The History of the Yoga Blanket

The History of the Yoga Blanket

Yoga blankets have been used as props for many decades, although the exact history of the modern yoga blanket is not as clearly documented as the history of some other yoga equipment. Historical accounts of yoga practice in India describe cotton blankets being used by practitioners, while blankets became increasingly common as yoga schools and studios developed in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. American practitioners commonly used Mexican cotton blankets as well as wool blankets because they were durable and could be folded and used for support.

The development of modern yoga props is particularly associated with the growth of Iyengar Yoga and the teaching of B.K.S. Iyengar. Blankets became an important part of prop-based practice because they could be folded to provide specific amounts of height and support. Early yoga studios sometimes used whatever durable blankets were available, including surplus military blankets. Over time, purpose-made yoga blankets became widely available, and today they are a familiar prop in yoga studios and home practices.