The benefits of a yoga strap

A yoga strap is a popular prop used during yoga practice to help to achieve poses that are a bit out of the reach of some. It is particularly useful for beginners who haven’t quite achieved the flexibility necessary to perform a full pose. This article details the benefits of this prop.

What is a yoga strap?

A yoga strap is a popular prop used during yoga practice to help to achieve poses that are a bit out of the reach of some. The yoga strap helps beginners to achieve the benefits of a pose and to maintain proper alignment

Using a yoga strap

A yoga strap is a strongly-woven strap with an adjustable buckle at one end. Some come attached to a foam mat, known as a yoga mat strap. What the yoga strap does In general, the strap is used to artificially lengthen the arms or legs to bring you into an approximation of a full pose. Straps are handy if you are unable to grasp the feet or otherwise reach your body where it is meant to go in a complex pose. Be careful When choosing a yoga strap, it is best to use one that is made specifically for use in yoga. If a strap is stretchy or can’t be adjusted to hold a stable loop or circle, it could bring your body out of alignment and will diminish the benefits of the pose.

Benefits of a yoga strap

Proper alignment Many beginner yoga classes or DVDs include the use of a strap to help to achieve proper alignment. Without a strap, attempting some of these poses could lead to torn muscles or ligaments. The strap also allows the beginner to get a feel for advanced poses without the frustration of not being able to perform the pose perfectly. The yoga strap is an essential tool for beginners as well as more experienced practitioners who wish to work toward deeper poses. Blocks and bricks Other commonly used yoga props include yoga blocks and yoga bricks. The first is a single foam block, the latter a collection of smaller foam bricks. Blocks and bricks can also be used with folded blankets and bolsters as props. All of these are used to create proper alignment in a pose and to prevent injury. They can help people to do poses that would otherwise be difficult or impossible due to lack of flexibility or experience. They can also help to work back into advanced poses after injury. Many yoga teachers stress upon the idea of “starting where you are.” This means doing every pose to the best of your personal ability. The yoga strap makes this possible and increases the comfort and effectiveness of a yoga session even if you’ve never done yoga before.