The older you get, the more vital it is to remain active and healthy. Many choose yoga for their lives. Although it’s possible to perform yoga without any additional gear, it will make it far easier to complete your routine with proper products. What are some of the must-have gear essentials for seniors for yoga practice?
If you’re interested in learning more about how to enhance your yoga practices, you’re in the right place. From a backless chair for better mobility to a knee pad for additional support, these will provide excellent structure to the rest of your body as you participate in yoga. Let’s dive into twelve essential products for your yoga experience.
1. Aozora Backless/Back Yoga Chair
According to one study, yoga offers benefits like better mental awareness, mindful eating, an enhanced fitness experience, and more. However, if you have lower back or knee troubles, it might get in the way of performing all the yoga exercises you need. The yoga chair is the solution to this. It permits support for some yoga positions.
The Aozora Yoga Chair comes in a version that’s backless or with back support to allow assistance depending on your body and ability. It permits an ample range of positions, making it as safe as possible for older adults needing support to move around. Also, it’s double-hinged for additional strength.
2. Gaiam Yoga Bolster
Another helpful tool for yoga as an older adult is a yoga bolster. This tool is useful for assisting with the back and joints while in restorative yoga positions, which is beneficial for older adults who struggle with pain while performing various positions in yoga. Child’s pose is one of the most common restorative yoga positions.
We recommend the Gaiam Yoga Bolster if you want a readily available product. This selection is comfortable, comes in three colors, is lightweight, and is made of essential cotton. Also, there’s a strap attached to the side, making it simple to lift the bolster and carry it from one location to another.
Related: The 10 Health Benefits of Yoga
3. Sunflower Home Yoga Knee Pad
For comfort and ability, knee pads are another yoga necessity for aging adults. For some in their later years, practicing kneeling positions can be painful and put unnecessary staring on the legs. Yoga knee pads offer significant support and don’t cost much money to make your own. You can even have several backups.
The Sunflower Home Yoga Knee Pad is one of the best selections you’ll find on the market for those who need a little more structure for their legs. They come in an adorable flower shape, and they come in multiple uses. You can use them for gardening, reaching into a cupboard, and anything that requires kneeling.
4. BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Mat
Of course, one of the most vital items for any yoga experience is a yoga mat. Ideally, older individuals should go for thicker mats as they will provide far more structure and support for aging bodies. It also provides traction that will make it easier to provide support when shifting into other positions.
We recommend the BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Mat for an excellent, thick yoga mat. It’s affordable, comes in multiple color options, and provides ample room on the mat for people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. It’s also far more affordable than most other yoga mat selections on the market, so you could have a duplicate on hand.
5. Gaiam No-Slip Yoga Towel
A yoga towel is a valuable tool when practicing yoga as a senior, allowing you to keep yourself dry and provide longevity for your yoga mat. You can use it to wipe sweat off your body along the way or, more popularly, place it as a layer under the yoga mat to keep it in one place.
One of the best yoga towel selections on the market is the Gaiam No-Slip Yoga Mat Towel. It comes in multiple color options and is made of 50% microfiber and 50% rubber to allow comfort and a non-stick ability. Also, the product is 100% made in the USA for those concerned about the construction.
Related: How to Get Started With Yoga
6. Bala Balance Blocks
According to one study, yoga is a possible gateway to healthier habits in life, such as working out and eating better. For that to happen, you need something to assist with stability – balance blocks are essential. They will provide structure to the hips, back, and more, which benefits older adults with concerns about specific movements.
Our recommendations for balance blocks are the Bala Balance Blocks. Not only are these excellent for all your yoga needs, but they are also gorgeous in appearance and are lightweight. They’re ergonomically designed for the benefit of the body and will work in a yoga studio or at home.
7. Manduka Cotton Yoga Blanket
Not everyone performs yoga with the intent to sweat. Some people want to exercise, but they also want to relax at the same time. Relaxation is an excellent item that can be achieved through yoga, and a cotton yoga blanket will assist with that. It’s meant to assist with meditation and relaxation in yoga practice.
An excellent choice for this tool is the Manduka Cotton Yoga Blanket. This product is premium, offering a blend of recycled cotton and other materials. It offers a large and comfortable dimension, which allows older adults to relax under the comforting and recycled material. There are also more affordable options if this one is too much for your budget.
8. Gaiam Yoga Straps
According to one study, stretching out will keep the muscles limber and help the individual retain a longer balance over their lifespan. Yoga straps are a helpful tool if you are an older adult and need some assistance moving into various yoga positions. They allow you to pull yourself into place, releasing the limbs instead of tightening them.
Gaiam Yoga Straps is an excellent product from one of the most well-known yoga product manufacturers on the market. They are under $20 and come in multiple colors, designed to meet your yoga stretching needs with ease. They weigh a mere four ounces and are made from a durable, high-quality fabric blend.
9. Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster
Like a yoga block, a yoga bolster is another tool designed to support the body in the yoga process. It’s much like a body pillow, allowing support in various poses. Older adults will benefit from the comfort and support a solid yoga bolster will provide. They allow a softening of postures, anatomical support, and assistance in opening the body.
If you’re hunting for an excellent yoga bolster, we recommend the Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster. It’s firm, handmade, and durable for the long term. It also comes in multiple colors, so you can pick something that matches your style. Older adults will benefit from how simple it is to carry the Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster around in their lives.
10. Up Circle Seven Yoga Wheel
A yoga wheel is a valuable accessory that allows individuals to sink into a pose, which is beneficial for older adults who might struggle. It can be used as assistance alongside tools like yoga blocks.
We recommend the Up Circle Seven Yoga Wheel as a valuable accessory if you’re a senior hunting for a yoga wheel. It comes in five different colors, a strategic design, and is easy to carry.
11. Gaiam Yoga Knee Pad
Yoga knee pads are excellent additions for those who like to enjoy yoga positions that involve being on their knees. For seniors, it can be uncomfortable and even dangerous to be on their knees. Knee pads are a layer of defense, like the flower pads mentioned above.
If you want an alternative to the variety we placed above, we recommend the Gaiam Yoga Knee Pad. They are affordable, helpful, and come in a unique purple color.
12. Gaiam Grippy Yoga Gloves
Last but not least are grippy gloves, which are an essential for seniors who want to take on more advanced yoga positions but can’t afford to slip, fall, and injure themselves. Grippy gloves are typically fingerless and have small grippy dots on the gloves that stick to the floor while allowing continued movement from the individual.
Another winner from the iconic Gaiam name are the Gaiam Grippy Yoga Gloves. They are affordable, come in a low-key black and gray, and fit most individuals with ease. If you want, having multiple on-hand can be effective.
Final Thoughts
These twelve selections are some of the best you can purchase for your yoga experience as an older adult. From a cotton yoga blanket to the critical yoga wheel, the options are endless. You can invest in one or all of these for the benefit of your experience.
Whether you’re starting your yoga journey as a senior or have been performing your routine for years, these must-have products will make everything much easier. The best part is that there are always more affordable versions of these products, and many studios have them available to borrow for free.
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