No matter what style of yoga you choose, props such as blocks or bolsters can help facilitate poses properly. One of the most versatile props, however, is the yoga blanket. It stands in the gap when flexibility is limited, helps cushion certain poses (such as shoulder stands), provides warmth as you slip into Savasana, and can be used to replace a yoga block. “Having a yoga blanket is a great prop for extra support during your practice,” says Erika Driscoll, certified yoga instructor at CorePower Yoga in New York City. “I find it helpful because it aids in flexibility and really helps you sink into restorative postures more comfortably,” she adds. We researched yoga blankets and evaluated them based on their material, size, support, and comfort. The following products were determined to be the best in each category using these factors. According to our research, here are the best yoga blankets on the market. Plush and comfortable, it weighs in at 3 pounds and is designed to complement your days on the mat. However, thanks to its durability and support, it can also be used for your next camping trip or beach picnic. And you can feel good about your purchase as each one facilitates a donation to their charity partner Water Mission. Price at time of publication: $32 As part of Benevolence LA’s Fight Poverty Collection, with every purchase of the blanket, the brand will donate to “Water Mission” which fights to provide equal access to water. Price at time of publication: $40 The machine-washable blanket comes in four vibrant shades, and because of its tight, solid weave, we love that it can also be worn as a gentle throw to provide you with warmth. Price at time of publication: $49 The plaid pattern is a timeless and eye-catching design. Price at time of publication: $30 Post-practice, fold and then sit on it or wrap it around your shoulders for a quick meditation or round of pranayama (breath control work) to seal your practice. We like that it can easily be folded to mimic the shape of a yoga block—minimizing the number of props you need for your practice. Price at time of publication: $64 We recommend you choose from one of the 12 rich hues to customize your yoga style and brighten up your next flow. Price at time of publication: $35 And at 82 x 60 inches, we recommend it for family, friends, and partners, because it’s also big enough to cover two people comfortably for use at a picnic or for lounging around your home. Price at time of publication: $50 The blanket measures 22 x 23 inches, which is smaller than most yoga blankets, but that also means it’s ultra-portable. Price at time of publication: $70 Before narrowing down the options to our top picks, we also consulted a certified yoga instructor to get a sense of what she looks for in a yoga blanket, as well as features she recommends to her students.
What to Look For in a Yoga Blanket
Material
While you’ll find that yoga blankets are made with durable fabrics—blends of strong natural and synthetic fibers such as cotton, wool, polyester, and acrylic are preferable. These tend to be durable, supportive, hold their color well, and may often be made from recycled materials. Finding a fabric that is machine-washable or otherwise easy to clean is also a plus.
Size
You want something large enough to fully cover you when in Savasana, so look for blankets that are at least as tall as you are. A bigger blanket means you can customize the shape better when folding or rolling to better fit your needs.
Support
The point of a yoga blanket, besides covering you, is that it’s supposed to help support you in certain poses. That means you don’t want something too plush or too flimsy, but sturdy enough to assist your body during your practice without collapsing. Some of our top picks can even replace a yoga block or bolster when folded or rolled.
Comfort
Considering you will be leaning on, sitting on, and laying under your yoga blanket, you want something that feels good. Look for one with a soft (but not too soft) feel. You also don’t want something that’s too heavy where you feel like you are being crushed or too itchy so you can’t get your mind to focus during class.
Why Trust Verywell Mind
Rozalynn S. Frazier, NASM-CPT is an award-winning, multimedia journalist with more than 20 years of experience reporting on health and wellness. She is also a NASM-certified personal trainer and an avid exerciser, who routinely puts wellness tools and fitness gear through its paces to help access which products are worthy of praise. She has created content for SELF, Men’s Health, Real Simple, Health, Essence, Cosmopolitan, and Livestrong.com, among others. A yoga blanket can be used to provide additional grip for your hands or feet while moving from one pose to the next. For this reason, having one with good texture (like a Mexican blanket) is ideal. Yoga blankets can also offer support when you’re holding a pose. Some yogis use them to support their lower back, neck, hips, or knees. “One of my favorite ways to use a yoga blanket is to place it under my glute while I’m in half-pigeon,” Driscoll says. After a yoga session, a blanket may also be beneficial for Savasana (the final resting pose at the end of a practice). It may provide comfort and warmth that help you get into a meditative headspace. “I like to use it to cover my students’ legs to make them feel warm inside and out,” Driscoll says. And if you’re using one during your practice, proper folding can provide a solid, stable base for support. Here are some steps you can follow: When in positions with your back or neck on the floor, the blanket can fill the gap between your body and the ground. This helps take pressure off of sensitive areas along your spine. And when in Savasana, you can use it to cover the body to experience total relaxation. Cotton blankets can be machine-washed, but they should be washed on a cold cycle since cotton shrinks with heat. If possible, hang dry it. If hang-drying isn’t possible, you can tumble-dry it on low. If your yoga blanket is made with wool, it can also be machine washed. Just make sure to use cold water when running the load. You don’t want to throw a wool blanket in the dryer (even on low) because it can cause pilling over time. If your blanket is a blend of the two materials listed above, putting it in the washing machine is fine as long as you run a cold cycle. With any amount of wool, hang-drying is advisable.
