What Is a Yoga Bolster Used For?Updated 4 hours ago
Yoga bolsters are one of the most versatile props in a yoga practice. They are commonly used in restorative yoga, prenatal yoga, and Iyengar yoga, but can provide comfort and support in virtually any style of practice.
Bolsters are especially helpful for:
- Supporting restorative and relaxation-focused poses
- Seated meditation and breathwork practices
- Savasana and Yoga Nidra
- Prenatal yoga modifications
- Gentle heart-opening and chest-opening postures
- Providing support under the knees, hips, back, or shoulders
Many practitioners place a bolster under their knees during Savasana to help relieve lower back tension, or beneath the spine to create a comfortable chest-opening position that encourages deeper, more relaxed breathing.
By providing stable, comfortable support, a bolster can help reduce effort in a pose, allowing the body to relax more fully and making it easier to focus on breath, stillness, and restoration.