Why yoga props are your best friends

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi, or a newbie, don’t shy away from using your yoga props. They’re there to help improve your practice.

Last month, I started my journey to become a yoga teacher and so far, I’m loving it. Yoga is so much more than the positions (asanas) we hold in class, but a philosophy on how to live and breathe…but that’s a whole other blog post for another day!

For now, let’s return to yoga asanas. What I’m learning through the course, and observation, and my own reflection, is that there are common mistakes we all make. So, in a special three-part Helpful Hack series, I’m going to school you up on yoga do’s and don’ts.

First in the series is encouraging the use of props. Too often I’ve seen people (myself included) bend, twist, reach or contort themselves into awkward positions to hold a pose that their body isn’t quite ready for yet.

Sure, practice makes perfect but why not be a little kinder to yourself, accept you’re not there, and get a helping hand. (Can you see the little yoga ‘life lesson’ I just injected there 😉).

Here are five reasons why you should reach for your yoga prop the next time you’re in class

1. Alignment – asanas are about alignment. Making sure, for example, your shoulders are stacked over your hips, your hips are stacked over your toes, your tailbone pulls to the earth, your head to the sky. Blocks, straps and bolsters can help you find this alignment and give you support or a boost if you need it.
2. Prevent injury – when your body is aligned, you are less likely to injure yourself as everything is tracking in the right direction, there is no displaced strain or effort.
3. Build up strength – using blocks or straps help you to build up strength incrementally by adjusting the position/height (block) or increasing/decreasing tension (strap) each time you practice. This also helps you feel a sense of success.
4. Safely test limits – props let you take on a challenging asana but within your own terms, in your own time.
5. Humility – you don’t have to bust your chops trying to hold a pose prop-free. It’s ok to eat some humble pie and show even a master yogi needs help too!

Enjoyed the first instalment of my yoga 101 three-part series? Let me know in the comment box below.  

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Until next time,
Maryanne K