Have you been in a yoga studio lately? Did you notice that some people in the room use a yoga strap during the exercises? Beginners and others who need help with flexibility usually use a yoga strap to enhance and deepen their stretches. The strap serves as an extension of their arms to help them with twisting and stretching poses.
If you are a yoga beginner and is having problems with exercise that require flexibility, then you should get yourself a yoga strap.
Choosing a Yoga Strap
Yoga straps are generally made from cotton and nylon; can be a few centimeters long or several meters longs; and can feature various types of cinches, such as metal or plastic D-rings. To be right, a yoga strap should be able to fit your unique needs in terms of length and durability.
Different Ways to Use a Yoga Strap
Seating poses
Yoga straps can be worn around your feet while your arms hold it straight. The pelvis will naturally tilt forward, hence bringing your body into alignment and bringing length into the hamstrings. It can also be used by people with tight hips to accomplish the cobbler's pose. Circle one end of the strap through the buckle and pull tightly. Then set it just around the tops of your hip bones, and circle the other side around the outer edges of the feet. This will help your spine to stay long, and the pelvis to tilt forward.
In binds
To really get into the practice of yoga, use a strap to perform binds. To accomplish a full bind, if one of your hands cannot grab the other, use a strap to get the extra length. Use the yoga strap as long as you need. With time, the flexibility in your hip will come and your chest will open, allowing your hands to clasp.
Balancing poses
When performing balancing postures, use the strap in poses like the extend hand to big toe, when the flexibility is limited. Circle the strap around your foot and grab hold as close to the foot as you can. Make sure to keep the body long and in alignment and your arm straight.
For shoulders
Shoulder exercises require a pretty intense stretch on the shoulders and chest. Again, if your hands don't meet, use a strap to get the extra length. Try to maintain your spine long, and the chest lifted.
Arm balances
There are some poses such as wheel, crow and downward dog, that the distance between the arms is super important. So, if you elbows tend to go toward the side, use a strap. Loop it through the buckle and tighten it around the arms at shoulder width.
Choosing a Yoga Strap
Yoga straps are generally made from cotton and nylon; can be a few centimeters long or several meters longs; and can feature various types of cinches, such as metal or plastic D-rings. To be right, a yoga strap should be able to fit your unique needs in terms of length and durability.
Different Ways to Use a Yoga Strap
Seating poses
Yoga straps can be worn around your feet while your arms hold it straight. The pelvis will naturally tilt forward, hence bringing your body into alignment and bringing length into the hamstrings. It can also be used by people with tight hips to accomplish the cobbler's pose. Circle one end of the strap through the buckle and pull tightly. Then set it just around the tops of your hip bones, and circle the other side around the outer edges of the feet. This will help your spine to stay long, and the pelvis to tilt forward.
In binds
To really get into the practice of yoga, use a strap to perform binds. To accomplish a full bind, if one of your hands cannot grab the other, use a strap to get the extra length. Use the yoga strap as long as you need. With time, the flexibility in your hip will come and your chest will open, allowing your hands to clasp.
Balancing poses
When performing balancing postures, use the strap in poses like the extend hand to big toe, when the flexibility is limited. Circle the strap around your foot and grab hold as close to the foot as you can. Make sure to keep the body long and in alignment and your arm straight.
For shoulders
Shoulder exercises require a pretty intense stretch on the shoulders and chest. Again, if your hands don't meet, use a strap to get the extra length. Try to maintain your spine long, and the chest lifted.
Arm balances
There are some poses such as wheel, crow and downward dog, that the distance between the arms is super important. So, if you elbows tend to go toward the side, use a strap. Loop it through the buckle and tighten it around the arms at shoulder width.
