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Why yoga props are the best thing ever (no, seriously)

Writer's picture: LauraLaura

Updated: Aug 12, 2022


The ego is a tricky thing in yoga and after almost ten years of practice I've found that props have been one of the most confronting things to my ego, as well as one of the best things to happen to my practice.


Props closely tie in with Ahimsa, one of the five Yamas, meaning non-violence. By using props to support our bodies in asana we are honouring the body by preventing injury, supporting vulnerable areas, and not forcing ourselves into poses the body is not yet ready for. As a former dancer props used to signify something far different to me. Unfortunately dance exists in a very hierarchal system, where perfection is not only taught to be achievable but desirable. But that's a blog post for another day. However a lifetime of this philosophy towards movement bled into my yoga practice, especially when props were offered as a form of "if you'd can't manage this..." or "easiest option is with a block". This sort of rhetoric further enforces the idea that asana is hierarchal, which should simply not be the case.


Asana is one part of a yoga practice. In part intended to strengthen the body for long periods of sitting in meditation and contributing towards a desired state of health. Only in the 19th century with the combined influence of Scandanavian gymnastics and India's response to colonialism did yoga start to resemble the modern form practiced here in the west. Standing poses and the resulting physical fitness became much more important in surviving colonial forces. Here in the west, as that is my only frame of reference to talk from, somatic practices such as yoga, dance, gymnastics as well as sports revolve around a philosophy of improve - achieve - level up - repeat. Perhaps this is down to the capitalistic social structure of our lives that also centre these ideals. However, the introduction of props to my asana practice broke down these expectations and habits - sometimes in confronting and uncomfortable ways.


First came the absolute refusal to use props and my somewhat naive assumption that my natural flexibility meant props were irrelevant to me anyway. Oh the power of hindsight. Next came the tentative curiosity into what props were actually used for, I had no idea! I'd seen blocks and bolsters sold in yoga sections of stores and thought - well I can do really cool yoga poses I obviously don't need them. I found myself watching prop specific yoga classes on youtube - trying out this new world. It was actually really nice. To give myself the option of support. The option of kindness to my body. From there my relationship with props and asana as a whole has changed massively. Props has been essential in de-centring my ego within my practice.


Over the past few years my practice has gone from showy complicated asana-only based, to quiet reflective and expansive. From having handstands and inversions being my top priority to listening to my body and honouring it with juicy breath, lengthening asana, and as many props as necessary. It required deep reflection on why using props felt so challenging to my sense of pride in the first place. It required retraining not only my brain but my body to sit with props for a long time. Not to pair one movement with one breath. but to sit in this place of mental discomfort, but physical support.


While my history as a dancer certainly has it's place in the formation of this attitude, the culture of Instagram yogis cannot be ignored. My feed was constantly filled with super bendy, super fit yogis contorting their bodies into increasingly abstract and mind-blowing poses. I thought this was the pinnacle, what I was meant to be striving for. Never once, did I see a block or bolster used as a means of support. Occasionally I saw a yoga wheel used to increase backbends, but that's it. Instead any sighting of a block was often used as a tool in conditioning - i.e. something to hold during twist exercises or sit ups. Only in recent years has my feed shifted. But that's not only due to a wave of prop positive change, but also due to diversifying my own feed and research. It's easy to say, "well don't let Instagrammers influence you in this way" but it's much harder to resist that influence. Which is why I wanted to write this and share my journey with props.


Props are one of the best tools you can have within your practice. They're a supportive option and can be used in a multitude of ways. They can help you and your body access deeper stretches, more comfort, build strength, as well as provide a surface to ground down into. That's why I now think props are the best thing ever.


By Laura Carey

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