Yoga has been practiced for centuries to improve relaxation, strength, and flexibility. Having the right equipment is essential to getting the most out of yoga, and the Yoga Wheel can make a huge difference. In this guide, I will cover everything you need to know about Yoga Wheels.
Yoga is not just a workout routine, but it is a whole system that affects our health, lifestyle, and our relationship with ourselves and those around us. Although it has been practiced for centuries, it keeps evolving with time. There are a lot of new trends which have made their way into the world of yoga in recent years. One of such new trends is a Yoga Wheel which is quickly gaining a lot of popularity and appreciation for the many benefits it offers. All the celebrities, yogis, old and new, are seen using it.
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What is a Yoga Wheel?
It is a prop that is used in yoga to help with stretching, flexibility, and many other poses. It costs somewhere between $90 to $150 but is worth every penny which is spent on it. It is a circularly shaped wheel that may look a little odd but is proving to be very helpful in advanced yoga poses, spine rolls, and many other postures.
How does it help beginners?
Beginners often have trouble with flexibility when it comes to trying out different yoga poses. This issue is resolved with the yoga wheel. It helps open up their front body by stretching their chest, shoulders, abdomen, etc. The yoga wheel is also effective with postures that involve backbends and stretches. Moreover, it is known to be great for massaging the entire length of the spine in a deep yet strong manner.
Yoga Wheel vs Yoga Block
If you’re new to yoga, you may be wondering what are the best yoga toys to start with. The short answer is that it depends on your level of experience and your current goals for use.
Yoga blocks are popular tools used in yoga, especially for beginners. Yoga blocks allow these new yoga enthusiasts to perform more challenging poses safely and effectively. But as they become more adept with their practice, they may find that yoga blocks are not enough to provide the support needed in some poses. This is where yoga wheels come in.
Yoga Wheels are typically used by intermediate and advanced yogis who want to take their practice to the next level. They allow you to deepen your stretches, improve your backbends, and even perform poses that are otherwise impossible without the help of a partner or instructor.
Yoga Wheel vs Yoga Ball
The yoga wheel and the yoga ball have many similarities. Both are props used to help you do more difficult poses. They both force you to engage your core and balance, so they’re both good for building strength and stability. And they’re both very versatile, with lots of different ways you can use them in your practice.
But they’re not the same thing — they serve different purposes.
The yoga wheel is a relatively new piece of equipment that has been making the rounds in the yoga community. It can be used to assist with backbends, open the front body, and strengthen your core.
The yoga ball is a larger piece of equipment that is great for hip-opening poses and stretching out the psoas. The psoas or “hip flexor” are muscles that run from the lower spine to the top of the femur and are responsible for contracting the thigh up towards our torso. The psoas is often tight in athletes and people who sit for extended periods of time.
A yoga ball can be helpful in many ways. But when it comes to supporting your spine, there are better options.
Yoga balls are a popular choice for rehabilitation and balance exercises. However, they’re not recommended for spinal support because they exert pressure on the spine and ribs. The rounded shape of the ball causes your spine to arch or overextend. As a result, you don’t get the support you need to maintain proper alignment.
A yoga wheel is a better choice because it provides superior support in this position. This allows you to focus on opening your chest and shoulders instead of fighting to hold yourself up.
The best pose To try with a Yoga Wheel:
With the wheel on the ground, lay on top of it with the wheel positioned somewhere around the middle of your back. Start by moving the body back and forth in a slow and steady manner. Stretch your arms above the head and try not to move your feet as you do so.
It will help massage the back and help open up the front side of the body. The wheel helps with the flexibility and stretching exercises as well where it can be used as a pulley to haul you in and out of your poses.
Here’s a Video Tutorial I found on the Youtube:
5+ featured Yoga Wheel video guides:
The internet is flooded with videos and pictures of how Yoga Wheel can be used to help beginners be better at yoga. It may look like a costly investment, but the results are truly worth every penny that you would be spending on it.
Here are the 5 most popular Yoga Wheel pose guides you might find useful:
1. 7 Modified Yoga Poses with a Yoga Wheel
This guide created by Pole Asana contains 7 basic Yoga Wheel poses for beginners:
- Pigeon Pose (Kapotasana)
- Low Lunge (Anjaneyasana)
- Mermaid Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana variation)
- Chest Stand
- Child’s Pose (Bālāsana)
- Forearm Stand (Pincha Mayurasana)
- Wheel Pose (Chakrāsana)
2. Dharma Yoga Wheel Poses:
Yoga with Kassandra shows how to use a Dharma Yoga Wheel (Buy It Now) in this video:
3. Inversion Yoga Wheel Tutorial
Learn how to the Dharma Yoga Wheel for practicing inversions.
4. Yoga Wheel – Stretching & Strengthening Exercises
ProSource shares a great video tutorial about how to improve flexibility and strength with a Yoga Wheel.
5. Shakti Yoga Wheel Guide:
A step by step beginner guide to the Shakti Yoga Wheel:
Conclusion:
Yoga wheel is one of the most effective tools for physical therapy. It helps you with increasing your flexibility and strengthening your joint muscles. Yoga wheel can help you to become more fit, flexible, and calmer due to its smooth breathing techniques. When we exercise with yoga wheel, it not only increases your core strength but also provides a better body posture with improved stability.
If you are interested in practicing yoga on a budget, then the Yoga Wheel is just the thing to buy. But remember that it is not the only way to do yoga and relax.
