A Yoga Wheel Will Melt Away Your Neck and Back Pain
It feels sooooo good.
You don’t have to be a yogi to know there are bountiful health benefits to yoga exercise. It can help you manage your blood sugar, improve your mental health, soothe fibromyalgia pain, and even help you lose weight.
Yoga is especially great for stretching muscles and relieving nerve pressure that may result in back pain. The best part is that you don’t have to be an expert to reap these benefits, especially with the help of a yoga wheel. The round, padded tool stretches just about every muscle, and can be used as a prop during a formal yoga class, or to stretch your back while watching TV during a relaxing night at home.
What is a yoga wheel?
Unlike foam rollers which are wider and shorter, yoga wheels are firmer and more effective in providing pain relief to targeted areas. They’re easy to use, too, even for those of us who lack flexibility. Simply press your back against the wheel and allow your muscles to stretch. You can then roll the wheel back and forth along your spine to decompress vertebrae and relax muscles.
They range in size from 6-12 inches, so you can store them anywhere. You also won’y have to worry about their durability — most have a weight capacity of 500-1,000 pounds and are strong enough to handle anything.
Scroll for some of the most popular yoga wheels on the internet right now.
The Best-Seller Yoga Wheel
Starting at $43.79, Amazon
With more than 900 positive reviews on Amazon, this yoga wheel won’t let you down. It holds up to 550 pounds and has thick, sweat-resistant padding for ultimate comfort while you stretch. It includes an 18-pose yoga wheel guide, so you can get the most from every exercise.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “I received this yoga wheel and I immediately did a backbend. I got up and 90% of my pain was gone! I now use it 2 to 3 times a day and my back hasn’t felt this good in 17 years! I feel like I have a new life! I am so happy that I purchased this!”
Best Yoga Wheel for Circulation
Realign Back Wheel: Back Pain Relief
$44.79, Amazon
Don’t let the nubs on this yoga wheel scare you. They provide a deep tissue massage that you can use on your entire body, not just your back. The grooves and ridges are strategically aligned to pinpoint hard-to-reach muscle pain. You’ll be surprised by how good you feel after you use it.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “This is my top purchase in my whole Amazon lifetime. I get massages biweekly because my back ends up messed up and my neck gets so tense I get tension migraines. No hand held or electronic massager has been use useful … With this I just lay back and roll … I love this thing. It’s the best.”
Best Antimicrobial Yoga Wheel
$33.77, Amazon
The cork surface on the Gaiam yoga wheel seals out germs, odor, and bacteria while providing cushy padding. It’s designed to ease tension in your back and neck muscles, and is a great tool to improve your posture and flexibility.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “Super helpful in my back-bend flexibility poses. It’s versatile and the cork really provides a good texture and surface so that you don’t slip. It’s a great addition to my yoga practice!”
Best Yoga Wheel Set
$93.97, Amazon
This yoga wheel set comes in 12-inch, 10-inch, and 6-inch sizes, each providing a different level of pressure. The large wheel provides standard pressure and is great for beginners. The medium wheel allows for a stronger massage and stretch for back and hips. The micro wheel is best for a targeted deep tissue stretch.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “Just wanted to drop a line and say how great the yoga wheels are. I bought them because my husband has to get decompression every month at the chiropractor’s office and I thought this might help him at home. We had tried an inverted table, but that did very little. I’m happy to say that he says this thing makes his back feel better immediately and he was able to skip his last decompression.”
Best Yoga Wheel for Beginners and Balancers
$24.99, Amazon
Because the Solofit isn’t a full circle, it’s a bit easier for those who may not be comfortable bending backwards. Unlike other yoga wheels, it can also be used as a balance board and for more unique yoga poses. It features sweat-proof, anti-slip padding for piece of mind.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “I am able to lay my back on this and hold that position for a few minutes and it greatly helps the backaches I get from scoliosis and pelvic prolapse. I bought the taller yoga circle first and was unable to lay back on it. Now after doing this one I am also able to lay on the taller a bit, and I am increasing the time I can lay back on this one.”
Best Yoga Wheel for Deep Massage
Acumobility the Ultimate Back Roller
$59.95, Amazon
This little wheel leaves a big impact. The bumps are not as hard as they look, and have some give to provide you with the ultimate deep tissue massage. Its design supports natural spinal movement and enhances overall mobility.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “The nodes do a great job of finding those trigger points and releasing myofacial tension. There’s a groove down the center for the spine to pass through and then staggered nodes to dig in, in all the right ways. There’s a give to the nodes that other rollers I’ve owned didn’t have. It’s heavy duty, so I’m sure it’ll last and it’s just the right width, so it gets right into that area under my shoulder blades. Love, love, love it.”
