14 Creative Uses for Your Yoga Blanket

October 26, 2017

We’re calling your bluff, yoga blanket - there’s much more to you than a cosy cover up in yoga’s final relaxation pose, savasana!

It’s true - with a variety of uses throughout an entire class, the humble blanket can deliver just the right measure of weight, softness and support to several different yoga poses. Let’s explore how a blanket or two can help you feel lifted, grounded and fully supported throughout your yoga practice.

Boost your seat

Start your practice on a high - with the help of a square-fold blanket. Sitting atop a folded blanket in a simple cross-legged pose (sukhasana) for your opening meditation or pranayama encourages the spine to stay tall, and provides a soft yet firm landing pad for the sit bones.

Dial this support up a notch by wrapping a long-fold blanket around your lower back and torso, like a firm, wide belt. This bandaging effect supports the spine beautifully, making it easier to stay upright for a length of time. Plus, a tall, aligned torso generates space for full, easy breaths - perfect for pranayama.

In a seated forward bend, such as dandasana, perch the sit bones on the edge of a folded blanket to elevate the hips. This little boost makes it easier to tilt into your forward bend. Need a little more height? No problem, make your blanket stack as high as your body needs to comfortably stretch toward the toes.

Buffer your bones

Sometimes you don’t realise just how boney the knees are until you’re asked to kneel on a hard floor! Show your knees some love and cushion the impact with a folded blanket placed directly under the knees in poses like

Ustrasana (camel)

Or, Anjaneyasana (crescent moon) 

Protect the wrists in the same way in for marjaryasana (cat) and,

Adho mukha dandasana (plank) and

Adho mukha svanasana (downward facing dog).

Roll with it.

A rolled blanket provides a nice, squishy and edgeless shape to eliminate any empty space between your body and the floor in many supine poses. Try a roll in:

Balasana - Place a rolled blanket between your calves and bottom for the sit bones and lower back to sink into.

Mini-backbend - For a simple chest opener, rest your upper back over a rolled blanket while in Savasana.

Savasana - Pop rolled blankets under the ankles, knees and neck - you’ll be surprised at how much ‘ahhhh’ this little addition brings to the pose!

Supta baddha konasana - Snake a long blanket roll across the feet and tuck under the thighs to support the hips.

Ground and surrender.

When you want a concentration of weight over a specific area to encourage muscular release, grab a blanket. Add in the warmth factor and you have a winning combination for feeling safe, secure and nurtured.

Balasana - Rest a folded blanket over the sacrum to encourage the back to melt toward the floor.

Jathara parivartanasana (revolved abdomen pose) - Drape a folded blanket over your top leg to coax the long, strong bones of the leg to let go and descend into the earth.

Photos: Jessica Dewar, Yoga Teacher, Jessica Dewar Yoga

So really, there’s no reason for the blanket to stay on the shelf til the end of class! Get rolling, folding and stacking and see how a blanket can help you get more from your practice.

Wondering which blanket is right for you? Choose from organic cotton yoga blankets or our thicker woollen blankets when extra warmth is needed.

 

 

 

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