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I can nonetheless recall my first yoga class. I sheepishly walked into the room, unrolled my mat within the again row, and tried to not appeal to any consideration till class started. On the far proper facet of the room, there was a tower of yoga props stacked towards the wall. I watched as college students went over and grabbed one or typically two blocks and positioned them beside their mats. Some college students proceeded to put down on high of them whereas they waited for sophistication to start. I keep in mind feeling too shy to rise up and get any for myself.
Just a few weeks later, feeling extra assured, I started to seize a block on the best way to my place within the again. However I by no means used it. Some academics would offhandedly point out throughout class, “When you want a block right here, seize it.” I recall questioning, how have you learnt in the event you want a block? Does utilizing a block imply I’m not adequate? Will everybody know I’m new? Does it make it more durable or simpler? I couldn’t determine it out.
Generally once I appeared for my blocks to present them a strive, they had been out of attain, stacked in the back of my mat the place I had left them initially of sophistication. I both couldn’t seize them or, by the point I did, we had moved on to a unique pose. Utilizing blocks by no means felt intuitive for me. Ultimately, I finished grabbing them earlier than class.
It wasn’t till I took courses with a trainer who deliberately built-in props into their sequences that I started to grasp use them for assist with alignment, energy, and mobility. Recently, I by no means stroll into class with no handful of props. And, as a yoga teacher, I by no means educate with out cueing them.
For me, it’s an accessibility factor. I do know that it feels higher for lots of our bodies to make use of props in sure postures, and I would like college students to really feel like there are all the time choices obtainable that work for them. I additionally understand how complicated props can initially appear.
8 Methods to Persuade College students to Use Yoga Props
I encourage college students in each class I educate to discover and take the time to play with props as a result of I do know simply how transformative they are often for his or her observe. However it may be difficult to get college students previous the notion that blocks are pointless or onerous to make use of. Or that utilizing them means you’re doing one thing incorrectly or taking a straightforward manner out. Utilizing a prop doesn’t essentially imply a pupil wants an help or assist in a posture—there are methods to make use of a prop to supply suggestions that helps you strengthen or expertise a unique alignment in a pose.
Listed below are the guidelines and tips I depend on to encourage college students to profit from props.
1. Set Up Everybody With the Similar Props
In virtually any yoga class, it may be helpful for college students to have two blocks inside attain. In the event that they’ll be reaching behind their backs to bind their fingers in Humble Warrior or seize their foot in Dancer’s Pose, ensure everybody additionally has a strap.
I normally begin class by saying, “Everybody will want two blocks for observe. When you don’t have any, give me a bit of wave and I’ll convey some over to you.” From right here, if I discover somebody doesn’t have any and doesn’t give me a sign, I’ll convey some over and place them subsequent to them in any case. Even when college students by no means contact them, they’ve entry to them.
One other technique that works properly in a smaller class setting is to position props at equal distances aside within the room to mark the place college students ought to arrange their mats. Numerous studios have tape or markers on the ground designating the place college students ought to arrange, so place the props proper subsequent to the markers. By setting everybody up with the identical props earlier than they even enter the room, you even the enjoying discipline, and in some ways, empower your college students to take cost of their very own observe.
2. Cue the Rattling Props!
One thing one in every of my academics mentioned to me throughout my yoga trainer coaching that I’ll always remember is “Cue the rattling props!” You have to truly cue college students when to achieve for his or her props and use them.
You additionally must cue the prop setup earlier than college students want them in order that they aren’t left looking for them. For instance, if I’m educating a sequence that features getting into Pyramid Pose, a posture by which of us who expertise tight hamstrings battle to get their fingers to the ground, I’ll first ask college students to set their blocks on the very best top on both facet of the mat. Then I’ll cue college students to maneuver by way of Downward Canine, Lunge, and no matter else is within the sequence. After they enter Pyramid Pose, I’lll say “Now, attain to your blocks—they’re proper there—and relaxation your fingers on them.”
You additionally want to permit time for college students to determine establishing the props for themselves. I discovered from my very own expertise as a pupil that it may be discouraging to lastly arrange the blocks, solely to have the sequence transfer alongside shortly.
The identical technique applies for getting college students to make use of their straps. If we’re going into Hand-to-Massive-Toe Pose, I’ll cue college students to unravel their straps (get that clunky buckle noise out of the best way) and place it on the facet of their mat earlier than class. This eliminates two issues that always occur: Both a pupil reaches for his or her strap and it isn’t there in order that they don’t trouble to cease and get it. Or they attain for his or her strap, which is just too distant, in order that they lose their alignment and have to begin over.
3. Clarify Why The Prop is Wanted
Make sure to share with college students not solely use a prop however a fast clarification as to why the prop is getting used.
For instance, if we’re reaching for our toes in a posture like Dancer Pose, I’ll remind college students to see the yoga strap as an extension of their arms to assist bridge the hole from their fingers to their toes. Equally, if blocks are getting used to convey the bottom nearer to the scholars, equivalent to beneath the fingers in a Standing Ahead Bend, I’ll clarify that lifting the bottom to fulfill them relatively than reaching can alleviate pressure within the again physique, together with the hamstrings and decrease again.
If you educate college students in regards to the props, they have an inclination to really feel inspired and empowered to make use of them in different courses.
4. Don’t Discuss Right down to Props
I cringe each time I hear a trainer say “Use a block if it’s a must to” or “When you can’t, use a block.” To me, by framing prop use this fashion, you’re establishing a category hierarchy. In different phrases, a few of you might be so good that you simply gained’t want a block, and a few of you aren’t adequate so that you’re going to want a prop.
Any time I hear a trainer referencing a block as one thing you would possibly want, I observe fewer folks attain for them. I’m positive most of us are aware of that little voice in our heads telling us to be higher and stronger and subsequently we would (falsely) assume, “I don’t want a block.”
As a substitute, I prefer to say issues like, “Attempt reaching to your block right here. Even in the event you can contact the bottom, you may be stunned how the block adjustments the expertise.”
5. Give College students “Changes” With Props
It’s been my expertise that regardless that I’m constantly cueing the usage of props, some college students nonetheless gained’t attain for them. Possibly they’re newer college students and too centered on maintaining. Or possibly they only haven’t had that aha second that exhibits them how nice a prop may be.
When strolling across the class, I convey yoga props with me by protecting a strap draped round my shoulders and a block in hand. This manner, if I discover a pupil who would profit from the usage of a prop, I can shortly put it in place for them. By taking this method, I can discreetly move somebody a strap or block with out drawing consideration to them and help in guiding them into the posture.
6. Observe What You Preach
Earlier than class begins, I all the time arrange my mat up within the entrance of the room with not less than two blocks on it. It is a delicate cue to college students to seize a pair of blocks. I additionally ensure to observe what I preach. And when demoing on the entrance of the room, I recurrently attain for my props.
7. Get Artistic
Not solely do yoga props assist make the poses extra accessible and coax college students into discovering alignment, in addition they convey a component of creativity to your courses. Relying on the category, I prefer to throw within the addition of blocks for strengthening workouts.
For instance, Locust Pose together with your palms up with the blocks resting in your palms. That little little bit of weight could make the pose tougher.
Even simply holding blocks whereas in Warrior 2 can encourage college students to maintain their shoulders down away from their ears.
You can too use the blocks for mobility workouts. I really like to show Tea Cups, a shoulder mobility train. On this train, you maintain a block out in your palm as in the event you had been a server at a restaurant. Whereas protecting the block balanced—strive to not grip onto the sides of the block—slowly convey the block overhead. Your arm will naturally twist from the rotator cuff of your shoulder to maintain the block upright. When you get the cling of it, you’ll be able to have enjoyable with it and attempt to convey the block again down and round any manner your shoulder will enable.
And there’s all the time methods to include yoga props into extra restorative poses. A bolster beneath the chest in Baby’s Pose or slid beneath the knees in Savasana will help college students turn out to be extra comfy than they ever may have imagined being whereas mendacity on the ground.
8. Give It Time
If you’re constant and intentional in serving to college students perceive the usage of yoga props, they may catch on. Your college students will keep in mind in the event that they didn’t ask for blocks however you positioned them subsequent to their mat anyway. They’ll keep in mind in the event you cued a strap in a shocking manner. They’ll keep in mind if a bolster made a posture really feel higher.
Good issues take time. I all the time assume again to a pupil in my courses who was very immune to props once we started practising collectively. Just a few months later, I walked in to show and, when the coed seen I didn’t have any blocks on my mat but, she went and bought me some. It was an incredible full circle second for me as a trainer figuring out that she now understood the worth and profit of getting props in school.
About Our Contributor
Ellie Sheppard (she/her) is a yoga trainer primarily based in Ottawa, Ontario, with a ardour for creating protected, welcoming yoga courses for all our bodies and expertise ranges. Coming from a background in dance, Ellie was first drawn to yoga as a approach to combine motion and creativity again into her life with a mixture of energy, stability, and mobility for harm prevention. Ellie is a agency believer that there isn’t a full expression of any yoga pose—there may be solely your expression of the pose. Her mission as a trainer is to encourage college students to discover their very own expression of a pose so it feels good and welcome in every particular person physique. Exterior of yoga, you would possibly discover Ellie falling off her paddleboard, faucet dancing, and spending time at native espresso outlets, breweries, and vineyards.