“Yoga for Healthy Aging” addresses the importance of using props as we age. While Kundalini Yoga rarely calls for props, as we explore postures, many may find it helpful to incorporate them into their practice.

This list of basics includes wonderful props to have available for your home practice:

Yoga Mat – I have heard good feedback on the Manduka “PROlite” 71 inch mat. The Jade “Harmony Mat has good grip if you tend to sweat a bit more than average. If you are looking for a more cost-effective option, I hear that a great starter mat is the Jade “Level 1 Yoga mat.” Want something with some extra padding? Manduka “PRO” 71 inch. Or super lightweight? Jade “Travel Yoga Mat.” You can find these mats via REI, Amazon, or Jade – pricing can vary site to site. A good yoga mat is a worthwhile investment.

TWO Yoga Blocks – Cork, wood, or foam – There are many kinds of blocks. Some are too light and some are heavy and slick like my wood blocks pictured here. One brand of cork blocks that are particularly good are “Hugger Mugger.” Available on Amazon Prime or from Yoga Outlet.

Yoga Strap/Belt – Similar to the one pictured here (some prefer using a rubber band in lieu of a strap). Go for an eight-foot strap and preferably one with a buckle so you can secure it around body parts, similar to the one pictured here. (You can use a rubber band in lieu of a strap, just be careful not to lose your grip.)

Yoga Blankets – Dense, natural fiber, woven blankets for padding under the body or weight and warmth during Shavasana. I like to have 3-4 blankets, at least two.

Chair – Any armless chair will work. In studios you see folding chairs with the back removed so easy access for your legs. If the chair you have at home has an open back, this is preferable to a closed back, however the closed back is still a workable option. You may be surprised how you can use your chair to go deeper into poses and even work a more advanced pose like Side Plank which is quite challenging with palms on your mat.

Bolster – This is a large, densely-filled pillow. Sit atop, recline over, or use it to support your body as needed. There are many choices: some are rounder, some more rectangular, some bigger than others. These products are readily available through the Amazon Yoga page, Yoga
Outlet or HuggerMugger. Remember to have a look at what users have to say in the product reviews on these websites before you buy. As I have suggestions for specific products my students prefer, I will make sure to add them here. 

There are many choices for these products through the Amazon Yoga page and Yoga Outlet. Remember to have a look at what users have to say in the product reviews on these websites before you buy. As I have suggestions for specific products that my students prefer, I will make sure to add them here.

Modern Elder Academy & Wisdom Well Blog – My life is so much richer after finding Chip Conley.

The Modern Elder Academy (MEA) campus is in Baja, Todos Santos Mexico. The line up of speakers, workshops and week long retreats can be life changing. Check out the MEA schedule on their website: ModernElderAcademy.com  And by all means subscribe to Chip Conley’s daily blog post on the Wisdom Well blog that is part of Chip Conley’s Modern Elder Academy: wisdomwell.modernelderacademy.com

We Croak App – Another rich resource is the We Croak App. You will receive Five Quotes Per Day: inspiring, at times humorous, thought provoking and some I just don’t quite get! In Bhutan they say contemplating death five times daily brings happiness. The founders are two younger men, Hansa Bergwall and Ian Thomas. There are two seasons of podcasts and a somewhat humorous column, “Ask Death, the final word on advice columns. You can learn more here, at WeCroak.com.

Lasting Letters – A Lasting Letter “holds the words that carry one’s voice forward in time.” Frish Brandt began Lasting Letters as a service provided through hospice and care specialists. It has grown to serve anyone who has a letter they wish to write to a loved one: I love you, I need to tell you something, Thank you, I’m sorry, etc.

A self-described “letter midwife,” Frish describes her process as follows: “With careful listening, intuitive questions, and heartfelt conversation, together we will find the words that form your letter. Everyone has a letter in them​.” To learn more, please visit: mylastingletters.com.