Yoga props for support
There are lots of different types of yoga props and support that you can use in your yoga practice. These props help your body relax into poses, so that you feel rejuvenated rather than fatigued after your practice.
They can be used in many ways and often help you get more out of your practice, but many people see them as a sign that they aren’t “good enough”, “stretchy enough” and resist them.
I wanted to put together a list of the main props you can use along with some suggestions of how to use them.
You don’t have to go and buy any of the “special” equipment you can use a trouser belt or tea towel as a belt, a pile of pillows as a bolster, a selection of books as a block, some tinned cans as a brick and a wall can often substitute for a chair.
This is by no means extensive. There are lots of uses. If you want some help in knowing what to use then please just ask!
Mat:
This is the number one piece of kit and is known as a “sticky” mat. It provides grip in standing poses and support in floor based poses. There are many options available on the market.
Strap/Belt:
Help to make your arms a little longer, enabling you to prevent straining and stayed aligned in poses. You might use them in a seated forward fold if you can’t reach your toes to help you lean into the pose a little bit more. Or you can use it to help open up the chest and shoulders in heart opener poses. Or to be able to hold your leg a little straighter towards the ceiling in a reclining big toe pose (supta padangusthasana)
1. Seated forward fold
2. Chest opening
3. Supta Padangusthasana
Bolster:
These can provide support for the body during relaxation and enable the muscles to relax even more. They are used a lot in restorative yoga to help deepen the release. Try then in a supported child’s pose under your chest, for your head in a supported forward fold or under your knees in a support savanasana pose:
2. Support savasana
1. Support child’s pose (a favourite with myself and many clients)
3. Supported forward fold
Block:
These come in foam or cock variants and a great multipurpose aid in various poses helping you to hold them longer. You can pop them under your head or back for support in supine poses, sit on them to help open the hips and straighten your spine in seated poses or making the floor come up to meet you ins standing poses such as Triangle. They are also useful as extra padding in kneeling poses.
2. Support bridge pose
Savanasana
3. Seated pose
4. Triangle
Brick:
These are thicker and more stable aids than a block and are great for helping you activate your legs in mountain pose and bridge. They are also very helpful in a balancing poses. They aren’t always as comfortable to sit on though – you might find adding a blanket softens it though.
2. Mountain pose
1. Balancing pose support
3. Bridge pose
Chair:
Chairs are great to be able to do seated versions of poses which means you can do yoga at your desk at work 😊 they are also helpful in supporting you in standing and balancing poses and provide a really lovely alternative of the restorative pose “legs up the wall”. You can use a specialist chair, but I tend to just use a sturdy dining room chair or stool (I have also been known to use my bed for the alternative “legs up the wall” pose 😊
2. Standing pose
1. Balancing pose
4. Bed restorative pose
3. Restorative pose
Blanket:
Finally a blanket is a great prop for relaxation and aiding seated poses. Similarly to the block you can place it under the head or the back as support. Probably the best use though is to keep you nice and warm during relaxation at the end (or even the start) of class especially in winter.
2. Under back
1. Under head
3. Overtop
