Did you know that yoga is one of the most beneficial forms of exercise you can practice for both your mind and body? A yoga session is like a workout routine and meditation all in one. It enables you to stretch, breathe, relax and challenge yourself. People who practice yoga experience physical benefits such as improved flexibility and stronger muscles. They also reap huge emotional rewards and suffer from less anxiety and depression than those who don’t do yoga.
Yoga requires very little equipment to get started. A mat is a necessity to cushion hands and feet and provide traction during poses. Another must? At least one yoga bolster pillow. Available in a rainbow of colors and a huge assortment of sizes, yoga bolster pillows help provide support during various poses. They’re perfect for beginners and those who have limited flexibility due to age or injury. Even seasoned yogis can use a bit of a boost from a yoga bolster pillow every now and then.
Comparison Table
| Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster | Our Rating (4.8 / 5) | Our Reviews |
| Bean Products Bolster Rectangle Yoga | Our Rating (4.6 / 5) | Our Reviews |
| Peace Yoga® Zafu Meditation Yoga Bolster | Our Rating (4.2 / 5) | Our Reviews |
| Peace Yoga® Yoga Buckwheat Bolster | Our Rating (4.8 / 5) | Our Reviews |
How to Choose a Yoga Bolster
As you shop online for the best yoga bolster, you’ll notice that there are a lot of choices. It’s easy to pick out a color you like, but how on earth do you pick a shape? In a yoga studio, you’ll notice a variety of different yoga bolsters. This is because each one is good for different types of yoga poses. Here’s a basic guide to yoga bolster pillow shapes.
Standard Yoga Bolsters
A standard yoga bolster pillow is also known as a rectangular yoga bolster. This shape is the best yoga bolster for a wide variety of poses, making it perhaps the most popular. It’s particularly good for restorative yoga, a style that emphasizes very gentle movement and long periods of stillness in order to relax the mind and body. This kind of pillow enables people to hold restorative yoga positions for longer without strain. A standard yoga bolster pillow is wide enough to completely support the back in poses that have you lying on your back. An ideal standard yoga bolster pillow is firm and somewhat heavy.
Round Yoga Bolster
These yoga bolsters are cylindrical in shape. A round shape makes this the best yoga bolster to allow your muscles to stretch and relax as they hang over and around it. They work well for when you really need a good, gentle stretch for your back or chest muscles. A round yoga bolster pillow is also ideal to support the knees when lying flat.
Yoga Bolster Cushion
For sitting poses and meditation, practitioners of yoga often need a little support to keep comfortable. It’s helpful to have a yoga bolster pillow in a cushion shape to assist with this. A cushion also helps align the spine and promotes good posture while sitting. A yoga bolster cushion is the one to reach for so that you can focus on your breath instead of constantly shifting around to get comfortable.
Top 4 Yoga Bolster Pillows
Now that you have a general idea of what to look for, here are our top suggestions for the best yoga bolster for your daily practice. With this lineup of yoga bolster pillows, you’ll find your routine flowing more smoothly than ever.
Hugger Mugger Standard Choice Yoga Bolster
There’s a reason that Hugger Mugger is a well-known company in the world of yoga gear. They understand what kinds of products are helpful while practicing. They also make high-quality items that last for many years. This standard yoga bolster pillow continues the Hugger Mugger tradition of quality products with specifications that work well when in use. It’s flat and stable, making it a wonderfully sturdy surface for any pose you can throw at it. Complete with a heavy-duty handle that makes it easy to position and move around, this yoga bolster is a must-have for all yogis.
Hugger Mugger chose a combination of cotton, foam and polyester blend to fill their standard yoga bolster pillow. This design allows for comfortable restorative yoga poses while ensuring that the pillow is firm and strong enough to provide ultimate support. The exterior is made of upholstery-grade fabric, meaning that it can be cleaned easily and will last for many years of heavy use. Available in a huge variety of colors, there is a Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster to satisfy any decorative style or taste.
| Pros: • Removable cover for easy cleaning. • Firm and supportive for a wide variety of poses. • Height is perfect for comfortable practice. • Manufacturer’s warranty included. | Cons: • Cover must be hand-washed or dry-cleaned. • Some customers wished for a larger size. |
Bean Products Bolster Rectangle Yoga & Meditation Cushion
Bean Products offers a no muss, no fuss line of yoga bolster pillows. Simply decide which color of This Best Yoga Bolster you like and what material you prefer for the exterior. As you look through the various colors, you’ll find cases made of hemp, cotton, organic cotton or easy care vinyl. Each color/exterior is available in either a round or rectangle shape. Simply choose which one works best for your restorative or active yoga poses. The attached handle makes toting or adjusting the bolster a breeze.
This Yoga Bolster is made of commercial grade materials. It comes with a two-year warranty against defects or prematurely breaking down. It’s also designed with a zip-off case for easy cleaning. This is a huge plus for a piece of exercise equipment that can easily collect dust and sweat during daily use.
| Pros: • Removable case makes it easy to clean. • Price is more competitive than other brands. • Incredibly firm for practice, yet very comfortable for sitting or meditation. | Pros: • Cotton case must be air-dried; it will shrink if placed in the dryer. • Not as heavy as some customers expected it to be. |
Peace Yoga® Zafu Meditation Yoga Cotton Cylinder Bolster Pillow Cushion
Simply put, a Peace Yoga Zafu Meditation Yoga Bolster is one good-looking yoga bolster pillow. While the polyester filling provides the perfect amount of support, the soft cotton exterior is designed in a way that makes this bolster look warm and inviting, much like an old friend who is practicing with you. When the cover gets dirty, simply zip it off and toss it in the washing machine to get it ready for the next round.
This is an ideal yoga bolster pillow because it’s firm enough to provide much-needed support during a flowing vinyasa routine, yet comfortable enough for restorative yoga. It’s even pliable enough to use it for a quiet meditation season. All in all, this is a functional and versatile bolster.
| Pros: • Large and heavy for heavy-duty use. • Definitely firm; this yoga bolster pillow maintains its shape. • High-quality cotton weave on shell is machine washable. | Pros: • No warranty mentioned by manufacturer. • Some reviewers found the polyester fill to be hard and lumpy. |
Peace Yoga® Zafu Meditation Yoga Buckwheat Filled Cotton Bolster Pillow Cushion
Meditation provides its own set of challenges and difficulties. The mind wanders and comes back and the body gets restless. After a few minutes, even a simple sitting position can get uncomfortable. Often, people try to prevent this by sitting on folded up blankets and yoga mats. An even better choice, though, is to have a dedicated meditation cushion at hand.
The Peace Yoga yoga bolster pillow cushion is filled with buckwheat hulls. This means that it will provide enough support to assist with good spinal alignment and proper posture as you sit, but it’s also soft enough to prevent aches caused by sitting on a hard floor. The grab-and-go handle makes it easily portable, while the zip-off cover makes cleaning this yoga bolster pillow cushion totally hassle-free. While shopping for the best yoga bolster, don’t pass up this quality meditation cushion. A relaxed body truly helps create a relaxed mind.
| Pros: • Removable cover can be machine-washed. • Pliable enough to be shaped for your individual comfort. • Cushion holds its shape and doesn’t flatten after constant use. | Pros: • No warranty specifically mentioned by manufacturer. • Small cushion may not work well for taller individuals. |
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best yoga bolster is very dependent on individual preferences and practice. It helps to really think about the kinds of poses you do and the ones where you experience pain or straining. These are the ones for which a yoga bolster pillow will be most helpful. Keep in mind that if your yoga practice is a diverse one, you may need more than one yoga bolster pillow to suit all of your needs. Hopefully, this guide has given you enough direction to put you on the path to a peaceful and rejuvenating practice. Namaste!
For More information about stretching and foam rolling Check out The Best Foam Roller Reviews & Buying Guide
