Why Props in Yoga?

Published by Hema on

Props are widely used in many yoga classes including ours. It is used in a variety of ways that can be intriguing to many, especially beginner students. B K S Iyengar is the Yoga Guru who introduced props to the yoga world, making asanas and movement accessible to all.

With the muscle imbalances and weakness that  present lifestyle brings and the fact that each individual is built differently, we cannot have  “one size fits all” asana practice. Postures need to be adapted to suit every individual and this is where props can help.

Lots of students shy away from using props as:

  • -They feel it  is a sign of weakness.
  • -They believe it is for beginners and you are cheating on your practice if you use a prop.
  • -Some feel  it is a waste of time and it gets in the way of free movement.

Warrior 3 with blocks

All these are misconceptions. In addition to beginners,  intermediate and advanced practitioners can use props to advance  their asanas in a safe way.

Props support our  practice, meeting us wherever we are at the moment, and help us in our journey towards our destination.

Natarajasana using straps

Standing twists with props

Standing twists with blocks

Here are the reasons why you should start using props in your practice:

  • -Improves body awareness and allows the engagement of the right muscle groups.
  • -Helps to increase your range of motion, strength & flexibility without injury,
  • -Retrains the body to activate dormant muscle groups
  • -Allows us to go deeper into the pose and stay in the posture for  longer time
  • -Prevents aggravation of existing injuries
  • -Prevents over stretching and  fatigue
  • -Prevents students from using force to attain the posture which can lead to injury
  • -Allows us to breath easier:  having a smooth breath and a calm mind is definitely easier when using props
  • -Progress in your asana practice is faster when using props the right way
  • -Helps maintain balancing postures for longer.

Here are some of the ways props can be used in your daily practice:

  • -When a knee injury or tight hips prevents you from sitting comfortably on the floor – you can elevate your seat with block or bolster. This will give a tilt to the pelvis and keep the knees safe, avoiding pain and further injury.
  • -Straps can be used in postures like  Natarajasan to improve the stretch and opening in the front of the body.
  • -Using blocks as support for the arms in Warrior 3 helps to improve awareness, engage the core better, find length in the upper torso  and engagement of the  leg muscles.
  • -As support for standing twists:  blocks can provide stability and balance allowing for deeper twists without losing form
Navasan with strap

Boat pose or Navasana using straps

Please keep an open mind before saying no to props. Attempt each of these asanas with and without the props to help you understand why props are our friends. There is a right method to use these props, hence always find guidance from a qualified yoga instructor.

Written by:

Hema Laxman, RYT 500

Owner, Flamingo Yoga & Wellness

Categories: wellnessYoga PropsYoga tips
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