A Brief Introduction to Yoga
Yoga is widely recognized as a form of exercise that involves positioning the body in a specific way to enhance strength, stamina, and/or flexibility. While most of us see it as physical recreation, it actually began over two thousand years ago as a preparation for meditation and spiritual learning. Yoga, which comes from the Sanskrit word for “union,” has been found to be very beneficial to the mind and body and can, when practiced with care, alleviate certain bodily aches or health conditions such as back pain or depression.
People today still practice yoga as part of a broader spiritual experience, but anyone of any religious faith or physical shape can benefit from the stretching, bending and balancing of yoga poses. There are several different kinds of yoga, from Ashtanga yoga, which moves fluidly through various poses and can be quite vigorous, and Kripalu yoga, which holds each pose a little longer. It is often recommended that someone new to yoga try the different varieties to see which they find most appealing.
Yoga Props
Yoga props are accessories designed to assist someone with a pose they might not otherwise be able to comfortably or safely accomplish. They can also enhance the practice of an experienced yoga student. In fact, Iyengar yoga, which is a form of Hatha yoga designed by B.K.S. Iyengar, utilizes props for both beginning and advanced students to help deepen a stretch or increase the comfort of a reclining pose. Bolsters, blankets, blocks, straps, and mats are just some of the props used.
The Yoga Mat
Yoga mats are the teacher’s pet among all the available yoga props. They have only recently become popular among yoga practitioners; a yoga teacher named Angela Farmer found that a specific kind of carpet padding manufactured in Germany made the perfect non-slip surface for doing yoga poses without sliding around on the floor. Her father used the material to produce and market a yoga mat in Europe. Since they were expensive to import, Sara Chambers teamed up with a chemist to design an equally useful but more easily accessible yoga mat in North America. Yoga mats have since become widely available. They can be found in specialty catalogs, sports equipment retailers, and even department stores. I found mine for $8.00 at Ross, and it works wonderfully.
The yoga mat is thin, cushy, and sticky, making it a more comfortable and practical surface than most floors and carpets. There are thicker mats for those who do the more energetic types of yoga. There are super thin mats designed for light travel. They come in many colors and patterns, in single sheets or large rolls that can be cut and made into several mats. Someone used to tightening their ankles, calves, and thigh muscles to keep from sliding out of Triangle Pose into a painful split will find that using a yoga mat puts less strain on the legs and joints.
The Yoga Block
Another popular yoga prop you probably see regularly is the yoga block. The block is light, made of either wood or foam, and has a variety of uses. If you can’t quite reach the floor, the block brings the floor closer to you, allowing you to slowly begin accustoming your muscles to the stretching. You can rest your head on the block in a forward bend rather than on your leg or on the floor. As you gradually become stronger and more flexible, you can turn the block horizontal instead of vertical, bringing you a little bit closer to the full pose, until eventually you do not need it at all.
The Yoga Strap
The yoga strap works much like the block. It assists in accomplishing a pose the body might not be able to do otherwise. It compensates for tight muscles. For example, if you are sitting on the floor with your feet out in front of you and you want to bend forward and touch your toes, but can’t, you can place the strap around your feet and hold onto it instead. Gradually, over time, you can pull yourself closer and closer to your feet, until you can comfortably touch your toes.
Bolsters, Blankets and Cushions
Your teacher or yoga video may instruct you to have some other props handy, such as a blanket or bolster. These help you comfortably relax into a pose without causing strain. In seated meditation pose, for example, you may find yourself leaning back because your hips are too tight. By sitting on a folded blanket, you tilt your body forward and find it easier to sit with crossed legs.
Sometimes, these yoga props are used simply because they are comfortable. The bolster can go beneath your knees during Reclined Mountain (or Corpse) pose to take the strain off your lower back. You can rest over a cushion instead of on the floor during a seated forward bend. These props often come with instructions and examples on how to benefit from their use during your practice.
Yoga props are designed to make yoga accessible to people of all levels of fitness. They are yoga training wheels for those of us with tight hamstrings and weak muscles. If you’ve always wanted to try yoga but were afraid of inflicting permanent damage upon yourself, invest in a few yoga props. In time, you will be able to wrap your leg around your head like a true yogi.
By Alisa Elizabeth King Terry