Therapy and yoga share so many similarities.
The work we do on our yoga mat can translate into real life changes. On the mat, we practice flexibility, breathing presence into discomfort and discerning whether to go deeper or to ease up in a pose. These practices can be so helpful as we navigate constant changes both personally and globally.
Therapy is similar to yoga in that the mental and emotional effort done in an hour can have profound effects on our life outside of the session. With the help of a therapist, we can practice new skills and apply those principles to our ways of thinking, feeling and being in different areas of our lives.
Therapy may come to mind easily when we think of ways we can ask for help. So let’s explore how we can practice “asking for help” in yoga, simply by using props.
What are yoga props?
“A yoga prop is an object that makes practicing yoga easier and more effective. Yoga props can make poses safer and more productive for yoga practitioners at any level, but they’re especially useful for helping beginners achieve poses that would otherwise be difficult.”
As a yoga practitioner and teacher, some of my favorite yoga props include:
Yoga blocks
Yoga blankets
Weighted eye pillow
How can I use yoga props to ask for help in my yoga practice?
Yoga blocks: Blocks can be used to bring the floor up to you instead of you going all the way to the floor in certain poses. By using yoga blocks, we utilize support to maintain proper alignment, alleviate pressure and feel more stable..
Try this: Get two yoga blocks that are the same size and shape. Place the blocks on the same height just outside of your feet in a forward fold. As you inhale to a flat back, place your hands onto the blocks, shoulder blades coming together and heart floating open. Forward fold again on the exhale and inhale slowly coming to stand
Yoga blankets: Yoga blankets are a versatile tool since they can be folded to differing heights, rolled or simply used as a cover in savasana (corpse pose).
Try this: Fold a yoga blanket and smooth out wrinkles as best as you can. Place the folded blanket towards the back of your mat and come to a downward dog pose. Instead of trying to bring your heels all the way to the floor, keep the balls of your feet on the mat and heels onto the blanket. This can be helpful early in your practice when you are still warming up or any time you feel like having a soft support underneath you.
Weighted eye pillow: Using this small, soft pillow over the eyes may seem simple but it aids in relaxation in big ways.The pillow blocks out light and activates the parasympathetic nervous system which is what tells our minds and bodies that it is safe to relax.
Try this: During Savasana (or even laying in bed for 10 minutes before going to sleep), get yourself situated comfortably and place the weighted pillow over your eyes and brows. Allow yourself to breath naturally, maybe even focusing more on your exhales and let the pillow do it feels like magic!
Sometimes allowing ourselves to ‘let go’ takes effort and then we find ourselves stressing about how to let go or if we are doing it “right”. Using props in our yoga practice takes the effort out of letting go. Our ego may shout that using a prop indicates weakness, but really, the opposite is often true. Yoga is never about getting the deepest stretch available in a pose. It is much more about listening to our bodies on any given day we find ourselves on the mat.
What are your favorite yoga props and how do you use them?
Did you try any of these tips? Let us know what your experience was like in the comments below!
As a therapist and yoga teacher, I acknowledge the privilege I have to share the teachings of yoga. I appreciate and honor the origins of Yoga from India.
Are you interested in learning more about incorporating yoga in your therapeutic work? Contact me at annamarchese@collabintherapy.com for a 15-minute consultation.
Written by Anna Marchese, MSW, LCSW, Mental Health Therapist, Reiki Master & Yoga Instructor at Collaborative InSights, LLC.
