Yoga Props - Recommended Props And Benefits

ASANAS WITH PROPS

To assist them practice asanas efficiently, ancient yogis utilized logs of wood, stones, and ropes.

We can extend this concept by inventing supports that enable asanas to be held more comfortably and for longer periods of time without strain.

Yoga asanas need bodily expansion and effort, as well as rest.

More significantly, the motions are designed to position the body properly.

This also involves mental alignment, in which the mind is equally distributed throughout the body.

Yoga demands that you be in excellent mental and physical shape to practice.

Nonetheless, in my many years of yoga, I've discovered that even in excellent health, certain postures may be difficult to hold for the necessary amount of time.

Some asanas, however, require body movements that are too difficult for even the healthiest pupils to undertake without assistance.

It is for this reason that I created the practice of using supports in yoga.

The practice of asanas has never been simpler, less exhausting, or more pleasurable thanks to these props, which make each asana equally accessible to all yoga students, whether they are weak or strong, young or old, beginners or experienced, or those who need to save energy due to tiredness or injury.

HOW PROPS CAN ASSIST.

A yoga prop is any item that aids in stretching, strengthening, relaxing, or improving body alignment.

It allows you to do asanas for extended periods of time while conserving energy.

These props enable asanas to be practiced in a more comfortable manner, actively as well as passively balancing the body and mind.

One can assist students throughout their practice with the body, but this depletes one's own stores of energy and can prove exhaustive, ineffective and inefficient as numbers grow or while being alone at home.

To assist in achieving the ultimate posture, we can start by experimenting with common, everyday items like as walls, chairs, stools, blocks, bolsters, blankets, and belts.

We see the importance of props when dealing with individuals who were afflicted by sickness or disease.

By adding additional height, weight, or support to the body, I found that props helped me remember essential motions and minor changes.

The usage of props also enhanced my blood circulation and respiratory capacity.

This prompted me to design props that could be customized to meet the requirements of any person.

Yoga asana with props is unique in that it is the only type of exercise that allows for simultaneous movement and rest.

It works by activating muscles, toning the body's organs, and relieving mental and physical tension.
Props aid in increasing flexibility and stamina while also relaxing slack and weary muscles.
They aid in the rejuvenation of the whole body while reducing physical weariness.
Yoga students find the practice of asanas with supports to be a highly energizing activity.
It provides them the courage to try harder asanas and guarantees that they are practicing correctly.
Props assist to improve and deepen knowledge of each asana by providing a sense of direction and alignment. They act as silent educators.

THERAPY AND PROPS.

When the body is tired, sluggish, or lethargic, practicing with supports may help. The nerve system calms down, the brain relaxes, and the mind is comforted.

Props in asanas help to develop emotional stability and willpower.

Anxiety, worries, and sadness fade away when stress is lessened, allowing people who are emotionally stressed to deal better with all areas of their life.

The heart, as well as the respiratory, abdominal, and pelvic organs, are relaxed and revitalized as blood circulation improves.

Setubandha Sarvangasana, for example, when performed on a wide wooden bench, improves coronary blood flow by relaxing and invigorating the heart without putting any physical pressure on it.

This makes it suitable for those who have heart problems.

Many common illnesses may be relieved by asanas performed with the assistance of bolsters, blocks, stools, or chairs.

They relieve rheumatism and arthritis by regulating blood pressure, easing dyspnea and asthma, and removing stiffness in the back, hips, knees, and feet.

Yoga with props liberates the soul by releasing connection to the body. It aids with the improvement of posture and balance while also enabling you to stretch and relax while practice.

Finally, yoga with supports provides a sense of calm and serenity, resulting in a new perspective and renewed strength. Some of the items on the next pages were designed especially for your practice. Others are things you'll discover in your own house.

PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A WALL.

Standing and inverted asanas benefit from the assistance of a wall to help maintain balance and alignment.

It offers you the assurance that you won't get hurt or overworked while practicing.

In the practice of Tadasana, the wall is very useful.

Make sure you're doing your standing asanas on a flat, level surface.

Do not practice on a mat or blanket, and do not wear socks to prevent sliding.

Shoes limit mobility, cramp the toes, and decrease sensitivity in the soles, reducing your ability to feel all the changes in the posture.

Always practice Tadasana and its variants with bare feet.

LIST OF RECOMMENDED YOGA PROPS.

The props you see here are likely to be found in your own house. When practicing with props, utilize them in the manner that suits you best.

I've given some basic recommendations, but the most essential thing to remember is that while practicing an asana, you should feel comfortable and calm.

When you practice the asana, the props mentioned below support your whole body, providing you the height you need to better coordinate your movements and maintain balance in the position.

1. YOGA PROP - CHAIR.

The open back rest of this foldable metal chair enables you to put your legs through it. This allows for a simpler, yet still efficient, torso rotation in sitting twists like Bharadvajasana.

When entering Salamba Sarvangasana and Halasana, you may keep your balance by holding the sides of the back rest. Back bends like Viparita Dandasana benefit from it since it supports the torso.

Ascertain that the chair is fully stable and that it is securely planted on the ground.

2. YOGA PROP - BENCH MADE OF WOOD.

This bench should be wide enough to comfortably support your torso and about 60cm (2ft) high. It has to be securely planted on the ground.

Cardiac patients, as well as those suffering from migraines or respiratory problems, would benefit from using this bench in their Setubandha Sarvangasana practice.

3. YOGA PROP - HALASANA STOOL

To support the back and feet in Paripurna Navasana, and the back in Ustrasana, this stool should be 30–45cm (1–1.5ft) high. This stool aids in the practice of asanas that require back, abdominal, arm, and leg flexibility and strength.

4. YOGA PROP - STOOL IS LOW AND OPEN.

A stool with open sides supports the body in back bends like Ustrasana, making it easier to raise and arch the torso. The stool should not exceed 45cm (1.5ft) in height and should be securely planted on the ground.

5. YOGA PROP - HIGH STOOL.

This mid-thigh-height stool is useful for practicing standing twists like Utthita Marichyasana. The stool enables you to properly twist your spine and torso without putting any pressure on your back.

Make sure the stool is securely attached to the ground and has a broad enough top to comfortably put your whole foot on.

The props listed below support certain areas of the body and enable asanas to be sustained for extended periods of time without strain.

Beginners, individuals with tight joints or muscles, and people with high blood pressure who require head support in forward bends can benefit from these.

6. YOGA PROP - BOLSTER.

Bolsters provide support for your body while allowing you to stretch and rest comfortably. The bolster should be filled with thick cotton and weigh about 3kg (7lbs).

The bolster should be approximately 60cm (2ft) long and 23cm wide (9in). It should ideally have a cotton cover that can be removed.

7. YOGA PROP - BLOCK OF FOAM.

To support the head in forward bends and the back in pranayama, a foam block is put underneath stacked wooden blocks. Its measurements are about 30cm (1ft) x 18cm (7in) x 5cm (2in).

8. YOGA PROP - BLOCK MADE OF WOOD.

In all kinds of asanas, wooden blocks are often utilized for support. They provide support for the legs, knees, or palms in sitting and standing asanas, as well as height to seated twists.

A block is used in Ujjayi Pranayama to support the back and open the chest. Blocks offer support for the head and hands in forward bends like Uttanasana.

The block should be approximately 23cm (9in) × 12cm (4.5in) x 7cm in size (3in). It may be put on the short side (a), the long side (b), or the wide side (c), depending on your needs.

While several asanas in this chapter have a recommended height, you should put the block at the height that is most comfortable for you.

9. YOGA PROP - WOODEN BLOCK WITH A ROUNDED TOP.

In the standing twist, Utthita Marichyasana, a small block is utilized to increase height.

It allows you to twist your body more efficiently and without exerting too much effort. It measures about 5cm (2in) in height and 10cm (4in) in length.

10. YOGA PROP - BLANKET THAT HAS BEEN FOLDED.

In reclining asanas and pranayama, folded blankets are utilized to support the back, expand the chest, and support the head and shoulders in inversions like Salamba Sarvangasana.

In sitting asanas, they offer height, which helps to maintain the torso and spine upright and corrects bad structural posture. Cotton blankets with a size of 2m (6.5ft) × 1.2m (4ft) are ideal.

When using one to soften the impact of a chair or a bench on the body, fold it in half three times. To add height to sitting asanas and seated twists, fold in half four or five times.

11. YOGA PROP - BLANKET WITH ROLLED EDGES.

In reclining asanas and back bends, this is utilized to support the neck, as well as the small of the back in back bends like Viparita Dandasana.

In Virasana and Adhomukha Virasana, it helps to alleviate tension on the chest, thighs, and ankles. Four times fold a cotton blanket in half, then wrap it up firmly (see above).

Some asanas benefit from the use of these two props. The stretch is enhanced by the belt, which avoids muscle or joint tension.

The bandage facilitates total relaxation by allowing you to focus your thoughts within.

12. YOGA PROP - BELT FOR YOGA.

In the last stretch of Supta Padangusthasana, Urdhvamukha Janu Sirsasana, and Paripurna Navasana, the belt assists in providing the necessary tension without strain.

The belt is about 60cm (2ft) in length and is constructed of a sturdy woven cloth with buckles on both ends.