Ageless Yoga

“The use of props was pioneered by the great Indian Yogi, BKS Iyengar, and has been adopted by many schools of Yoga. A prop can be any object as long as it is sturdy, will support the required weight and helps you to practise a pose safely. Props are especially useful for beginners, or anyone with injuries, because they help you navigate around old injuries, allowing the body to experience a pose in an open, more relaxed way. Using a supportive prop also gives the nervous system time to become accustomed to a pose, so that later it may be practised more easily. Many experienced Yoga practitioners also enjoy using props as part of restorative practice, which involves using gentler versions of complete poses. Props allow you to hold the pose for much longer, without undue strain...”

Written by Juliet Pegrum, Ageless Yoga continues to describe a range of suitable props and the exercises that can be carried out with them. It is followed by a brief conversation with the author. This article is extracted courtesy of the book AGELESS YOGA by Juliet Pegrum, published by Cico Books, and available on special offer. See page 6 of the March 2006 issue of Yoga & Health for details.