The Role Yoga Blankets Play For Better Practice The Role Yoga Blankets For Better Practice

There are many yoga accessories out there on the market, but one that is tried and tested but not widely acknowledged is the yoga blanket. Yoga blankets – visit this article for more info, are an exceptionally versatile tool that can be used in all manner of yoga positions, poses, climates and studios, but what role do yoga blankets play? Do they make your practice better? Here we find out more. 

What Is A Yoga Blanket?

A yoga blanket is a long, wide cotton blanket that can be used when you practice yoga. Traditional blankets are constructed from cotton, to make sure that your body remains at a constant temperature whilst practicing. This is why you should always opt for a cotton yoga blanket, as ones made out of man-made fibres will heat up you and you may find that you start to sweat. A cotton blanket will stop this from happening and will keep your body at the temperature you want. You’ll also find that cotton blankets are more versatile than their micro fibre counterparts. They layer up far easier, so you can use them when they are very thin or they are very thick, either way, you will get the depth you need.

How Is A Blanket Different From A Mat?

A yoga mat is one that gives you stability during your practice, it makes sure that your feet remain stuck to it so that you don’t slip, but it also gives you comfort. A blanket isn’t to be used as a substitute for a mat, because you won’t get the friction that you need. Instead use a blanket as a way of increasing the comfort of your practices. You can reduce pressure, alleviate soreness and keep certain areas of your body warm during a stretch. This is especially important if there is a stretch that you struggle with, by keeping the muscles warm you are making sure that aren’t damaging them. 

Support

When you are practicing yoga, sometimes you will need support in particular positions. This support would normally come by way of a block, but sometimes this just isn’t practical. A block can be hard, invasive and quite uncomfortable, especially if you are doing such exercising as chest openers. With a yoga blanket, you may find that your practice becomes far more comfortable. You’ll be able to roll the blanket up with ease and lay it between your shoulder blades to give you that chest opener without having to resort to using a block. Blankets are also a good introduction to more complex block poses. They get you used to holding yourself in these poses with the blankets and then you can start moving towards using the blocks later down the line. 

Stops Bony Bits!

We’ve all been in a yoga practice and realised that holding one position for too long on our elbows or our knees is starting to hurt. When you are practicing such yoga as yin, where you hold positions for between 3 and 5 minutes, the main and the bruising can be really something. By folding over your yoga blanket and laying it on top of your mat, you are reducing the amount of pressure passed through these points. It increases the surface area which reduces the pressure, thus reducing the pain that you feel. 

Warmth

There are some types of practice that require you to be more still than others and the last thing you want to do is get cold when you are doing this. If you are practising yin, then you may find that you start feeling a chill during your practice, as you will be staying still for up to 5 minutes at a time. You can use the yoga blanket as it was intended, as a blanket! Simply unroll it and pull it over you just in case you start feeling a chill.

As A Strap

If you have forgotten your yoga strap but brought your blanket with you, don’t worry, you can use your blanket! Especially if you are stretching out your hamstrings. Simply fold the blanket over itself and you can use it to deepen your stretches during practices. 

Wrap up

Yoga blankets have a good roll in your yoga practices. Whilst they aren’t to be used as a substitute for a mat, they really can increase the depth of your practice. You can use them to keep you warm, you can use them to increase your stretches and even reduce soreness and pressure. When you are looking to buy a mat, make sure you chose a cotton mat to make sure they keep your temperature. Yoga blankets are quickly becoming the must have accessory for all yoga enthusiast and you can see why! They make a great addition to your practice and can help you improve. 

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