ft) and 304 cm (10 ft) choose the one that best fits your practice style and needs.

What Are the Benefits of the Manduka AligN Yoga Strap?

The AligN yoga strap is a premium strap inspired by the original design of the legendary B.K.S. Iyengar. It features Manduka’s proprietary buckle and a secure interlocking system that eliminates slipping, providing reliable support even in the most challenging poses.

No time wasted it's quick and easy to buckle and unbuckle, so you can focus on your practice.

Made from 100% natural, unbleached cotton, this strap is eco-friendly, sturdy, and offers a comfortable grip.

At 4.5 cm wide, the AligN strap has a larger surface area, which means less digging into your skin when you pull tight, giving you more comfort during your stretches.

Available in two lengths: 243 cm (8 ft) and 304 cm (10 ft), so you can choose the size that fits your practice best.

Benefits of Using a Yoga Strap

• Improve your flexibility while refining alignment and form.

• Prevent overreaching in poses, which can cause unnecessary tension in the body.

• Hold deeper into your asanas without compromising proper form, allowing you to relax, release, and breathe more fully into each pose.

Tips When Using a Strap

Remember, the strap isn’t meant to force your body deeper into a pose that can cause tension in your neck and shoulders. Instead, think of it as a tool for stability and support, helping you find a secure point of contact where you might otherwise struggle.

No matter the pose, keep your grip gentle and your shoulders and neck relaxed. This will help you stay comfortable and breathe more freely throughout your practice.

Yoga Bolster

For many yogis, the bolster is the ultimate go-to prop. This simple yet powerful tool opens the door to the world of restorative yoga, helping you experience deeper release, relaxation, and openness.

Manduka bolsters are thoughtfully designed to offer soft cushioning with medium support, providing ultimate comfort during restorative poses and deep breathing exercises. Unlike traditional buckwheat-filled bolsters, Manduka’s are lighter and gentler, making them easy to move and position.

Their medium firmness helps ease stiffness, pregnancy aches, and joint pain, while offering targeted support to specific areas of the body allowing your anatomy to relax and function without strain or tension.

We offer three varieties of yoga bolsters in the Enlight Bolster Family, each designed with different shapes and colors to suit your unique needs.

All bolsters feature a super soft, absorbent eQua recycled microfiber fabric cover that keeps you dry and comfortable during practice. They’re easy to clean and filled with a foam core combined with cotton fiber padding, providing soft to medium support for your ultimate comfort.

How to Choose Between the Shapes

• Enlight Rectangular Bolster
  Perfect for those new to bolsters, this wider, rectangular design offers excellent coverage across your back when lying down and provides a flat, stable surface for wrist support. Its lower height creates a steady base when laid flat. It’s also great for seated postures and forward bends, and offers solid support during meditation. This is the most versatile bolster in the family.
  Size: 71 cm x 30 cm x 13 cm | Weight: 1.1 kg

• Enlight Round Bolster
  With its classic round shape, this bolster helps you deepen heart-opening stretches by encouraging a natural curve through your spine. Taller than the rectangular bolster, it provides extra support for forward bends and chest-opening poses.
  Size: 69 cm x 23 cm x 23 cm | Weight: 1 kg

• Lean Bolster
  Ideal for targeted stretches, this lightweight, hybrid-shaped bolster combines curved and flat surfaces for versatile support. It pairs well with rectangular bolsters and blocks for customized setups.
  Size: 74 cm x 18 cm x 8 cm | Weight: 0.45 kg

Benefits of Using a Yoga Bolster

• Relieves stress, tension, and joint pain.

• Provides a deeply soothing effect on the mind and nervous system.

• Improves blood circulation and helps reduce inflammation.

Yoga Blanket

Yoga blankets are a gentle source of warmth and support perfect for times when a block or bolster might feel like too much. They’re commonly used during meditation, rest, or to refine poses by providing extra support and alignment.

Many yogis love placing blankets under their knees or back, or wrapping themselves up during Savasana for added comfort. Blankets can also cushion hard floors, softening pressure points like under the knees. Additionally, placing a blanket on top of the body can add gentle weight, helping you feel more grounded and relaxed.

One of the best things about yoga blankets is their versatility. Unlike other props, blankets can be folded, rolled, or laid flat to fit a wide variety of postures and personal needs.

We offer two types of yoga blankets wool and cotton both made with high-quality recycled blends for durability and comfort.

What’s the Difference Between the Wool and Cotton Blankets?

The Recycled Wool Yoga Blanket is soft, moldable, and easy to fold, making it perfect for supporting your body in both restorative and dynamic poses. It offers ultimate warmth and comfort, so you can wrap yourself up and feel cozy throughout your practice. Made from 75% recycled wool and 25% recycled synthetic fibers, this blanket is thoughtfully crafted in India.

The Peruvian Recycled Cotton Yoga Blanket offers versatility and a bit more coverage, as it’s slightly larger than the wool version. Its luxe, rustic fabric moves and folds exactly how you need it to, whether you’re rolling it, stacking it, or layering it for support. Made from a high-quality cotton blend with an overlocked edge to prevent fraying, this durable blanket is crafted in Peru.

Benefits of Using a Yoga Blanket

• Helps you stay longer and get the most out of your recovery poses.

• Supports subtle adjustments to prevent poor posture.

• Relieves stress, tension, and joint pain.

Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks are some of the most versatile props you can use in your practice. They bring the floor closer to you, help deepen stretches, improve alignment in balancing poses, and provide a supportive platform to release tension.

No matter your experience level, blocks should be a foundational part of your yoga toolkit.

To support all kinds of yogis, we offer blocks in various shapes and sizes:

• Cork blocks are dense, firm, and heavier, using their weight to give you a grounded, stable feel. They come in both standard and lean sizes.

• Foam blocks are also dense and supportive but incredibly lightweight. They won’t compress under your body weight, and their soft handfeel with rounded edges ensures comfort. Foam blocks come in standard and mini sizes.

• unBLOK foam blocks feature rounded sides for a more ergonomic fit and add an optional balance challenge to your practice.

For a deeper look into our block options and how to use them, check out the full details in our Manduka Yoga Block Guide.