SOMA & SOUL

Member Resource

What you need, what we love, and why we reach for props in the first place.

Let us start with the most important thing: you do not need any equipment to join us.

Every class Brittany and I teach can be done with just your body and a little floor space. We will always offer alternatives, and we will always let you know what is coming so you can set yourself up comfortably.

That said — props and equipment can be genuinely wonderful tools. Not because your body is not enough, but because the right support at the right moment can change everything. Below, we have put together a guide to what you might see in sessions, what we recommend if you want to invest in a little kit, and — most importantly — why we use props in the first place.

Your Starter Pack

If you want to buy anything at all, start here. Two yoga blocks and a strap will take you an enormous distance.

One thing we did not mention — because it almost goes without saying — is a yoga mat. If you have one, bring it. If you do not, a carpet, a towel, or a non-slip rug will do just fine for most classes.

Yoga Blocks

Blocks are one of the most versatile pieces of movement equipment you can own. They can be used as support, as a step up or down, as something to build strength against, and — if you stack a few — as a makeshift bolster or cushion.

They come in three main materials, and it really does come down to personal preference:

–     Foam blocks are soft and versatile. They are gentle as a support prop in restorative or yin poses, though they can feel a little unstable underfoot if you are stepping onto them.

–     Cork blocks feel more solid — closer to wood — and have the added benefit of being a more environmentally friendly choice. A nice middle ground.

–     Wooden blocks offer the most stable, steady support and are particularly useful if you will be stepping on them. They can feel firm against the body in long-held poses, but draping a blanket over softens this beautifully.

If you are buying your first blocks, any material will serve you well. Follow what appeals to you.

Yoga Strap

A strap is endlessly useful — as a support to hold a position for longer, to tie the hips in a restorative pose, to assist in accessing certain shapes, and even as a tool for building strength through isometric work.

I recommend a longer strap — somewhere between 8 and 10 feet (2.4 to 3 metres). I tend to favour the 3-metre option as it gives you the most versatility. Look for a strap with D-rings that can be tied into a loop. You can find fancier versions with clips, but they are more expensive and not necessary — the simple kind works beautifully.

In a pinch, a strap can be replaced with a scarf or a belt. Good to know for travel.

Lovely Additions (Optional, But Delicious)

The following are not essential, but they can transform certain classes — especially anything yin, restorative, or focused on nervous system support.

Bolster

A yoga bolster is a long, firm cushion designed to support the body in sustained, relaxed poses. In yin and restorative classes, a bolster can be the difference between a pose that feels like a battle and one that invites you to simply let go.

If you do not have a bolster, you do not need to rush out and buy one. Bed pillows, folded blankets, or couch cushions work perfectly well as substitutes. You can also build a bolster using a few yoga blocks and a folded blanket stacked together.

If you find yourself drawn to our slower, more supported classes — yin, restorative, nervous system work — a bolster is a genuinely worthwhile investment.

Blankets

I use specific yoga blankets in my practice, but truly any blanket from your home that folds neatly will do. A large bath towel works just as well. Blankets are used for warmth, for softening props, for support under the head or knees, and for that deeply held feeling of being held that makes savasana feel complete.

For Pilates, Barre & Strength Classes

Resistance Bands (Therabands / Looped Bands)

These may appear in some of our yoga, pilates, and barre-inspired sessions. They add resistance to movement and are particularly useful for building stability and strength — and they travel beautifully.

If you do not have a band, your yoga strap is an excellent substitute. The key difference is that a strap has no give, which means it favours isometric contraction (holding against resistance), while a theraband provides dynamic resistance with give — supporting both the shortening and lengthening of muscles. Both are genuinely useful. Do not feel you need both.

Wrist or Ankle Weights

These are a nice addition if you enjoy Pilates and would like a little extra resistance in your mat work. They are widely available online and are not expensive. That said, they are entirely optional — everything can be done without them, especially when you are starting out.

Hand Weights (Dumbbells or Kettlebells)

You may occasionally see weights appear in our strength, pilates, or barre classes. As always, everything can be done bodyweight-only, and this is often exactly where we recommend beginning.

If you want to add some resistance without purchasing weights, try filling an empty bottle with sand — it is a surprisingly effective substitute and a good way to discover whether you enjoy weighted work before committing to a purchase.

For Myofascial Release

Massage Balls (YTU Balls)

For our myofascial release work, you will need some kind of ball. I work primarily with Yoga Tune Up balls, which are designed specifically for this use. They have just the right amount of give, provide excellent support, and grip the skin without sliding — which matters more than you might think when you are working into a tight spot.

Tennis balls or general massage balls make perfectly adequate substitutes.

Please avoid spiky massage balls, golf balls, and lacrosse balls. These are too firm and too small for the kind of sensitive, connected work we do here. They can create more tension in the nervous system, which is the opposite of what we are after.

Pilates Ball / Coregeous Ball

The Coregeous ball is a Yoga Tune Up product — a larger, softer, inflatable ball that can be used for release work, strength work, and even deep relaxation on the belly. A simple inflatable pilates ball is the same idea.

These are very easily replaced by a cushion from your couch. Genuinely. Do not let this one stop you from joining a class.

Foam Roller

Foam rollers may appear occasionally as a support prop or in movement sequences. They can be replaced by a toilet roll (yes, really), or by a pilates ball.

Why We Use Equipment at All

We did not include all of this so that you would feel like you need to go shopping. We included it because we think it is worth understanding why we reach for props — and what they actually do.

To Increase Awareness

Props give us feedback. They help us feel what is actually happening in the body — where we are moving, where we are not, how we are breathing, where we hold, and where we let go. Sometimes we cannot feel something clearly until something outside us reflects it back.

To Enhance Proprioception

Proprioception is our sense of where we are in space — the body's continuous conversation with the brain. Equipment can enrich this feedback loop in ways that open up new possibilities for movement and self-understanding.

To Use Constraint as a Gateway

This might sound paradoxical, but using a prop to limit or guide a movement can actually help the body access positions it could not reach without support. Constraints create clarity. They show the body a path it did not know was available.

To Create Nervous System Safety

This is perhaps the most important reason of all.

When the body feels safe, everything changes. When the nervous system is uncertain — about a position, about the ground beneath it, about whether it can hold something — muscles grip, breath shortens, and the body retreats into its familiar holding patterns. But when safety is present? Things release. New options become available. The body stops protecting and starts exploring.

Props are not a shortcut. They are an invitation. And safety is not a compromise — it is the whole point.

To Make Movement Accessible

We believe movement is for every body. Props make that belief practical. They allow us to meet each person where they are — not where we think they should be — and to offer experiences that might otherwise feel out of reach.

Our Recommendation

Try the classes first. See what you love, notice what keeps coming up, and let that guide any purchasing decisions. We will always tell you what is coming and offer alternatives — so you will never be caught out.

If we had to point you toward one thing to start with, it would be yoga blocks and a yoga strap. They will serve you across more classes and more moments than almost anything else on this list.

And remember: none of this is necessary. You are enough. Your body is enough. We just love having a few good tools in the room.

With warmth,

Endri & Brittany

Soma & Soul