Why Would You Need A Yoga Strap
The function of a yoga strap is to add length. It links where you are with where you want to be in a given yoga pose. A quality yoga strap provides elongation to your muscles and a deeper stretch while keeping your body strong and aligned.
This handy tool is perfect for beginner and advanced yogis alike. It can pull you closer toward touching your toes or it can help you finally get into King Dancer without straining your back. Either way, a quality yoga strap strengthens and lengthens your muscles simultaneously. If youre looking for a deeper stretch and better spinal alignment, you definitely need a yoga strap!
Best Quick Release Buckle: Hugger Mugger Quick
From 17.95$ The Hugger Mugger Yoga strapis a great way to make adjustments on the fly. Its designed with an adjustable plastic buckle and is 100% cotton rated to 500 pounds, so you dont need any metal or other materials for your practice! Its also made in the USA! All that cotton makes this 10-foot long strap feel nice against the skin, too itll keep the pressure where its supposed to be without slipping at any point during class, which means minor discomfort from uncomfortable straps slinging around while working out hard like us yogis do every day or in between Bikram sessions since these things hold firm even through sweat .
Get Your Yoga Strap Stretch On
Those are some very simple and effective stretches using the yoga strap. For a simple $10 investment, you can get a huge benefit from adding these supported stretches into your regimen.
They can be done at the gym or while youre hanging out at home watching TV. Give them a try and see what they do for your workout recovery and flexibility!
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Promotes Healthy Alignment & Form
You know how yoga blocks bring the floor closer to you to encourage healthy alignment? Well, the function of a yoga strap is similar.
A yoga strap gives your limbs extra length, which helps avoid slumping shoulders or hunchback and encourages spinal lengthening when required.
Staying open through the chest when needed will, first of all, make breathing easier and less constricted, and eventually help you hold the asana for more extended periods of time. Secondly, it will reduce the risk of overstretching and injury.
And yes, yoga can lead to some pretty nasty injuries contrary to the popular misconception that yoga is entirely safe .
Supta Padangusthasana is an excellent example of how a yoga strap can help maintain healthy alignment if you have tight hamstrings. And who doesnt nowadays?.
Check out the video below to see how a yoga strap can help you raise the leg at an angle comfortable for you and how it prevents your spine from curving.
Standing and Seated Forward Folds are another group of asanas where a yoga strap comes in handy.
Instead of trying to reach your toes and hunching your back, place the strap around your feet and start lowering yourself down by leaning forward from the hips. The prop will help you hold the spine long and relax your shoulders instead of scrunching them up to your ears.
How To Use A Yoga Strap: 18 Yoga Strap Stretches For Beginners
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You might have seen yoga straps at your local yoga studio next to the yoga blocks and cushions and wondered what you need them for. Yoga straps are an excellent tool to make stretches safer and more accessible and can be super handy as a beginner. I personally always practice with a yoga strap to advance my practice and make it more enjoyable. But what exactly is a yoga strap good for?
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Ways To Use The Yoga Strap
By Kaisa Kapanen | Last updated March 30, 2022
Using a yoga strap is a good way to get some self-help into your yoga practice. No matter what your level of experience is with yoga, a strap can provide useful help on support, alignment, and posture. But strap or no strap, you can start warming-up the muscles and working on your flexibility with the free 30 Day Yoga Challenge. Of course, having a strap on hand as you work through the challenge will help build-up your flexibility and offer support.
Remember not to get too excited and pull your way into postures with force! Always listen to your body, and let your body open up in its own time when you use a strap.
Top 7 Best Yoga Straps
Yoga straps are simple tools, but they arent all created equal. Nobody wants to run the risk of losing their grip on a strap during an assisted Dancers Pose.
At the same time, you dont want a yoga strap that gives you callouses from holding so tight to a rugged texture .
Depending on your goals and your dimensions, certain straps may be more useful for you than others. Yoga straps can have a variety of hand loops, rings, quick release mechanisms, and fabric blends made for different uses.
We did a super in-depth review of the Top 7 Best Yoga Straps in a previous article, but here are the highlights for anyone in the market to try out this prop:
- Best Versatile Elastic Strap: Yoga Evo Elastic Stretching Strap With Loops
Recommended Reading: How Many Calories Do You Burn During Hot Yoga
A Pioneer Of Vacuum Insulated Reusable Bottles The 18oz Standard Mouth Hydro Flask Is Guaranteed To Provide You With Refreshingly Cold Water For Hours On End
Pros: Keeps water cold or hot for hours, variety of sizes and colors, eco-friendly
Cons: Hand-wash only, expensive
If you’re moving through a vigorous flow, staying hydrated is important. A small 2017 study in the International Journal of Yoga found that yogis who drank water both before and during hot yoga classes were less likely to experience symptoms of dehydration than those that didn’t. Even if you’re doing a low-key flow, rehydrating can keep your muscles and your brain happy.
Having a large reliable, reusable water bottle is a great way to make sure you’re hydrating throughout the day. We love Hydro Flask, which has made durable, reusable water bottles since the company was first founded in Bend, Oregon a little over a decade ago. Even though its bottles are pricey, the technology, size, and ergonomic design features of the brand allow a single bottle to serve pretty much every drink need you may have and it’ll last for years.
Available in various sizes and colors even customizable these stainless-steel bottles are ideal to throw in your bag while running errands, carry with you traveling, or take along on any workout, indoor or outdoor.
Xroam Adjustable Leg Stretcher Lengthen Ballet Stretch Band
- Move effortlesslyflexibility equipment that’s ready to use in a few seconds: put the door anchor over any sturdy doorpost, close the door and pull the strap through the d-ring and you’re ready to take your poses to the next level. like a portable stretch machine!
- Achieve full splits fasteasy-to-use leg stretcher to improve your leg flexibility, balance and range of motion in a natural body position. just a few weeks of consistent use and your friends will notice considerable improvements to your movements.
- Superior designdoes not damage door and stays put.this leg stretching equipment will not scratch or damage your door and won’t move or slide while you’re stretching your legs.
- Makes stretching more comfortabletrain with confidence. nothing will break due to use of high quality materials: 150gr cotton strap that smoothly slides through 6mm solid metal welded d-ring. door anchor secures the strap with a metal bolt through a metal plate.
- Our business is flexibilitywe teach flexibility to athletes 24/7 365 days a year. if we don’t know how to teach someone to be flexible, then no one can!
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Best With Bag: Gaiam On
Courtesy of Amazon
The barest minimum of a yoga bag, comprised of a sling and a pocket, this carrier will fit yoga mats of any length. With quick-release magnetic snaps and an added internal strap, rest assured your yoga mat won’t fall out of this fixture.
With a handy front pocket that fits various personal itemslike keys, a wallet, and a phonethis carrier lets you keep all your essentials in one place and skip the backpack.
Yoga Strap Stretches Make Stretching Easier
Heres an important note: you can get yoga straps at nearly any yoga store, and also at well-stocked major sporting goods retailers.
But if you dont have a yoga strap, you can use a regular belt for most of these exercises. Youll just want to have something that you can make a loop with, which will be very helpful in some the following stretches.
The thing thats so awesome about these stretches is that they give you gentle support, allowing you to go deeper than your normally would be able to.
1. Shoulder/Triceps/Upper Back Opener
Video Timestamp:
For this first stretch were going to work on opening up through the rotator cuff muscles of the shoulders.
Start by standing tall, feet under hips, your knees soft, hips square. Holding the strap in your right hand, bring your right elbow up so that it is by your right ear, draping the belt behind your back.
Reach behind with your left hand, your left elbow at 90 degrees, and grip the belt. The belt should be right along your spine.
Now, youre going to floss that belt up and down, pulling up with the right hand a few inches and then pulling back down with the left hand.
Youll be stretching through the triceps and the rotator cuff at the same time. If youd like, you can lean to the side a little bit, opening up through the latissimus dorsi muscles.
Do 10 or so reps on one side, then switch to the other side.
2. Quadriceps Stretch
Video Timestamp:
3. Lying Quadriceps Stretch
Video Timestamp:
4. Seated Hamstring Stretch
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Benefits Of A Yoga Strap
The most important benefit of a yoga strap is lowering your risk of injury on the mat. At the same time, yoga straps can also help:
- Maintain alignment
- Increase your range of motion
- Strengthen and lengthen muscles
- Advance into challenging poses
- Prevent overextension
With a yoga strap, you can pull yourself a little closer toward touching your toes in a Forward Fold without crunching your back downward. It can also help extend your arm toward your leg in Standing Hand to Big Toe pose without destabilizing your balance and alignment.
You can adjust the strap to a shorter length to help you practice challenging hand binds without over-twisting your back. Moreover, you can use a yoga strap to strengthen your shoulders, arms, glutes, and core.
With gentle tension, the strap can still facilitate deep relieving stretches. It ensures you stay in alignment while trying new poses, yet still helps you enjoy that feeling of accomplishment from advancing in your practice.
Can Replace A Yoga Mat Sling
This yoga strap benefit doesnt directly relate to the practice of yoga, but nonetheless deserves its place on the list.
In case you want to save money on the yoga mat bag, or something happened to yours, with the magic sleight-of-hand, you can transform your yoga strap into a yoga sling for carrying your favorite mat.
Heres the video tutorial of how to use your yoga strap for carrying your mat.
I do recommend purchasing a yoga mat bag though since it will protect your mat from the weather conditions, dust and dirt, and eventually prolong its life.
Yoga Deals & Discount Codes
Brands I use and love
Heres a collection of companies and brands Ive tried and loved Ive grouped them into 4 categories. The brands in each category are sorted alphabetically and include a: short about/best for info, link to my full review, and a discount code .
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Best Set Yoga Strap: The Gaiam Essentials
From 23.50$ Gaiams new Yoga strap is perfect for extending your practice and improving your range of motion. The yoga strap features an easy release, D-ring metal buckle that holds all 8 feet securely with a soft looped cloth material on both ends to keep it from tugging at the skin while in use.
We all know the pain of finding a yoga position thats just right. It can feel like weve been in limbo for eternity! But now there are blocks lightweight and durable enough to handle any challenge or support your poses without feeling too heavy on those overworked muscles.
So adding to that, the Gaiam Essentials is among the best yoga straps on Amazon this year they come with two blocks to let your practice pretty easy and durable!
The Best Yoga Mat Bags
The YogaAddict Yoga Pilates Mat Bag is one of the roomiest yoga mat bags on the market. As well as accommodating yoga mats up to 27 inches wide, the versatile duffle has numerous external compartments, so that youll always have your yoga towel, mat cleaner, water bottle , change of clothes and other workout essentials on hand. A zipped internal section is handy for keeping valuables like your phone, wallet and keys secure while you get your sweat on.
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Infinity Yoga Strap For Stretch
Heres a different take on the yoga strap. This Infinity Yoga Strap is in a figure-8 shape. It comes in four sizes ranging from 13 to 30 inches. Thats a lot shorter than some of the other brands. The shorter size can be a good thing, as it means the strap is stronger. You can really stretch and pull as hard as possible and these loops arent going anywhere.
This product comes in 8 bright colors to choose from, including neon green, pink, yellow, and orange. That gives you more color options than the competitors. The Infinity strap is great for improving flexibility, especially if you have a few extra pounds on your frame.
So How Exactly Should A Yoga Strap Be Used
Before you start practicing with a strap you want to make sure youre getting the right strap. Get a cotton strap to avoid injuries/cuts. If youre very tall you might want to consider getting a longer yoga strap.
Then decide if you want a strap with a buckle or a loop. I personally have a strap with a two sliding loops at both ends very easy to use, adjustable and also doubles as a Yoga mat carrier . Once youve found your ideal strap, you can get started!
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Type Of Strap Closure
There are three types of closure for yoga straps: D-ring, buckles, and no closure. For beginners, the D-ring closure is suggested as it is very easy to manipulate and for creating loops and ties. D-rings are also very secure. However, others choose to have the buckle since it is actually more secure than D-ring because of the lesser chances of slipping. For advanced yogis, the most common would be the no-closure as this is the easiest of all to manipulate.
Environmentally-friendly
Taking care of the environment also means taking care of the yoga products that you are going to buy. Avoid buying products made from synthetic resins or PVC which is not biodegradable. There are also harmful chemicals that may harm your health especially when it comes into contact with skin or when these chemicals are inhaled in the long run.
How much
The price is also when of the factors to look into to really see if it is really worth the money. There might be those really affordable ones but with very poor quality and durability.
Final Thoughts
Overall, your preferences, experience, and type of yoga dictate the yoga strap youre planning to buy. Just make sure they fit in the right criteria for the best quality yoga strap.
The Overall Best Yoga Strap For Most People: Tumaz Yoga Strap/stretch Bands
From 6.95$ The Tumaz Yoga strap is an Amazon bestseller due to its welded D-ring buckles and tight fabric that can support more than a ton of weight. The Yoga straps come in 10 different colors, including dual shades for customized practice needs theyre available at three lengths, so everyone gets their perfect fit!
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Best Yoga Straps Budget: The Reehut Yoga Strap
From 5.36$ This affordable yoga strap provides the perfect support and stability to keep you balanced while practicing. With a durable fabric that wont break, plus it features an adjustable metal D-ring buckle all at a fantastic price!
This Yoga strap is perfect for anyone who needs a little extra help with those poses hard-to-reach. It will deepen your practice and make getting into all of those difficult poses easier, but dont worry! The soft material makes this an excellent choice even if youre new to stretching or have some injuries that restrict movement in certain areas . With all these features, our list includes this item among the best yoga straps you can buy from Amazon this year!
More Expert Tips For Choosing The Best Yoga Strap
The durability of the strap material and the length are the two most important aspects in purchasing a yoga strap. There are numerous options for colors and patterns, and straps are typically cheaper than a yoga mat, so have fun buying a few that are fun and make you happy! If you went with a classic yoga mat color, don’t be afraid to get loud with your yoga strap selection.
If you purchase the cotton non-stretch strap, embroidery shops can always embroider your name, a mantra, or a quote on your strap for an added personal touch. You can also add small patches to up the fashion factor. Just be sure to place them in a spot that doesn’t interfere with using your strap during your yoga practice!
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