A yoga bolster is a generously sized, firmly stuffed cushion that provides support in restorative and yin yoga postures. Unlike a regular pillow, which compresses under body weight, a quality bolster maintains its shape and height, creating a reliable and comfortable platform for the body to rest upon. Once you experience a well-supported restorative practice with a bolster, you will wonder how you ever managed without one.
The Most Useful Bolster Postures
Supported Backbend over a bolster placed beneath the thoracic spine is one of the most immediately relieving postures available to anyone who spends time at a desk. Simply lie back over the bolster, let the arms fall wide, and breathe. The chest opens, the shoulders release, and the thoracic spine, which is typically chronically flexed in modern adults, gets the extension it rarely receives.
Supported Child's Pose with a bolster beneath the torso transforms what can be an uncomfortable posture into a deeply restorative one. The abdomen rests on the bolster, the arms extend forward or along the sides, and the head turns to one side. Five minutes in this position reliably settles the nervous system.
