5 Restorative Yoga Poses You Can Practice With Props You Already Have at Home

5RestorativePoseWithProps Feature

179SHARES

In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, giving yourself time to slow down and reset often takes the backburner.

Even in the yoga community, Power classes, Vinyasa flows, and Hot Yoga often take the spotlight. And while each of these practices bring their own unique and beautiful experience, they often overshadow a very important practice: Restorative Yoga.

From the outside looking in, Restorative Yoga looks like a glorified nap: lots of pillows, comfortable blankets, and the rare opportunity to use a bolster. But Restorative Yoga poses allow your body – and your mind – an opportunity to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate.

Curious about Restorative Yoga? Here are 5 Big Benefits of Restorative Yoga (Plus the Motivation You Need to Try It!)

Can You Practice Restorative Yoga at Home?

Whether you’re taking live virtual classes led by a teacher, watching pre-recorded videos and practicing at your own pace, or a little bit of both, one of the biggest differences between practicing at home and in a studio, for most people, is the lack of props.

Some yogis may have a block or two at home, or even a strap laying around. But most people may not have access to bolsters or yoga blankets while practicing at home. And one practice that often relies significantly on props is Restorative.

But don’t fret! You can practice Restorative Yoga at home. And you don’t need a million expensive props to do your favorite Restorative Yoga poses.

Practice These 5 Restorative Yoga Poses With Props You Already Have at Home:

That’s right . . . you can practice with items you already have around the house to substitute for yoga props. And you’ll likely be amazed by how well these substitutions actually work!

What you’ll need:

Two couch/throw pillows
One regular pillow
One blanket
One couch or bed

1. Reclined Butterfly Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)

Set-up:

Place your regular pillow vertically toward the top of your mat with your blanket folded on top
Place two couch/throw pillows on either side toward the middle of your mat

Let’s try it:

Lie down with your head and upper body on your regular pillow and blanket and with your legs extended out long
Bring the soles of your feet together and let your knees fall out to your sides, with your heels slightly away from your pelvis, creating a diamond shape
Let the outer edges of your knees fall onto the couch/throw pillows
Extend your arms out to your sides

2. Supported Child’s Pose (Salamba Balasana)

Set-up:

Keep your regular pillow in the same position, but remove the folded blanket and couch pillows

Let’s try it:

From Butterfly Pose, roll over so your front body is now on the pillow
Bring your big toes to touch and separate your knees, bringing the pillow between your thighs toward your pubic bone
Unfold your blanket one time and roll it vertically (so it resembles a Tootsie Roll shape) and place your head on it, resting on either cheek
Spend several moments here before turning to rest on the other cheek

3. Supported Reclined Twist (Supta Matsyendrasana)

Set-up:

Keep your regular pillow in the same position
Optional: place a couch pillow nearby to bring between your legs

Let’s try it:

With your knees bent, bring your right hip to the bottom of your pillow
Lay your right arm along the pillow and then bring it out to your side on the floor
Stretch your left arm out the opposite way
Lay your side body down on the pillow
Either turn your head in the same direction as your knees or turn your head the other way
If it feels comfortable, place the couch pillow between your legs

4. Legs Up the Wall Variation

Set-up:

Have your regular pillow ready for you to lay your head on

Let’s try it:

Slide yourself against the edge of your bed or couch, place your head on your pillow and bring your legs up, bending your knees
If you’re practicing on a hard floor and don’t want to move your mat, you can also lie your body vertically on your regular pillow and place your head on your couch pillow

5. Savasana (Corpse Pose)

Set-up:

Place your folded blanket under your head
Put your couch pillows under your knees
Place your regular pillow under your ankles/heels

Let’s try it:

Lay your head on your folded up blanket, set up your couch pillows underneath your knees, and bring your heels/ankles on your regular pillow
Relax and let go!

Looking for more? Try These 4 Restorative Yoga Poses to Relax Your Body and Mind