Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
There’s a clear message in the yoga world these days: you don’t need to be flexible to do yoga. As the use of props becomes commonplace, it’s easier to understand how yoga straps and blocks can not only help alignment but provide support to your body.
However, if you have wrist issues such as arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, gripping onto the strap can add unwanted pressure or strain to your practice. And, of course, the frustration of a yoga strap adding more discomfort than it takes away is real.
For instance, when you actively hold onto a strap in some poses, it can add unwanted pressure to your hands and wrists such as Head to Knee Seated Forward Bend (Janu Sirsasana) or Extended Hand-to-Big Toe Pose (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana).
But that doesn’t mean you need to get rid of your yoga strap—or yoga practice—altogether.
3 Ways to Make Yoga Straps Feel Better on Your Wrists
Whether you already experience wrist discomfort or are looking for ways to prevent it, there are several ways to use a strap to ensure it protects this sensitive part of the body.
The techniques below are best practiced with a yoga strap that has a buckle, although any strap that can be looped will work.
1. Hand Wrap
Form a large loop with the yoga strap and buckle it into place. Slip your wrists and hands inside the looped strap and reach your fingers around it. Hold it gently as you allow the strap to rest on your outer wrists. Notice if that makes it easier to keep hold.
2. Prayer Hands
Bring the palms of your hands together in prayer position (anjali mudra) inside the looped strap. The strap should rest against your hands between your index fingers and thumbs.
3. Elbow Hold
Bring the palms of your hands together in prayer position with your forearms inside the looped strap. Let the strap rest against your forearms just above your elbow crease.