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I can still recall my first yoga class. I sheepishly walked into the room, unrolled my mat within the back row, and tried not to draw any attention until class began. On the far right side of the room, there was a tower of yoga props stacked against the wall. I watched as students went over and grabbed one or sometimes two cork blocks and placed them beside their mats. Some students proceeded to put down on top of them while they waited for sophistication to start. I remember feeling too shy to rise up and get any for myself.

A number of weeks later, feeling more confident, I started to grab a block on the approach to my place within the back. But I never used it. Some teachers would offhandedly mention during class, “When you need a block here, grab it.” I recall wondering, how do you realize if you happen to need a block? Does using a block mean I’m not ok? Will everyone know I’m latest? Does it make it harder or easier? I couldn’t figure it out.

Sometimes after I searched for my blocks to present them a try, they were out of reach, stacked behind my mat where I had left them originally of sophistication. I either couldn’t grab them or, by the point I did, we had moved on to a distinct pose. Using blocks never felt intuitive for me. Eventually, I finished grabbing them before class.

It wasn’t until I took classes with a teacher who intentionally integrated props into their sequences that I started to know how you can use them for help with alignment, strength, and mobility. These days, I never walk into class with out a handful of props. And, as a yoga instructor, I never teach without cueing them.

For me, it’s an accessibility thing. I do know that it feels higher for a whole lot of bodies to make use of props in certain postures, and I would like students to feel like there are at all times options available that work for them. I also know the way confusing props can initially seem.

8 Ways to Persuade Students to Use Yoga Props

I encourage students in every class I teach to explore and take the time to play with props because I do know just how transformative they might be for his or her practice. But it might be tricky to get students past the notion that blocks are unnecessary or hard to make use of. Or that using them means you’re doing something incorrectly or taking a straightforward way out. Using a prop doesn’t necessarily mean a student needs an assist or assist in a posture—there are methods to make use of a prop to offer feedback that helps you strengthen or experience a distinct alignment in a pose.

Listed here are the information and tricks I depend on to encourage students to profit from props.

1. Set Up Everyone With the Same Props

In almost any yoga class, it might be helpful for college students to have two blocks nearby. In the event that they’ll be reaching behind their backs to bind their hands in Humble Warrior or grab their foot in Dancer’s Pose, be certain that everyone also has a strap.

I normally start class by saying, “Everyone will need two blocks for practice. When you don’t have any, give me just a little wave and I’ll bring some over to you.” From here, if I notice someone doesn’t have any and doesn’t give me a signal, I’ll bring some over and place them next to them anyhow. Even when students never touch them, they’ve access to them.

One other strategy that works well in a smaller class setting is to position props at equal distances apart within the room to mark where students should arrange their mats. A lot of studios have tape or markers on the ground designating where students should arrange, so place the props right next to the markers. By setting everyone up with the identical props before they even enter the room, you even the playing field, and in some ways, empower your students to take charge of their very own practice.

2. Cue the Rattling Props!

Something one among my teachers said to me during my yoga teacher training that I’ll always remember is “Cue the rattling props!” It’s worthwhile to actually cue students when to succeed in for his or her props and how you can use them.

Blocks lift the ground to the needed level. (Photo: Ellie Sheppard)

You furthermore may have to cue the prop setup before students need them so that they aren’t left trying to find them. For instance, if I’m teaching a sequence that features entering Pyramid Pose, a posture through which folks who experience tight hamstrings struggle to get their hands to the ground, I’ll first ask students to set their blocks on the very best height on either side of the mat. Then I’ll cue students to maneuver through Downward Dog, Lunge, and whatever else is within the sequence. After they enter Pyramid Pose, I’lll say “Now, reach on your blocks—they’re right there—and rest your hands on them.”

You furthermore may have to allow time for college students to determine organising the props for themselves. I learned from my very own experience as a student that it might be discouraging to finally arrange the blocks, only to have the sequence move along quickly.

A strap essentially extends the arm in certain yoga poses—don’t forget to elucidate that to students. (Photo: Ellie Sheppard)

The identical strategy applies for getting students to make use of their straps. If we’re going into Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose, I’ll cue students to unravel their straps (get that clunky buckle noise out of the best way) and place it on the side of their mat before class. This eliminates two things that usually occur: Either a student reaches for his or her strap and it isn’t there so that they don’t trouble to stop and get it. Or they reach for his or her strap, which is simply too distant, so that they lose their alignment and have to begin over.

3. Explain Why The Prop is Needed

Make sure to share with students not only how you can use a prop but a fast explanation as to why the prop is getting used.

Don’t be so focused on explaining how you can use a prop that you just forget to also mention why it might profit students’ body in addition to their practice. (Photo: Ellie Sheppard)

For instance, if we’re reaching for our toes in a posture like Dancer Pose, I’ll remind students to see the yoga strap as an extension of their arms to assist bridge the gap from their hands to their toes. Similarly, if blocks are getting used to bring the bottom closer to the scholars, comparable to beneath the hands in a Standing Forward Bend, I’ll explain that lifting the bottom to satisfy them slightly than reaching can alleviate strain within the back body, including the hamstrings and lower back.

Once you educate students concerning the props, they have a tendency to feel encouraged and empowered to make use of them in other classes.

4. Don’t Talk All the way down to Props

I cringe every time I hear a teacher say “Use a block if you’ve to” or “When you can’t, use a block.” To me, by framing prop use this manner, you’re establishing a category hierarchy. In other words, a few of you’re so good that you just won’t need a block, and a few of you aren’t ok so that you’re going to wish a prop.

Any time I hear a teacher referencing a block as something you would possibly need, I observe fewer people reach for them. I’m sure most of us are acquainted with that little voice in our heads telling us to be higher and stronger and due to this fact we’d (falsely) think, “I don’t need a block.”

As a substitute, I prefer to say things like, “Try reaching on your block here. Even if you happen to can touch the bottom, you is perhaps surprised how the block changes the experience.”

5. Give Students “Adjustments” With Props

It’s been my experience that though I’m consistently cueing the usage of props, some students still won’t reach for them. Possibly they’re newer students and too focused on maintaining. Or possibly they simply haven’t had that aha moment that shows them how great a prop might be.

Help students understand how you can use straps through showing them, not only telling them. (Photo: Ellie Sheppard)

When walking around the category, I bring yoga props with me by keeping a strap draped around my shoulders and a block in hand. This fashion, if I notice a student who would profit from the usage of a prop, I can quickly put it in place for them. By taking this approach, I can discreetly pass someone a strap or block without drawing attention to them and assist in guiding them into the posture.

6. Practice What You Preach

Before class begins, I at all times arrange my mat up within the front of the room with not less than two blocks on it. It is a subtle cue to students to grab a pair of blocks. I also be certain that to practice what I preach. And when demoing on the front of the room, I repeatedly reach for my props.

7. Get Creative

Not only do yoga props help make the poses more accessible and coax students into finding alignment, in addition they bring a component of creativity to your classes. Depending on the category, I prefer to throw within the addition of blocks for strengthening exercises.

Engage your students’ curiosity through lesser-known uses for yoga props, comparable to beneath the front shoulders in Locust Pose. (Photo: Ellie Sheppard)

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 more difficult.

Keep students surprised with unexpected strengthening exercises with yoga props, comparable to flipping the palms up and balancing blocks on them during Warrior 2. (Photo: Ellie Sheppard)

Even just holding blocks while in Warrior 2 can encourage students to maintain their shoulders down away from their ears.

Engage your students’ curiosity by asking them to do the unexpected. That might be any of many things, including practicing making overhead circles with blocks balanced on the palms. (Photo: Ellie Sheppard)

You can too use the blocks for mobility exercises. I really like to show Tea Cups, a shoulder mobility exercise. On this exercise, you hold a block out in your palm as if you happen to were a server at a restaurant. While keeping the block balanced—try to not grip onto the perimeters of the block—slowly bring the block overhead. Your arm will naturally twist from the rotator cuff of your shoulder to maintain the block upright. When you get the hang of it, you possibly can rejoice with it and check out to bring the block back down and around any way your shoulder will allow.

Props can create a surprising depth of ease and luxury for college students in longheld, supported postures comparable to Child’s Pose. (Photo: Ellie Sheppard)

And there’s at all times ways to include yoga props into more restorative poses. A bolster beneath the chest in Child’s Pose or slid beneath the knees in Savasana will help students change into more comfortable than they ever could have imagined being while lying on the ground.

8. Give It Time

Once you’re consistent and intentional in helping students understand the usage of yoga props, they may catch on. Your students will remember in the event that they didn’t ask for blocks but you placed them next to their mat anyway. They are going to remember if you happen to cued a strap in a surprising way. They are going to remember if a bolster made a posture feel higher.

Good things take time. I at all times think back to a student in my classes who was very immune to props once we began practicing together. A number of months later, I walked in to show and, when the coed noticed I didn’t have any blocks on my mat yet, she went and got me some. It was a fantastic full circle moment for me as a teacher knowing that she now understood the worth and good thing about having props in school.

About Our Contributor

Ellie Sheppard (she/her) is a yoga teacher based in Ottawa, Ontario, with a passion for creating secure, welcoming yoga classes for all bodies and experience levels. Coming from a background in dance, Ellie was first drawn to yoga as a approach to integrate movement and creativity back into her life with a combination of strength, stability, and mobility for injury prevention. Ellie is a firm believer that there is no such thing as a full expression of any yoga pose—there is barely your expression of the pose. Her mission as a teacher is to encourage students to explore their very own expression of a pose so it feels good and welcome in each individual body. Outside of yoga, you would possibly find Ellie falling off her paddleboard, tap dancing, and spending time at local coffee shops, breweries, and vineyards.