10 Best Yoga Straps in the Philippines 2021 (Manduka, Reebok, Kimjaly, and More)

One of the most challenging things with yoga is the poses. It is frustrating if you aren’t able to fully replicate a pose or a stretch. A quality yoga strap will help you accomplish true mastery of a pose by gradually bringing your body to the required flexibility of a pose. The strap should serve as a guide, able to align your body to the proper form while preventing injury during your session.

From simple stretches such as touching your toes to complicated poses, the yoga strap has its uses. It makes the spine straighten, which helps the back musculature to strengthen and maintain the vertebrae. This prevents injury if you plan on doing more complex yoga poses. Even if you are an experienced yogi, it is still practical to use yoga straps to bring you back to alignment.

With the plethora of yoga straps, it can be overwhelming which one to choose. It is important to align your strap to your flexibility goal and the number of poses you want to achieve. A good material and buckle are also needed to boost confidence in your stretches. Let’s go through the factors in choosing a yoga strap that will make you more confident with your yoga.

Having a full grasp of your interest in doing yoga is important. This will dictate the urgency of your need to purchase a yoga strap. For those who see themselves doing yoga and improving, purchasing a yoga strap will fast-track your progress while keeping yourself safe in the process.

But for those doing yoga only sparingly, investing on a yoga strap isn’t practical and would be best spent on purchasing other items such as a yoga mat or clothing that you can still use for practices other than yoga.

Yoga straps come in different materials. They can be from a specific type of fiber or a combination of different fibers to exhibit certain qualities. Some are also made from recycled materials if you care about the environment and the green movement. Below are some of the types of materials used for yoga straps.

Yoga straps commonly come in cotton material. The cotton material makes for an easy grip and provides you with a firm and steady support for both your feet and hands, which prevents slippage. It is also durable, providing longevity to your straps even after repeated use. Lastly, they are soft to the touch, with no chafing and pinching to your skin.

Leather provides a soft and silky feel while offering little give. The leather improves as moisture is introduced to it, providing sufficient grip while doing stretches. The allure of leather is its very elegant look while providing an incredibly soft feel. You just need to perform proper care to keep the leather from wearing down.

For beginners, it is best to use a cotton blend as material for the yoga strap. Blends with elastic materials are usually beginner-friendly, able to provide a little slack during stretches, which makes it easier to transition the pose to the proper form. You just need to practice proper storage, as the elastic materials can turn brittle or lose their elasticity over time.

A yoga strap is useful because of its closure system. It hooks to the necessary body part, which has flexibility concerns, and guides it to the proper form. There are two types of closure systems: buckle and loop. Let’s see how they differ from each other.

A yoga strap usually comes with a buckle closure for good reason- they offer the most versatility when it comes to usage. With a buckle, you are able to create and regulate the size of the loop, which makes it much more comfortable, depending on your flexibility. Adjustment is simple and can be done using one hand.

Materials used for buckles are plastic and metal. Plastic buckles have a quick-release mechanism that is easy to use and flows seamlessly with your practice. They are also much quieter and offer more friction during use. Metal D-ring buckles are noisy but are much more durable than their plastic counterpart, but are prone to some slippage while in use.

Some yoga straps come with loops. They are much easier to use as there are no adjustments that need to be made as compared to buckle closures. Unlike buckles, loops aren’t adjustable and may cause some looseness during yoga practice, so take note of that. The presence of loops also makes it possible to use the strap as a mat carrier.

Straps come in different length options: 6, 8, and 10 feet. A 6-feet strap is enough to cover most yoga needs. If you are tall, it is best to go for a longer strap, especially if flexibility is a concern. This will give you more room to use the strap and progress with your flexibility. The 8-feet strap is a perfect middle-ground for beginners with ample flexibility and an advanced yogi.

Although the design doesn’t add any functionality to the yoga strap, having a good one can help you keep your spirits up. The strap can be an extension of your personality and creativity, so having one that matches your taste will definitely add some morale boost as you tackle difficult poses. 

Searching for the yoga strap is a worthy investment. It would last you years, guiding you as you improve your flexibility and strength through practice. We have listed below some of the best yoga straps available right now here in the Philippines to make it easier for you!

**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**

In this video by YogiApproved.com, learn 4 different ways on how to use your yoga strap. You can practice these poses to increase flexibility and improve your strength through resistance. 

Steps:

1. Make a good-sized loop of about an arm's length
2. Flex your feet and put the strap around the balls of your feet
3. Straighten your spine and slowly walk your hands along the strap up until you feel resistance
4. Drop your gaze towards your shin, pull your belly in and up, then use the strap to help your forehead get closer to your shin
5. Hold for a few breaths and release the tension

Steps:

1. Extend your arms out to the side, roll the left should in
2. Bend one of your elbows from below and reach the middle of your back
3. The other arm should reach above and bend downwards to reach your nape
4. Grasp the strap with both your hands and inch your fingertips towards one another until you feel resistance
5. Hold for a few breaths and release the tension
6. Reverse arm placement then repeat

Steps:

1. Create a loop about shoulder's width
2. Slide your arms into the loop and secure between your elbow and your biceps, then pull your belly in
3. Come down to your forearms, spread your fingertips wide, palms facing forward the pull the straps away
4. Tuck your toes, keep your shoulders stacked over the elbows then shift your hips up and stay on the balls of your feet
5. Keep your pulling the strap, drop your gaze even more
6. Slowly inch your feet towards you to stretch your legs, pause then breathe
7. Lift one leg and shift to your forearms even more, then drop the leg
8. Do the same for the other leg
9. Do for a few breaths and release, slowly drop down to your knees

Steps:

1. Create a loop small enough for your foot to fit
2. Put your foot in the loop and pull to get some tension
3. Hold the strap over your shoulder while bending the knee of the leg where the strap is attached, backwards
4. Find your balance, then move the thigh back, squeeze your glute
5. Start pulling your leg upwards by walking both your hands down the strap
6. Once you feel resistance, hold it for a few breaths then release
7. Repeat on your other leg

With any new endeavor, you will need the right tools to excel. This is especially true with yoga. By having the right yoga mat and yoga block, you can practice poses safely and with control.  Couple that with the right clothing, your body will feel free and light as you flow to and from poses. Take a look at our recommendations and see if you need anything else with your yoga practice.

Doing yoga is challenging. Seeing people online performing complicated poses can discourage anyone from coming into the discipline. The good news is that everyone starts as a beginner. With the help of a yoga strap, you can slowly build your flexibility and strength. Having the right yoga strap can fast-track your journey as a yogi, making it fun yet achievable.

Author: Richard Martin

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