B.K.S. Iyengar invented modern yoga props with whatever was nearby — bricks, belts, chairs, furniture from his own house. The foam block and the cotton strap came later. This is worth remembering when the internet suggests your home practice requires a two-hundred-dollar starter kit: props exist to bring the floor closer and the pose within reach, and a stack of books brings the floor just as close as cork.
The substitution chart
- Block → hardcover books. Two or three large books, stacked and (if you like) wrapped in a rubber band or tucked into a pillowcase. They are the exact height of a foam block and significantly more stable. Use them under hands in standing folds, under the seat in supported poses, under the hand in half moon.
- Strap → a belt, bathrobe tie, or scarf. Anything long and non-stretchy works. Loop it around the ball of the foot in a seated forward fold, or between the hands for shoulder stretches. Avoid anything elastic — the stretch defeats the purpose.
- Bolster → firm cushions and rolled blankets. A rolled sleeping bag or two bed pillows stacked lengthwise will support a restorative backbend or a supported child's pose perfectly well.
- Blanket → any blanket. This one is not even a substitution. Folded to the size of a placemat, a blanket pads knees, lifts hips in seated positions, and takes the pressure off the neck in shoulderstand prep.
- Wall → wall. Also not a substitution — but underused. A wall is the best balance teacher you have: for half moon, for handstand prep, for legs-up-the-wall. Which brings us to its quieter twin:
- Chair → half a studio. A sturdy dining chair is a balance barre, a hip-height support for standing poses, and an entire practice for anyone who cannot get to the floor easily.
Three examples that prove the point
Supported child's pose — cushions and a blanket
How: Stack two firm cushions between your knees, lie your torso along them, and turn your head to one side. Blanket behind the knees if they pinch.
Why: This removes all muscular effort from child's pose and turns it into pure rest — the version you want at the end of a long day.
Half moon at the wall — chair and wall
How: Stand with your back near a wall, tip into half moon, and let your back foot press into the wall while your bottom hand rests on a chair seat or stack of books.
Why: The wall teaches your hips what "open" means without the wobble, so the balance version becomes honest work instead of flailing.
Seated forward fold with a belt — belt and folded blanket
How: Sit on a folded blanket, loop a belt around the balls of your feet, hold one end in each hand, and hinge forward with a long spine rather than rounding.
Why: The blanket tilts the pelvis forward, the belt keeps the arms long — together they make the pose about hamstrings again instead of a wrestling match with your own reach.
What not to substitute
Honesty cuts both ways. Two things are worth owning: a mat with actual grip (a towel on a hardwood floor is a slide, and slides cause injuries), and stability for anything weight-bearing. A wobbly stool is not a chair; a pile of paperbacks with a slippery cover is not a block if you plan to press your full weight into it. Test every substitute with partial weight first.
If you do eventually buy props, buy them in this order: mat, two blocks, a strap, a blanket. Our guide to props for home practice ranks what is worth the money, and the full props guide covers how each one gets used across the core poses. But start tonight with the books. They have been waiting on the shelf for years.