Why Use a Mexican Blanket for Yoga?

You’ve got your mat, your water and every intention of putting your phone away. So why bring a blanket to yoga, too?

Because sometimes the floor feels hard, sitting comfortably takes a little adjusting, and the final rest is better with something warm nearby. A Mexican blanket can be a useful addition to your setup—and it still has a job when class is over.

A Little Cushioning Where You Want It

Fold a blanket neatly to add padding beneath your knees or elbows during suitable floor poses. Smooth folds give you a more even surface than a crumpled pile of fabric.

Start with a small amount of padding and adjust with your instructor. More thickness isn’t automatically more comfortable.

Product photo: The Baja Trader. Blue Sea Turtle Mexican Blanket.

A Lift for Seated Practice

Sitting cross-legged on the floor doesn’t feel the same for everyone. A folded blanket under your seat can provide a little height for seated poses or meditation.

Try a tidy, stable fold and ask your teacher to help you choose the height. The goal is a setup you can settle into, rather than spending the whole time rearranging your legs.

Seated meditation. Image source: YogaUOnline, from an article by Leah Sugerman. Demonstration image; the blanket shown is not a Baja Trader product.

An Adjustable Prop for Slower Classes

Fold it flat or roll it into a smaller support: a blanket gives you options during restorative practice. Your instructor can show you where it belongs for a particular pose and whether a bolster or block would work better.

Keep loose fabric and fringe clear of your feet. A blanket can shift, so keep your mat as the surface for standing poses and flowing sequences.

A rolled blanket used as support during savasana. Image source: YogaUOnline, from an article by Leah Sugerman. Demonstration image; the blanket shown is not a Baja Trader product.

Warmth for the Final Rest

Savasana—the quiet rest at the end of class—is a good time to pull a blanket over yourself if the room feels cool.

No complicated setup needed. Unfold it, get comfortable and give yourself a few minutes before checking those notifications.

Product photo: The Baja Trader. Pink Sea Turtle Mexican Blanket.

Why Choose a Mexican Blanket?

A woven Mexican blanket brings color and a useful foldable layer to your practice. What matters most is how its size, thickness and feel suit your class; the pattern is the fun part.

The Baja Trader’s blankets are handwoven in Tlaxcala, Mexico, from 100% recycled textiles: 50% acrylic, 40% polyester and 10% cotton. You can read more about how our recycled-textile blankets are made.

After class, yours can head back to the couch or come along for a park picnic. One blanket, plenty of reasons to keep it nearby.

Looking for somewhere to practice? Explore our guides to yoga in Tijuana and yoga in Ensenada.

Further Reading

For demonstrations of basic blanket setups, see Yoga.org’s blanket tutorial. Iyengar Yoga UK also explains how teachers use props to support individual students.

Don’t Forget to Bring a Blanket!