Yoga bolsters

Support yoga bolster

Yoga bolsters should be firm to allow a productive and comfortable yoga exercise. The use of a yoga bolster with breathing techniques helps support the long muscles on both sides of the spine. This allows the muscles to fully relax. As your chest extends, your breathing becomes slower and therefore deeper. A yoga bolster supports your body while performing yoga exercises, so you can hold postures longer.

Models yoga bolsters

Rectangular yoga bolster
The rectangular bolsters have flat sides at the top, bottom and sides. This shape gives a stable balance because this bolster cannot roll. These bolsters provide good back support at horizontal positions. This gives comfort to the spine and the hips when you perform yoga postures that put pressure on your back. Rectangular bolsters can also be used in yoga poses where you bend the body forward.

Round yoga bolster
The round yoga bolster has a cylindrical shape. Rounded bolsters are very good for back support and yoga postures that open the chest with a curvature in the back, such as the supported back-bending posture. Compared with a rectangular bolster, the round bolster is also good for supporting limbs, such as under bent knees.

Pranayama bolster
The pranayama bolsters, originally designed by Iyengar, are often used longitudinally along the spine to help open the rib cage for practicing pranayama, or deep breathing exercises. The pillow helps to create more space in the area of the lungs and solar plexus, so more oxygen can circulate. These bolsters can also be used to open the upper back and lungs for people who are still working on their flexibility.

In which yoga style is a yoga bolster used?

Bolsters are widely used in yoga therapy, where a bolster can be placed under different parts of the body for firm but comfortable support to stimulate total relaxation. Yoga can have a deep soothing effect on the mind and the nervous system. A yoga bolster is often used in yoga styles such as Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Prenatal Yoga and Iyengar Yoga.