When practicing restorative yoga, one or more yoga blankets are employed as props, to be used under the neck, and/or under the knees. Some poses may call for several yoga blankets, folded in thirds, to raise one up high enough to sit upon, with the feet on the floor. Yoga blankets are an integral part of restorative yoga.
There are several properties one looks for in the ideal yoga blanket. When practicing yoga, especially a long held pose, one does not want to be distracted by an itchy blanket, or a blanket that is bunched up under us. Look for a blanket that is soft, with no extending fibers. Many people find a cotton Mexican style blanket is ideal. Find a blanket made of soft, absorbable cloth, one that is easily washable. Look for pliability – a cloth that will hold its shape when folded. Finally, try to find a blanket that won’t slide about when placed on the floor.
Learn to fold your yoga blanket. The yoga instructor can show you how, or you can search online for yoga blanket folding videos. The trick lies in folding the blanket so it is smooth and wrinkle free, and maintains its shape while being used. Start the fold, being sure to have each end meet evenly. A two or three fold method is used, depending on the use. For a pranayama fold, start with a blanket folded in half. Starting at the long end, fold the blanket 3-4 times, draping it into an accordion style fold, making the bottom layer the widest. With each layer, make the fold a bit narrower, so the blanket is wide at the bottom, and narrower at the top.
When finished, if the blanket does not need to be washed, the storage fold is employed. Open up the blanket, and fold it in half. Fold in half again, ensuring there are no creases, and the ends are even. Fold in half one more time, short end to short end. With this fold, several blankets can be stacked on a shelf, neatly and without tumbling over. You can find an excellent selection of Yoga Blankets at SunShineYoga.com.
