{"id":261489,"date":"2020-10-02T07:34:12","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T11:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/?p=261489"},"modified":"2020-10-09T11:13:16","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T15:13:16","slug":"yoga-props","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/it\/journal\/yoga-props\/","title":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s Talk About Props"},"content":{"rendered":"

Props in yoga, something I think a lot of us have a chequered past with. We can all be honest enough to say that when we may have seen props as a sign of weakness or a sign of not being able to do something \u201cright\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Really they\u2019re there to enhance your practice, not take away from it. Whether that be supporting your relaxation or making a pose comfortable for your body.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So what are the most common props in yoga and why should we use them?<\/span><\/p>\n

Blocks<\/b><\/h3>\n

Probably the most common prop and the one which most studios and gyms have to hand. Blocks vary in size from an inch thick and wide enough to sit on to higher and narrower.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are a versatile prop and can be used to create extra height in the body, help balance, activate certain muscles or support a more relaxed restorative position.<\/span><\/p>\n

Support comes often when we are sat on them or using them to help balancing postures whereas activation is when we bring a little resistance against the block. By using the blocks in either of these we can challenge the body in a way that otherwise it may not be able to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some inspiration for you:<\/span><\/p>\n

–<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span> Try popping between the knees in Boat pose to fire those deep core muscles<\/span><\/p>\n

–<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span> Take a propped version of Bridge pose by resting the sacrum onto a pile of blocks<\/span><\/p>\n

–<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span> Find your balance in Half Moon by resting the bottom hand onto a block, meaning you can focus on that rotation of your torso<\/span><\/p>\n

–<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span> Raise your seat in seated postures to make twists, folds and meditation more comfortable<\/span><\/p>\n

Straps<\/b><\/h3>\n

After blocks and bricks yoga straps are the prop you\u2019re most likely to come across in a studio or gym. If you practice from home they\u2019re also pretty cheap and easy to store. No falling over props with this one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yoga straps can vary but they tend to be a 1.5m-2m piece of cotton webbing with d-rings at one end. They have many uses, from making it easier to reach your feet, to supporting a release in the hips for a restorative position, helping build strength or encouraging the body to relax.<\/span><\/p>\n

A strap, with its changeable length and uses is a perfect prop to help us to remember and treasure the journey into your practice. It can help to take away that physical and mental grasping of the pose that we so often slip into.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some inspiration for you:<\/span><\/p>\n