Ain’t No Shame in the Prop Game – Props in Gentle Yoga

I’m getting ready to start teaching live at the yoga studio again.  I am also happy to report that the classes will continue to be livestreamed.  Over the past year, a good group has been coming for the livestreamed classes.  Some of my regular students live out of town and I’m glad that they will be able to continue.

As a teacher, one of the biggest differences between teaching online versus in person has been designing classes that do not include props.  In using the term “props”, I am referring to such things as blocks, bolsters, straps and blankets.  Once I started teaching online, I let go of using them.  I didn’t want to put participants in the position of having to scramble around to find something to use or be left out because of not having something.

Regardless of whether you practice at home or in a studio, props can add a lot of value to your practice.  Props can either lend some support to help you find your fullest expression of a pose or as a training tool to help you continue to deepen poses.  In this blog post, I’m going to give a rundown of some tips and tricks with props and how they relate to a gentle yoga practice.

First, let’s start with our most important prop, the yoga mat.  When I first started, I had a very inexpensive mat.  I didn’t know what my commitment to yoga was going to be, so I didn’t want to make much of an investment.  That mat was thin and really didn’t offer much by way of comfort for my knees or in final resting pose.  Within a month or so, I made the investment in something better.  I had a lot of knee sensitivity at that point, so I actually used both of those mats for quite awhile.  And, in fact, I still have use for that old mat because when I teach online now, I teach on a very hard surface.  For that reason, I actually use THREE mats stacked on top of one another and it feels good.  While I do understand the reluctance to spend much money in the beginning, depending upon how one’s body is, a mat with adequate cushioning can make all the difference in enjoying yoga practice. 

After you get past making an investment in a mat (or not), the rest of the props are fairly inexpensive.

I’m sure that after a good mat, opinions vary widely as to what is the next most important prop to have.  For me, a pair of blocks are very useful and versatile.  In terms of a gentle yoga approach, one of the best things a pair of blocks can do is to bring a hard, supportive surface closer to you.  Can’t touch your toes in a forward bend?  No problem, a block or two stacked blocks placed on the floor bring the “floor” right to your hands so you can feel the full expression of the pose.  I personally like the blocks made out of cork the best because they are very firm, but the hard foam blocks are just fine as well.  In a pinch, a pair of hard back books will do.

Next, up on my list would be a yoga blanket aka Mexican blanket.  Does the blanket need to be a “yoga” blanket?  Not necessarily but as it turns out, these blankets are ideal for yoga practice because they are easy to roll up, soft, light, warm and durable.  They can also be folded into different shapes that give great support.  For a gentle yoga, my favorite ways to use them are folded into a rectangle to sit on for seated poses.  I like to sit on the long edge so that my hips are tilted forward.  I also like to roll one up and use it as neck support for final rest.  Of course, it is also great to use as a cover for warmth and comfort during final rest.  For a home practice, I recommend having at least two.

It is also nice to have a yoga strap.  Straps are useful for helping you to get a bit deeper into a pose such as trying to touch your toes from a seated position.  Straps can also help the add support in poses like Standing Big Toe or Dancer’s Pose.  In some styles of yoga, they are used heavily. 

Finally, to this list, we get to the bolster.  It is also good to have a bolster.  They come in a variety of sizes.  Usually, bolsters are long tubes but you can get them in a flat rectangle shape too.  In a gentle practice, the most frequent way I use them is as a support under the knees during rest pose.  The smaller ones can be used for head support.  Bolsters are a must have for restorative poses.  Often they are combined with blocks to set up different shapes to support the body.  I generally find the most use for the big long tube type versus the smaller tube or the flat rectangle shape.

There are other props out there such as egg-shaped blocks or yoga wheels.  I have them and I love them too, but they are not as commonly found in studios or called for by teachers.  First priority should be placed on having a comfortable mat, then a couple of blocks, blankets, a strap and a bolster and you are really good to go.

Once you have your prop kit gathered, use your props when you see fit.  This is why I say, “there ain’t no shame in the prop game”.  If you are taking a class, regardless of whether the teacher calls for the prop or not, if it’s better for you to use a prop, use it.  It’s YOUR practice.

 As you gain experience and learn more about your own body, you will know exactly what your body needs to be properly supported throughout your practice.   You may not see the instructor or anyone else using a prop and that’s ok.   Intelligent use of props is a mark of taking agency in your practice.  If you are not going to a class where props are called for and you need to learn different options with each prop, a simple Google search will give you all the ideas you need.  Just pick one or two to start with and go from there. 

Props can really add a lot of comfort, stability and enjoyment to your practice.  Even if you are already using them, I hope you will consider exploring some new ways to do so!