𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱⁣
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𝗢𝗳 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀. ⁣
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I love using props. Blocks, straps, blankets, and bolsters can be wonderfully helpful to any level of practice. They can help you find a deeper area of the pose, or even create more ease as you are entering a pose/practice. ⁣
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So, with such versatile use, why do people shy away from them?⁣
Why do instructors have to spoon-feed students into using them, often with resistance? ⁣
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I believe it largely due to two things:⁣
𝙀𝙜𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣⁣
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When our 𝗲𝗴𝗼 rears it’s head (which I am guilty of), we resist using props because we see it as a crutch or something only a beginner should use. We tell ourselves we are better than that, we do not need it. ⁣
Well, maybe you do not 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 it, but you will benefit from it most of the time. ⁣
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How often I see people trying triangle pose without a block. Even when I tell them to use a block to bring more lift into their pose, to be able to bring the focus to opening the body, they resist and collapse into the pose- not only resisting the prop, but many of the poses benefits. ⁣
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𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀. ⁣
They are for everyone. They are not our enemies, or a weakness. They show ability to understand and listen to your body, to practice honest self awareness and honor yourself. ⁣
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The other times I see props not being used is when the instructor and/or students are 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 with them. ⁣
There are so many ways props can be applied, I am not pretending to be aware of all of the ways to use them. But we must educate ourselves, and be open to learning. ⁣
I have had students show me things frequently that I had not thought of or known! We can help each other by sharing this knowledge. Do not be afraid to help another gain understanding and knowledge with props. ⁣
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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀?