Guide To Buying A Yoga Wheel
The yoga wheel is a piece of equipment meant to assist various “asanas” and yoga-inspired exercises. You can use them to help stretch and release tension from your muscles, similar to a foam roller. Yoga wheels are also useful for challenging balance postures.
Product Comparison Table
What To Look for
28/01/2021
Plastic vs. Cork vs. Wood
ABS Plastic is a highly durable material. It is shock-resistant and can take a lot of weight. Although it is cheap, plastic is not eco-friendly.
Cork is usually just one layer of the whole wheel, as the core is still plastic. However, it makes the wheel more durable than a full plastic wheel and provides a better grip and flexibility.
Wooden Yoga wheels are an eco-friendly, biodegradable option, unlike plastic and cork. Their drawbacks are that they are expensive, cannot take on too much weight, and are not as flexible as cork or plastic.
Use your experience level to determine the right wheel size.
- Small wheels are usually around 6” in diameter and 5-6” wide and are ideal for rolling out sore muscle areas, stretching, and balancing poses.
- Medium wheels are usually 10” in width and height. They can be used by anyone who is interested in trying a deep backbend but wants appropriate support.
- Large wheels are slightly bigger with 12-13” in height and 5” in width. These are good for both beginners and advanced practitioners and go well with deeper poses and backbends.
- Choosing the wheel size has no relevance to your build as it is only supposed to adjust the difficulty levels for the exercise For example, if you are of a smaller structure, a small wheel might seem like a good idea except, the small size is also going to make your backbend much deeper.
A wheel with a textured surface is always a better choice.
- Look for wheels with a textured surface for enhanced traction with the floor. The wheel should not slip and slide under you, putting you at risk of getting injured. Ensure that the grip is good enough to support your weight and keep the wheel steadily over the ground.
- Thick padding will better cushion the spine and lead to less painful contact.
- The material for the padding is a matter of personal choice although, it is best to look for material that is sweat and odor proof.
Top Picks
Best Yoga Wheel Overall
Risefit Dharma Yoga Wheel
For $35.99
- Can take upto 1000 lbs
- Made of TPE foam, environmentally sustainable
- 3 year guarantee
- Has thinner padding than other rings
Best Plastic Wheel
UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel
For $42.97
- 8mm thick padding makes for a comfortable experience
- Padded with sweat-proof foam
- Available in all sizes and various colors
- Does not have grooves for your spine
Best Cork Wheel
Purity Wave Cork Yoga Wheel
For purchase
- Durable material
- Cork will provide a little flexibility
- Won’t slip
- Doesn’t gather moisture, prevents odour
- Quality difference due to natural materials used
Common Questions
Q:Do I need a yoga wheel?
A yoga wheel is a great tool for stretching and flexibility. It will help you improve your overall posture and release tension along the back.
- If you are into weight training, a yoga wheel can serve as a great tool to supplement your backbone health. It also helps condition your spine for most heavy lifts like the deadlift or the squats, which put an enormous amount of stress on the back.
- You can use a yoga wheel as a post-workout tool for stretching and cooling down.
- If you are a Crossfit athlete or sportsperson, you can also use the yoga wheel to prevent back injuries by strengthening your back.
- As for people with a sedentary lifestyle, the yoga wheel can help improve posture and prevent inflammation in the vertebrae.
Q:What muscles can you hit using a yoga wheel?
- A yoga wheel is aimed at improving your posture and strengthening your spine.It doesn’t help build muscle directly, but it conditions your back and chest muscles for optimal growth during strength training.
- You can use a yoga wheel to stretch your back muscles, shoulders, and chest, based on what pose you practice. It can even help in engaging your core during assisted headstands.
Q:Who should not be using yoga wheels?
- If you have a history of back injuries or have a generally stiff back, you should not dive straight into advanced yoga wheel poses.
- You can start with a basic child’s pose, and then work your way up to more advanced poses, if your back permits.
Q:Do I need to be an intermediate yoga practitioner to use a yoga wheel?
- No, you don’t need to be skilled at yoga to use the yoga wheel. Even as a beginner, you can incorporate a yoga wheel into your routine.
- The trick is how to use it in a manner that can extract maximum benefits with the minimum amount of risk involved. If you are a beginner, you should stick to basic movements, like the wheel-assisted child’s pose, the reclining easy pose, and the assisted half pyramid pose.
- More advanced users can try the wheel-assisted fish pose and the wheel-assisted upward-facing Staff Pose.
Q:Does a yoga wheel help relieve back pain?
- A yoga wheel is designed to do exactly that. It helps stretch and lengthen the spine, which helps you relieve back pain and improve overall posture.
- Some of the poses you can try to help with back pain are the child’s pose, monkey pose, plow pose, crow pose, and the lizard lunge.
Q:Is there an alternative to yoga wheels?
- You can replace yoga wheels with yoga blocks, which serve the same purpose as a yoga wheel. However, they are not nearly as challenging.
- You can use a yoga block as an extension of the arms, and help support your back, head, and hips to help your body settle into a pose.
Q:What asanas can I perform using a yoga wheel?
Some of the asanas you can perform using a yoga wheel, listed in the order of beginner to advanced levels of expertise, are:
- Leg Lifts
- Rolling Lunge
- Seated leg lifts
- Rolling Bridge
- Planks
- Knee tucks
- Pike
- Garland Pose
- Toe Stand
Online Sources:
- 1. https://yogakali.com/yoga-gear/best-yoga-wheels-yoga-prop/
- 2. https://freedomgenesis.com/best-yoga-wheel/
- 3. https://www.bestwomensworkouts.com/best-yoga-wheel/#guide
- 4. https://garagegympower.com/best-yoga-wheels/#How_to_Choose_a_Yoga_Wheel
- 5. https://www.yogajournal.com/osp/best-yoga-wheel
- 6. https://alignedandwell.com/yoga-wheel/
- 7. https://yogainternational.com/article/view/new-prop-on-the-block-5-things-to-know-about-the-yoga-wheel
- 8. https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/9721/yoga-wheel