Can a Yoga Prop Help 'Prop' Up Your Practice?
By Della Menechella
Some people may wonder if using a yoga prop can help
them get more out of their practice. My personal opinion is yes.
B.K.S. Iyengar introduced the yoga prop as a means
of supporting proper alignment of the joints and bones during postures.
Maintaining proper alignment is key to reducing the possibility of
injury and to allowing you to get deeper into the poses.
Props are especially useful for beginners, for people
who do not have a great deal of flexibility, for those who are recovering
from injuries, and for those with special physical needs.
Typical Yoga Props
Yoga Block
I use this yoga prop often, especially when I am doing a Forward Bend
and my hamstrings are not yet flexible enough to allow me to comfortably
touch my hands to the floor. Yoga blocks are a great aid to help you
maintain proper alignment in challenging poses. You can stack several
blocks to gain height or use them to support you in certain poses.
Yoga Strap
Another yoga prop that I use often is a strap. Straps can help you
reach limbs such as feet and hands during certain postures where you
have limited flexibility. They help you maintain proper alignment
and help you lengthen your body. I always use a strap for one of my
favorite poses – Cow Pose – because I am not yet able to grasp my
hands behind my back. The use of the strap allows my arms to be comfortable
so I can fully relax forward in the pose.
Yoga Ball
This yoga prop is extremely versatile and it is one that I use several
times each week. It is great for developing core strength because
you need to recruit significant muscle fibers when doing postures
in order to keep the ball from rolling and you from falling. It can
be very useful for beginners and those recovering from injuries because
it helps with support and alignment. A yoga ball is also great for
stretching because you can get an extended range of motion.
Blankets
Although I don't often use them, blankets can offer many benefits.
They can help support you in poses, they provide padding, and they
also provide warmth so you can be very comfortable in restorative
poses.
Less Common Yoga Props
Backbend Benches
They help to support you during backbends. They reduce straining and
allow your spine to maintain proper alignment while increasing flexibility
in your shoulders, chest and the front of your body.
Eye Pillows
They are soft cushions that you place on your eyes to help you focus
inward and achieve a greater sense of peace and calmness during relaxation
poses.
There are times when using a yoga prop can help you
deepen your practice, and during those times, you might want to consider
using one or all of these props. At other times, you might not feel
the need to use them. The important thing is to pay attention to your
body and to respond to what it needs each time you practice.
Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast
who has been involved in fitness for over thirty years. Here website
http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/
is filled with practical information about how you can make yoga and
fitness a positive part of your life.
