If you ask a beginner yogi to make a list of common yoga equipment, nine times out of ten you will find that they won’t put the yoga chair on that list.
Yoga chairs are definitely one of the most frequently overlooked pieces of yoga equipment but they are also one of the most useful ones as well. A yoga chair can help you to practice your poses safely, while also providing you with additional support and a greater level of stability. As a result of this, you will oftentimes see yoga chairs being recommended for backbends and inversions.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into our comprehensive list of the 13 best yoga chairs of 2023!
The 13 Best Yoga Chairs Of 2023
Aozora Backless Yoga Chair Prop
One of the most appealing things about the Aozora Backless Yoga Chair Prop is its simplistic design. This makes it remarkably easy to use, even for beginners, and furthermore it is also remarkably durable as well.
It has strong and durable tubular steel construction.
It features a double-hinged design for extra strength.
It has an attractive, colorful design.
It is not as comfortable as alternatively styled yoga chairs.
Trideer Ball Chair
The Trideer Ball Chair is great for either yoga or for being used as an alternative office chair. One of the great things about it is that it comes in two distinct sizes, which means that it can comfortably accommodate a height range of 5’4” – 6’4”.
It is great for improving posture.
It can relieve back pain and strengthen core muscles.
It is made of eco-friendly, hypo-allergenic materials.
It comes in two sizes: 65 cm and 75 cm.
The pump that is included isn't great.
It can be cumbersome for beginners.
Gaiam Classic Balance Ball Chair
Most of Gaiam’s marketing is catered towards customers who want to replace their office chair with this Classic Balance Ball Chair; however, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t great for yoga as well. It is perhaps most notable for being one of the sturdiest yoga ball chairs on the market.
It comes with a high-quality air pump.
It is one of the best alternative desk chairs on the market.
It is one of the best alternative desk chairs on the market.
Its ideal height range is fairly limited; it is designed for users 5' to 5'11" tall.
THUNDESK Yoga Inversion Bench
The THUNDESK Yoga Inversion Bench can be used for a wide variety of yoga poses but as the name suggests it excels at helping yogis master inversion techniques. Its overall shape and size also make it ideal for backbends as well.
It is ideal for building core strength.
It has been carefully designed to accommodate a wide variety of backbends.
It makes inversion techniques easy.
It has an upper weight limit of 300 lbs.
The recommended hand placement can be awkward for beginners.
The cushion could be softer.
FITDO Yoga Headstand Bench
The FITDO Yoga Headstand Bench excels at being one of the best multipurpose yoga chairs on our list. One additional benefit of its unique design is that the T-pad can easily double as a sturdy yoga block.
It can function as a yoga chair or as a comfortable meditation bench.
It is fairly easy to assemble and disassemble.
It has non-slip handles.
It has a maximum weight capacity of 330lbs.
The T-pad can easily double as a sturdy yoga block
The padding is durable but it may be too firm for some users.
Synergee Yoga Headstand Bench Trainer
The all-natural construction of the Synergee Yoga Headstand Bench Trainer is for sure one of its main selling points but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a useful yoga chair as well. The Synergee Yoga Headstand Bench Trainer is especially ideal for backbends, handstands, and a wide variety of support poses.
It is made from natural wood and vegan leather.
It features 2-inch padded cushions.
The T-pad can be removed and used as a yoga block.
It is great for relieving pressure and providing back support.
The overall durability can vary based on the user.
Friends Of Meditation Back Jack Meditation And Yoga Chair
The Friends Of Meditation Back Jack Meditation And Yoga Chair is the more affordable sibling of the (well-known) Friends of Meditation Extra Large Relaxing Meditation and Yoga Chair. However, this yoga chair is still remarkably useful and a great choice for yogis that are operating on a tighter budget.
It is great for a wide range of heights, even for people that are significantly taller than average.
It is ideal for extended sitting sessions.
It does a great job of relieving back pain.
The back brace is not very durable.
The carrying case is not very sturdy.
ZenHeart Floor Chair With Back Support
The ZenHeart Floor Chair With Back Support is definitely one of the oddest-looking products on this list. In fact, many customers have argued if it should be categorized as a “chair”. Regardless, the ZenHeart Floor Chair does provide more than enough support for both meditation and yoga poses. Last but not least, this “chair” also can double as a yoga mat or a general-purpose exercise mat.
It can be used as a yoga chair, meditation chair, or yoga mat.
Its foldable design makes it lightweight, compact, and easy to store.
It comes in a wide range of colors.
It is sturdy and resistant to general wear and tear.
It might not be ideal for some of the more complex yoga poses.
Alexia Meditation Seat
As the name suggests, the Alexia Meditation Seat is more complex than your average meditation cushion (because it is a full-blown seat). This means that it can easily be used for more than just meditation.
Multipurpose; it can double as a lounge chair if need be.
It is one of the most comfortable meditation cushions on the market.
It is made from vegan leather.
It is bulkier and heavier than the average meditation cushion.
Storing it can be a hassle.
Belari Teak Meditation Bench
The Belari Teak Meditation Bench is a traditionally styled yoga chair that places a strong focus on function (more so than its appearance). As its name suggests, the Belari Teak Meditation Bench is ideal for all types of meditation but it is fairly short and lacks padding. This means that it isn’t a great choice for people who want help to perform complex yoga poses.
It is made from 100% sustainably sourced solid teak hardwood
It has an ergonomic design that is perfect for stretches and kneeling meditation.
It is relatively easy to clean and maintain.
It has folding legs that make it convenient to store or transport.
It is ideal for heights up to 6’3”.
It does not have any padding, so it isn’t as comfortable as its major competitors.
Its size makes it awkward for some yoga poses.
Samadhaan Iyengar Backless Yoga Chair
The Samadhaan Iyengar Backless Yoga Chair is one of the most frequently recommended yoga chairs for beginners because it is easy to use and has a straightforward design. In addition to this, it is also relatively affordable compared to a lot of the competition – which is great because many manufacturers tend to overprice their yoga equipment.
It is one of the most affordable yoga chairs on the market.
It has an ergonomic design that makes it suitable for inversions and backbends.
It has a foldable design that makes it easy to store and transport.
It is made from high-grade tubular steel.
It does not have any padding.
Pilates Yoga Chair, Professional Iyengar Auxiliary Chair
The Pilates Yoga Chair, Professional Iyengar Auxiliary Chair has a fairly straightforward design which makes it remarkably easy to use. Without a doubt, one of the main benefits of this yoga chair is the fact that its lightweight, foldable design allows it to be easily stored or transported from place to place. However, that being said, it is still relatively durable and can easily manage frequent yoga sessions.
It is easy to use and has a straightforward design.
It has a foldable design that makes it easy to store and transport.
It has an anti-slip surface.
It is lightweight and easy to maneuver.
It does not have any padding.
It is slightly more expensive than similarly designed products.
KKAI Folding Yoga Chairs Backless Yoga Chair Prop
The KKAI Backless Yoga Chair Prop has a fairly simple design that makes it ideal for both beginners and experts alike. However, unlike similar yoga chairs that have this general design, the KKAI Backless Yoga Chair Prop incorporates canvas fabric padding for extra comfort.
It has a foldable design that makes it easy to store and transport.
It has a straightforward design that makes it easy to use.
It has canvas fabric padding for extra comfort.
It is more expensive than similarly designed yoga chairs.
Now that we’ve taken a look at the pros and cons of our 13 favorite yoga chairs, let’s review some fundamental yoga chair tips. We’ll do this by taking a comprehensive look at three of the most common questions that people have about yoga chairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideally, a yoga chair is not meant to be a constant fixture in your yoga routine. It should instead be used to supplement your yoga routine; eventually helping you to develop your skills and overall technique.
Yoga chairs can accommodate a wide range of poses but they are generally meant to alleviate any issue that you have with support, extension, or resistance. Some of the most demanding poses that yoga chairs are frequently used for are backbends; such as Urdhva Danurasana (Upward Face Staff Pose) and Viparita Dandasana (Inverted Staff Pose).
The straightforward answer to this question could simply be: “the one that is best suited for your needs”. However, figuring out what that means usually isn’t an easy task. Ideally, you want to have a yoga chair that is:
- Lightweight; so that you can easily maneuver it based on the poses that you are trying to perform and also carry it from place to place without much difficulty.
- Sturdy; so that it can accommodate your weight and also stand up to frequent use. The average yoga chair usually has an upper weight limit of at least 220 lbs (100 kg) and there are more than a few options on the market that far exceed that.
- Unobtrusive; so that you can use it to perform a wide range of poses and not have it negatively affect your technique.
Generally speaking, most yogis will tell you that a yoga chair is superior to a yoga ball due to the level of stability that it provides. However, this does not take yoga ball chairs (also known as balance ball chairs) into account. This is an amalgamation of a yoga ball and a traditional yoga chair, which results in a final product that sacrifices a bit of stability to become far more flexible in terms of how it can be utilized.
Generally speaking, the choice between a traditional yoga chair and a yoga ball chair is going to be up to personal preference. That being said, we recommend that beginners start with a traditional yoga chair because of how straightforward they are to use.
