You don't need anything but your body to practice yoga, but there are a few products that can make your practice a bit easier. You can purchase products designed for yoga practice at sporting goods stores or yoga studios. By using a few helpful yoga products, you can deepen your practice and improve your flexibility and posture.
Yoga Mat
Yoga mats, also called sticky mats, are very helpful tools for yoga practice, especially if you do yoga in a place that has hard wood or concrete floors. A yoga mat provides a cushion that can help you prevent injury in poses that involve sitting or spending time on your knees. Yoga mats are typically made from sticky foam or rubber that helps keep your feet in place, preventing you from slipping around during your yoga practice.
Blanket
Yoga blankets are long woven blankets that can provide cushioning, support and warmth during your yoga practice. You can fold up a yoga blanket to add padding to your yoga mat, allowing you to sit or kneel more comfortably. At the end of practice, when you are in a deep relaxation, you can use a yoga blanket to cover up and keep yourself warm.
Strap
Yoga straps are long belt-like straps, usually made from nylon or cotton. You can use yoga straps to modify yoga poses when you have trouble getting into the full pose. For example, you can loop a strap around your feet if your toes are out of reach in folding positions where you are aiming to grab your feet. Yoga straps also come in handy for holding your body in bound positions, such as bound angle pose.
Blocks
Yoga blocks are brick-shaped blocks made from soft foam. During your yoga practice, if you are having trouble reaching the floor in poses such as forward bends or triangle pose, you can use a yoga block to essentially bring the floor closer to you. You can also use a block to support your buttocks in seated positions such as hero pose. In some poses, including chair pose, holding the yoga block between your knees as you move can help you keep proper alignment.
Bolsters
Yoga bolsters are large, soft cushions that you can use during relaxation. At the end of your yoga practice, you may chose to recline on a yoga bolster to support your spine as your body relaxes. If you lie on your back in corpse pose at the end of practice, putting a bolster under your knees can help prevent strain on your lower back.
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