Alternatives to Yoga Props: how to use household items in your virtual yoga practice.

Now that you are cultivating your yoga practice from home, you may not have had the chance (or you may not be ready) to invest in some yoga props. With all these objects lying around the house, there must be something you can use instead, right? Yes, you are right!

Here are some alternatives to the most commonly used yoga props which can typically be found at home:

- Yoga Block Alternative: Thick books (like a dictionary, or a hard-cover book), metal reusable water bottles, an empty small metal waste basket or rolled up towels.

○ Meg's Pro Tip: Try to find 2 items that are the same or similar in size/shape, since you may need to use both at the same time. If you're using blocks for support in standing postures (like Warrior 3 or Half Moon), flip over a small metal waste basket, or use metal water bottles for support under your hands.

○ Meg's Pro Tip: if the prop is being used in a restorative type yoga class in a more passive/gentle way, toilet paper or paper towel rolls can work as well. For example, if you are in a reclining butterfly/bound angle pose (Supta Baddha Konasana), you can use toilet paper rolls under your knees as a gentle support.

- Yoga Strap Alternative: a scarf, necktie, robe tie or material belt.

- Yoga Bolster Alternative: a thick pillow or sofa cushion.

○ Meg's Pro Tip: Bring a few pillows so that you can stack them to give you more height!

- Yoga Blanket Alternative: any blanket or towel.

What if you forgot your mat at work? Can you still practice?

The short answer is yes. The best occasional alternative to your yoga mat would be to practice directly on the floor. Have some towels or blankets close by, which you can place under your knees in certain poses, like in low lunge (Anjaneyasana). That being said, it is not safe to use a towel or blanket to replace your yoga mat altogether, since it can easily cause you to slip and injure yourself, and should only be used to support you in certain poses. The floor is your best bet.

As you can see, it doesn't have to cost much in equipment to start practicing yoga online. As long as you have a yoga mat, you can find alternatives to most yoga props around the house. So look around!

Namaste.

Meg