How to Use Yoga Straps

Yoga straps. They hang at the back of the studio. Your instructor keeps them nicely rolled and ready each day. That one guy in the back of class wraps them around his feet during certain poses. You don’t know what he is doing. You don’t know what anybody with yoga straps is doing. Yours lay untouched in your bag. “What on earth are these things for?” you wonder.

Yoga straps might be a lot more useful than you think. They can help you find deeper stretches or simplify complicated exercises. Yoga straps can help you push yourself without going too far. You just need to know how to use them, and we are here to help.

There are many ways to use yoga straps, but certain stretches may help you more than others. If you are new at using straps, try these stretches and tips for incorporating them into your everyday yoga routine.

1. Simplify complicated poses

Yoga straps can be used to simplify complicated poses and modify your yoga flow. There are many poses in yoga that require you to grab your ankles or feet, but this can be difficult if you are not very flexible.

Try using yoga straps in these poses to make them easier and more effective:

1. Revolved head-to-knee pose

To practice this pose, start sitting in a straddle position with one leg bent and the other leg straight. Without the strap in this pose, you would simply reach for your straight leg foot and feel the stretch in your side and hamstring. However, if you cannot easily reach your foot, using a yoga strap can help. All you need to do is loop the strap around your straight leg foot and lightly pull on the strap to feel a stretch. Grip the strap wherever is most comfortable and pull the stretch as lightly as you would like. Hold this stretch for 1-2 minutes before switching to the other side.

2. Dancer Pose

King dancer is a difficult pose, but yoga straps can help you practice the pose in a simpler way.To practice this pose, stand on one leg. Without the straps you would grab your other foot and pull it behind you, adjusting your footing and grip as you move, and bending your back leg to reach nearer towards your head. If you cannot reach your foot or pull it near you, use yoga straps to improve your technique. Simply wrap the strap around your back foot and hold onto the other side of the strap with both hands. Use the strap to pull your foot into position and create a deeper stretch. Using a yoga strap in dancer pose allows you to practice the pose correctly without faltering on technique.

2. Realign your body

Our bodies tend to be imbalanced. Whether we use one arm to carry things more, we sleep on one side, or our postures are crooked, these small things can affect the overall build and alignment of our muscles and spine. When our bodies are not properly aligned we are more prone to injury and pains throughout the day. Thankfully, though, yoga straps can help correct these imbalances.

Try using yoga straps with these poses to help realign your body:

1. Bow pose

Bow pose is a more complicated pose, but it can be wonderful for helping with realignment. To practice this pose, start laying on your stomach. You will want to have the yoga strap wrapped around your feet as you hold onto the other end with your hand. Slowly arch your back and bend your legs, grabbing the strap with both hands. Focus on keeping balance between both sides of your body, trying not to shift to the left or to the right. By practicing this pose, you are helping to realign your spine and evenly stretch your chest and core.

2. Boat pose

Working your core and stretching your legs, the boat pose is the ultimate pose for realignment and strength building. Without the straps, this pose starts with laying on your back. Next, just lift your legs, keeping them straight, and lift your upper body at the same time. Reach your arms straight forward towards your feet, flexing your core as you do so. To use straps, wrap the strap around your feet and hold onto the two ends with each hand.In this pose, the yoga strap helps you balance your core and hold the pose longer than you might be able to without it.

3.Improve flexibility

Yoga straps are most often used to improve flexibility. They can be combined with yoga poses and flows to stretch your legs, back, and core, opening the hips and making you more flexible.

Try these yoga poses to improve flexibility and find a deeper stretch:

1.Seated Forward Fold

Though this is a very simple pose, the seated forward fold can be extremely beneficial for improving flexibility. Without the straps, all you need to do to practice this pose is sit with both legs straight and bend over, reaching for your toes. While this can be a good stretch it can cause strain on your back if you are not very flexible. To use the strap with this pose, wrap it around the bottom of your feet and sit up with a straight spine. Lean forward and pull on the strap until you feel a stretch in the back of your legs. Do this pose a few times a week to see great improvement in flexibility in your hips and legs.

2.Seated side stretch.

The seated side stretch is an effective pose for loosening tight shoulders and stretching your core. All you need to do is sit crisscross and hold the yoga strap with both hands slightly more than shoulder distance apart. Raise your hands above your head and bend side to side as you feel comfortable. You can adjust your grip as you feel best, aiming to feel the stretch in your shoulders and upper back.