For some people, yoga is more than just a workout. It is a way to release stress and connect their mind and body in perfect harmony.
I have a desk job, so I spend most of the day seated. When I first started this job, I used to get back pains, and at some point, my posture changed.
This went on for a while, up until a friend introduced me to yoga. Since I started it, I feel awesome and much younger.
The difference in improvement I noticed since then can only be described as incredible!
In this article, I’m going to tell you a couple of yoga wheel benefits.
I’ll also tell you everything you need to know about yoga wheels, why they work, and what to look out for when buying a yoga wheel.
Without further ado, let’s get right to it.
What is a Yoga Wheel?
A yoga wheel is a round piece of yoga equipment used in various saunas and yoga-inspired exercises. If you’ve never heard about it, I don’t blame you.
The yoga wheel was invented in 2014, so it’s practically new to the market.
The first yoga wheel to be invented was the Dharma Yoga Wheel. Sri Dharma Mittra and his son created it.
Since its invention, several improvements have been made to its initial design, but the functionality remains the same.
The popularity of yoga wheels has considerably increased over the years. Many yogis around the world have come to discover and appreciate yoga wheel benefits.
As I mentioned earlier, yoga wheels offer limitless possibilities when it comes to stretching and releasing the muscles of the neck, back, shoulders, and hip flexors.
The best thing about yoga wheels is that they can be used in challenging balance postures, a quality that has driven it to rank highest in popularity among seasoned yogis.
Why Yoga Wheels Work
Celebrity trainer Peter Maciver describes the yoga wheel as the best yoga tool in the market so far.
If that’s not enough to convince you how good it is, read on as I tell you why.
Challenging Yoga Poses Made Easy
Incorporating the yoga wheel into your basic yoga routine improves your experience tremendously.
This is one of the most well-known yoga wheel benefits. For starters, using a yoga wheel makes challenging backbends a walk in the park.
With a yoga wheel, you can easily get into inversion and make slow, progressive increments.
This eliminates the hustle and risk of forcing a sudden back bend that exceeds your current level of flexibility.
It doesn’t matter how much of an experienced yogi you are.
Yoga wheels are used by both beginners and seasoned yogis to achieve challenging poses and improve their overall yoga experience.
Individualizes Your Workout
As an experienced yogi, I can confirm that yoga is a challenging workout.
It doesn’t matter how experienced you are. Your weaknesses and unique physical proportions will always limit you.
The yoga wheel helps you practice by enabling you to work with your current flexibility limitations.
With time, you can do more perplexing poses while pushing your body to its limits in the most effortless way possible.
They Improve Stability
Most yoga poses require stability and strength, both of which a yoga wheel can help with. You can use it as a support when doing various poses such as the bridge.
You can also use a yoga wheel when leaning backward in all backbend poses.
The stability offered by a yoga wheel provides you with all the support and safety you need when training your muscles and familiarizing yourself with it.
They Are Versatile
Yoga wheels are not just used for active poses like backbends and inversions.
If you tend to fall asleep while meditating, you can use a yoga wheel against a partner or a wall to keep your spine upright and your entire body receptive to energy.
Yoga wheels also double as a back massage tool. They are very effective in releasing tension from tight, achy muscles.
Yoga Wheels Are Great For Inversions
I know I have mentioned it a couple of times so far, but I just had to put it here. The benefits you stand to gain by using a yoga wheel for your inversion poses are infinite.
They also eliminate the fear of injury during inversions. Come to think of it; fear is the number one deterrent in perfecting yoga poses.
With fear out of the way, you can push yourself to a new limit and discover the potential you never knew you had.
They Help in Endurance
Regardless of your level of experience and flexibility, yoga wheels can help you stay in a backbend posture longer.
However, to achieve the best results and improve your endurance, you need to remain in that position for as long as possible.
As your muscles fatigue, they allow you to build stamina and eventually, your endurance.
Yoga Wheels Can Prevent You From Hunching
Sitting behind a desk all day does a lot of harm to your back and shoulders.
Most people solve this by getting a massage, but what if I told you there’s an even better way to get rid of the pain and discomfort?
A method that costs less but is also more effective? The answer is, as you might have guessed it, using a yoga wheel.
A yoga wheel is very effective in straightening out curved shoulders and backs.
The best thing about them is that unlike a massage where you have to go to a parlor, you can use your yoga wheel wherever you want.
Heck! If your job allows it, you can even bring it to work.
Yoga Wheels Can Help Improve Your Core Strength
All yoga practitioners know that a strong core is the key to a quality and lengthy practice session.
The sturdy, round nature of yoga wheels enables them to support your body weight while being incorporated into arm/leg extensions, planks, and other balancing poses.
As I mentioned earlier, yoga wheels can also be used as a counterweight for inverted poses. They help you balance as you get comfortable with the poses as you build your core strength.
What to Look For in a Yoga Wheel
Like any other product, you have your preferences in terms of style, color, and other things.
However, when buying a yoga wheel, you need to keep other things in mind to ensure that it suits you. This is because our bodies are unique.
As such, a wheel that suits me perfectly might not be the best one for you. To enjoy all yoga wheel benefits, you need the best one.
There are many factors that you need to consider when buying a yoga wheel. Let me break down the most important ones for you.
Size
This is probably the essential factor that you need to consider when buying a yoga wheel. After all, if it’s too big or too small, it won’t do you much good.
Yoga wheels come in three different sizes, so you won’t have a hard time choosing the right size.
If you have a small body, then I suggest going for a smaller size, but if you’re tall, a larger size might be better off.
The best way to ensure you get the best size is by trying out the different sizes at the store before making your purchase.
Weight Limit And Durability
Wherever you go shopping for a yoga wheel, you should ensure that the wheel you choose can handle your weight.
Most high-quality yoga wheels can hold up to 550 pounds, while cheaper models can hold up to 300 pounds.
You should always go for a yoga wheel whose weight limit is much more than your body weight.
If you don’t, a ‘weak’ yoga wheel starts to bend after some time, rendering it obsolete.
Material
Yoga wheels are made of either one of these two materials:
- ABS plastic
- Cork
ABS Plastic
ABS plastic is among the most commonly used manufacturing materials globally, and yoga wheels are no exception.
It is one of the hardest plastics in the world, but it does not hold up very well in terms of strength and durability when compared to cork.
On the bright side, yoga wheels made of ABS plastic are generally cheaper than those made of cork.
However, ABS plastic is non-biodegradable, so if you are big on environmental conservation, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Cork
Yoga wheels made of cork are slightly more expensive than those made of ABS plastic.
The difference in cost arises from the fact that cork is much more sturdy and durable than ABS plastic.
Padding
Padding is essential in yoga wheels because it provides comfort by cushioning you against the hard surface of the yoga wheel, which would otherwise make you uncomfortable.
Generally speaking, the thicker the padding, the more comfortable the yoga wheel.
Padding is made of a type of foam. There are various types of padding foams, all of which provide comfort.
Some, however, come with an added advantage in that they are sweat and odor resistant.
These kinds of padding make the yoga wheel more hygienic and prevent the accumulation of bad odor.
Grip
Since the yoga wheel is basically a wheel, it might move around a bit. This movement, however, could cause injury during a yoga practice session.
For this reason, you should go for a yoga wheel with an excellent grip. One that does not let your body slip or roll around during a pose.
Price
While you can opt to get a pretty inexpensive model, I would recommend going for a high-end model that costs more.
High-end yoga wheels generally last longer and can hold up a substantial amount of weight without bending.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Yoga Wheels
What is The Best Exercise to do With a Yoga Wheel?
The number of exercises you can do with a yoga wheel is virtually limitless.
However, due to their round shape, yoga wheels are mainly used for stretching exercises, with the most common being yoga backbends.
Yoga wheels can also be used for performing a wall stand or handstand, and performing knee tucks when used in combination with a plank.
How is a Yoga Wheel Used?
The most suitable term to describe the function of a yoga wheel is ‘enhancement.’
This term, however, applies when the yoga wheel is used for purely yoga purposes. Other functions of a yoga wheel are:
- Opening up the hips, chest, and back
- Stretching up the back and limbs
- Advancing backbends
- Improving flexibility
- Providing support when doing challenging poses, such as handstands
Which is The Best Yoga Wheel Size?
Most yoga wheels have a width of between 5 to 7 inches and a diameter of 6 to 15 inches.
Whenever you go shopping for a yoga wheel, always go for a larger size, since it provides more comfort and support.
Can I Use a Yoga Wheel to Tone my Legs?
Doing yoga is a popular and effective way to improve flexibility and reduce stress. It can also be an excellent way to build power and strength, especially for your legs.
Doing standing yoga poses builds and tones the muscles in your legs, including your hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves.
Are Yoga Wheels Worth It?
Like other props in yoga, yoga wheels are very beneficial to any yoga practitioner as it helps them evolve their practices.
They help release your back and are an excellent choice for anyone uncomfortable with doing traditional back bends.
Final Verdict
Yoga wheels are increasingly growing in popularity as more yogis worldwide discover yoga wheel benefits and new and more interesting ways to incorporate them into their poses.
In the article, I’ve told you all about yoga wheels and what you stand to gain.
I’ve also answered some of the questions that might have still been in your mind after reading the article.
Since you’re reading this, I assume that you’ve not yet tried out a yoga wheel. That’s too bad, as you can see, you’re missing out on a lot.
So, to improve your poses and explore new heights in yoga, I’d suggest that you get yourself a yoga wheel and join the movement.
When you go shopping for a yoga wheel, remember to keep in mind all the factors that we have discussed in the article to ensure that you end up with a high-quality yoga wheel that will guarantee you maximum comfort, safety, and durability.
