5 Best Yoga Straps for Home Practice
Yoga straps are a very simple prop but they are an extremely useful tool for your yoga practice. In fact, it’s one of the top 5 gear I recommend for home yoga practice. Beginners, inflexible people, and those dealing with injuries will find a yoga strap will help them with stretches and other yoga poses that are difficult for them. While you can substitute a belt or a towel for a yoga strap, having a strap designed specifically for yoga will enhance your practice. Since it’s a relatively inexpensive accessory, it’s a great addition to any home practice.
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The Best Yoga Straps
Best Eco-Friendly: Manduka Align Yoga Strap
I’m a huge fan of Manduka’s yoga gear and love using it in my home practice. Their Align yoga strap is based on the traditional yoga strap design of BKS Iyengar, the legendary yoga teacher who helped introduce the practice to the world. Made from unbleached natural cotton, the strap is soft to the touch. The webbed weave makes this strap strong to support all types of modifications and poses. The flat buckle design holds the strap securely and is a great alternative if you find other buckle designs slip while you’re practicing.
The Align yoga strap is available in 8′ and 10′ lengths, which are great lengths for most yogis (taller yogis should go for the 10′ length). Available in six colors using AZO (lead and metal free) dye. This the ultimate eco-friendly option for yogis. Hand wash only.
Buckle: interlocking
Length: 8′, 10′
Available Colors: lavender, midnight blue, thunder gray, indulge purple, dark deep sea, presence khaki
Best Short: GAIAM Yoga Strap
If you’re in the market for an affordable, basic yoga strap on the shorter side, GAIAM has a great option for your home practice. Like many affordable yoga straps, this one is made from polyester, which creates a strong strap with a little stretch to it. The d-ring buckle makes it easy to create loops quickly while moving through your asanas.
I’m 5’8″ and I personally find the 6ft strap to be a little too short for my comfort, but if you’re shorter and often annoyed by excess yoga strap length in your poses, the shorter size might be exactly what you need. I do think the 8 foot length will be more comfortable for most yogis. One of the bonuses of the shorter strap is it does roll up into a smaller size that’s easy to tuck into your yoga mat bag.
Buckle: D-ring
Length: 6ft, 8ft
Available Colors: granite storm, purple, skyline blue, black
Best Quick Release: Hugger Mugger Yoga Strap
If fussing with yoga strap buckles takes you straight out of your yoga practice, Hugger Mugger offers the perfect alternative for you. Made in the USA from 100% cotton, this is a high quality yoga strap. But the buckle takes it to the next level. The quick release snap buckle easily snaps into place when you need a loop and unsnaps with a click as you move into other poses. No fumbling or struggling to get your strap ready. Instead you can focus on your breath and your pose.
Buckle: Quick release snap buckle
Length: 10ft
Available Colors: black, gray, navy
Best Multi-Loop: Scotamalone Stretching Strap
Designed for general stretching and physical therapy, these multi-loop straps are becoming popular with yogis. Rather than a traditional buckle design, this strap features loops all along its length. This allows you to easily grab a loop at any point to adjust the length of the strap. You can also instantly loop the strap around your foot.
Scotamalone makes this affordable multi-loop yoga strap which is a great option if you want to experiment with this design. Made from nylon, this strap is strong enough to support you in a variety of stretches and poses. Each loop features a letter so you can easily track your progress as you become more flexible.
Buckle: none
Length: 10 loops 75″
Available Colors: blue, purple, light green, black, gray, pink, dark green, teal
Best Budget/Beginner: Tumaz Yoga Strap
If you’re new to building a home yoga practice or just looking for an affordable yoga strap option, Tumaz is a great basic yoga strap that offers everything you need. This strap is strong–the woven material is 2.5 mm thick, and if you compare it side by side with other yoga straps, you can see the difference in thickness. The manufacturer claims it can maintain a maximum load of a ton. I have no way to test that, but the strap feels strong in common yoga poses, so I’m sure it will work great for yogis of various sizes.
This strap is available in three lengths (6ft, 8ft, 10ft) so you can pick one that is best for your body and your practice. Tumaz uses eco-friendly dies in 15 vibrant colors so you can pick your favorite.
Buckle: D-Ring (4mm)
Length: 6ft, 8ft, 10ft
Available Colors: Candy (pink/blue stripe), pink stripe, blue stripe, green stripe, purple stripe, black/white, red, purple, blue, black, gray, turquoise, lavender, pink, yellow, brown, burgundy, original (khaki), orange
Uses for Yoga Straps
A yoga strap works as an extension of your body. It helps give your arms and legs extra length so you can hold proper alignment in yoga poses even if your body isn’t flexible enough for the full expression of the pose. Here are a few ways to incorporate a yoga strap into your practice.
Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana)
People tend to slouch and round their spines when they take forward folds. It’s best to come into forward folds lengthening with a straight spine. Using a yoga strap looped around the bottom of your feet you can maintain a straight spine while leaning forward into the fold. Walk your hands down the strap to deepen the strep.
Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana)
An amazing stretch for the entire body, it can be difficult to clasp your hands behind your back. Hold the strap in the upper hand and dangle it behind your back. Your other hand can catch the strap and use it to bridge the distance.
Boat Pose (Navasana)
If you have a hard time balancing in boat pose, you can use a yoga strap to help you stay steady. Wrap the strap around the bottom of your feet and hold it on each side. Lift the legs up and work towards straightening them. The tension on the strap will help your body stay in the pose. If you’re using a long 10 foot strap, you can create a loop with the strap and loop it around your back under your armpits and the bottom of your feet. This will allow your hands to be free.
Raised Leg Pose (Uttanpadasana)
This important stretch can be a challenge if you’re not flexible. Using a strap makes it much more accessible. Lay down on your back, lift your leg, and loop the strap around the bottom of your foot. Hold the strap with both hands and use it to help keep your leg straight.
Looking for more gear for your home yoga practice? Check out our top five must have gear, the best yoga mats for beginners, and the best yoga bolsters.