Necessity is the mom of invention.
(Picture: Andrew Clark | Design in Canva by Laura Harold)
Printed July 23, 2026 10:23AM
You lastly made the time and flooring house to unroll your mat at house so you would follow together with that YouTube video you bookmarked weeks in the past. However then, by way of your laptop computer, the trainer says the phrases that extinguish any preliminary sparkles of rest: “Seize a pair blocks.” Or perhaps “Use a strap.”
Though you’ve been training yoga for years, you don’t have any at-home yoga props.
Sure, you would use a stack of books or a towel instead of blocks or a strap. However getting up breaks the yoga bubble you’ve labored so onerous to create. To not point out it nearly ensures you’ll get distracted by something from the ping of your laptop computer to the sound of an ice cream truck and overlook to return to the mat.
In moments like this, there are in all probability a dozen or extra gadgets inside arm’s attain that might double as supportive yoga props—you simply haven’t seen their practice-saving potential. But.
12 Random At-Residence Yoga Props You Ought to Be Utilizing
They are saying necessity is the mom of invention, and people of us on workers at Yoga Journal continually discover that to be true. Listed here are the not-so-obvious, at-home yoga props we’ve reached for in determined moments—solely to seek out ourselves utilizing them many times.
1. Grocery Baggage
Whether or not reusable or plastic, purchasing luggage can simply ake the place of a strap or belt. Roll one right into a rope-like form to wrap round your shin in a knee-to-chest stretch. Or actually stick your foot into the bag and maintain onto the straps throughout a hamstring stretch.
2. Sports activities Bra
A superb sub for a strap or belt, a bra that you just’re planning to retire (with worn-out elastic) works nice.
3. Backpack
Purses, items of baggage, and backpacks are significantly underrated at-home yoga props. Place one below the hip of your bent leg in Pigeon or beneath every of your knees in Certain Angle Pose. When utilizing backpacks or luggage in symmetrical poses, simply ensure they’re roughly the identical dimension so that you’re extra balanced on both sides.
4. Kitchen Desk
Ever relaxation your total higher physique on a sturdy kitchen desk in Standing Ahead Bend? If not, you’re lacking out. It permits for a less-intense stretch—plus, you’ll earn a brand new appreciation to your furnishings.
5. Soiled Laundry
Sounds gross however hear us out! That pile of garments you discarded on the ground begins to look actually helpful whenever you wish to preserve your knees bent in Large-Legged Ahead Bend. Merely shove as many articles of clothes as you want into areas the place you want assist.
6. Books
A standard choice you’ll hear yoga academics suggest in lieu of blocks are books, whether or not particular person or stacked. One Reddit consumer mentions they zip-tie their stacks of books to maintain them in place whereas they follow.
7. Sweatshirt
Consider a sweatshirt as a foldable cushion to take a seat on, a bolster to make use of as assist, or a strap to elongate your attain. Sweatpants work the identical!
8. Water Bottle
A sturdy water bottle can stand in for a block whenever you want slightly top, comparable to in Warrior 3 or Half Moon). A clunky Stanley or related stainless-steel bottle could be additional sturdy. And if it topples, no less than you’re the one one who will likely be subjected to listening to it clang in opposition to the ground.
9. Cushions or Pillows
Toss a sofa cushion or mattress pillow on the ground when making an attempt Crow Pose if you happen to don’t have a block to position beneath your brow. You may also depend on it as a makeshift bolster beneath your physique in Reclining Certain Angle Pose.
10. Sturdy Cardboard Field
Organising for a restorative pose? Prop a cushion or bolster in opposition to that completely good field you couldn’t bear to toss. Or use it as a block in any pose.
11. Espresso Desk
Come right into a model of Legs Up the Wall along with your knees bent and your calves resting on a espresso desk. (An ottoman additionally works properly!) It’s tremendous supportive and restorative to your decrease again.
12. A Cuddly Canine
Some canines love mendacity on yoga mats, merely won’t budge it doesn’t matter what you do, and willingly act as a bolster beneath your knees in Savasana. Different doggos, not a lot. It’s as much as the pup.
