Yogashop has yoga bolsters and yoga cushions in various sizes and from different brands such as Love Generation and Manduka, perfect for various yoga styles like Yin Yoga and Restorative.

What is a yoga bolster?

A yoga bolster or cushion is a yoga prop that provides extra support in various yoga poses. They are mainly used in the more relaxed yoga styles, such as Yin Yoga. A bolster is a long and firm cushion that can have different fillings. They can be filled with cotton, polyester, or buckwheat hulls. The shape of a bolster is elongated and round or sometimes even rectangular.

Using a bolster during yoga ensures deeper relaxation. The bolster is also used as extra support for your back, lower back, neck, arms, and legs. It depends entirely on the yoga pose how you use the bolster. In Vinyasa yoga, the bolster is also used, for example, in savasana. Your yoga teacher will explain how to use it best.

With which pose do you use a yoga bolster?

Wondering when a bolster is needed? To give you an idea of how to use a cushion for support, we list a few yoga poses for you:

• Child's Pose (Balasana): place the bolster under your chest and head so you can lean on it comfortably.
• Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana): place the bolster under your head and upper back.
• Legs Up the Wall Pose (Viparita Karani): place the bolster against the wall, under your hips.
• Corpse Pose (Savasana): whatever you find comfortable :-) You can place the bolster under your knees, under your back, or even on your belly.

Besides the yoga class, bolsters are also regularly used for meditation. In sitting meditations, they offer a higher alternative to a meditation cushion, and during lying meditations, they often provide pleasant extra support under the knees.

Why a round bolster?

The traditional round shape of the yoga bolster allows you to go deeper into your stretch, for example, in a backbend. Additionally, the bolster provides pleasant support in various asanas due to its soft firmness.

Why a rectangular bolster?

The rectangular bolster is ideal if you want to use a bolster for the first time in your yoga practice. A rectangular bolster is wider, supporting a large part, if not your entire back. A rectangular bolster is also firmer and will not move or roll during use.

Yoga bolsters from Love Generation & Manduka

The yoga bolsters from Love Generation have a sturdy cotton outer cover and are filled with cotton fluff. This makes the bolster lightweight and easy to use and move during your practice. The bolsters are both firm and soft and retain their shape well.

The yoga bolsters from Manduka are filled with 30% recycled polyester filling, surrounded by cotton, providing soft cushioning and light support. The outer cover of the bolster is made of soft and absorbent microfiber.

Both the bolsters from Love Generation and Manduka have a zipper along the entire length of the bolster so the outer cover can be easily removed and washed. The bolsters also have a handy carrying strap, making it easy to move and/or store the bolster.

Of course, don't forget the surface on which you use the bolster, and choose a comfortable yoga mat.