The Power Of Props When Teaching Yoga

If you think props are only for beginners or restorative yoga, this article is for you. The truth is, props have multiple uses in all styles of yoga and for all levels, including your advanced yogis! Let me illustrate with an example…

The other day, I was practicing the seated forward fold in a yoga class. Thanks to my flexibility, I can easily reach my toes, so the pose is not so challenging for me anymore. But then, my teacher came over with a block and put it against the soles of my feet, telling me to reach for the block instead of my toes.  Immediately, this added a new layer of difficulty to the posture, but more importantly, it deepened the stretch in my spine, which felt AMAZING! If you're curious to see how you can tap into the power of props in your yoga classes, read on. 

I'm sharing tips on how you can offer props to your students to promote alignment, provide comfort, and like in my case, challenge them further.

Yoga Props For Better Alignment

The first yoga style I learned was traditional Hatha, where the teacher would make every student use props regardless of their flexibility. Why?Because props help you find the correct alignment.Of course, using props for alignment is crucial for beginners. They help students understand both the correct positioning and how the pose should feel in their body.Props can also help more experienced yogis with their alignment. Over time, it's common to pick up lousy alignment habits unknowingly. Props can help these students relearn alignment and, thus, benefit more from the pose.

Here are some examples of using props to find better alignment:

• Using a strap around the soles of their feet in the Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana) helps students keep their spine straight rather than rounding the back, which is a common mistake.

• Placing a block under their hand in Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana) helps students maintain a straight spine instead of collapsing forward.

• Using a bolster in seated poses, such as Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend (Upavistha Konasana), helps students maintain a neutral pelvis and straight spine.

• Placing a block under their lower hand in Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) can prevent overreaching and collapsing through the chest while keeping the torso open and elongated.

Using Yoga Props For Muscle Tightness & Tension

We've all been beginners at some point, so we know how challenging certain poses can feel when tight muscles limit your range of motion.Props don't simply make a pose easier, they make it more beneficial. They can:

• Enable you to stretch tight muscles without strain

• Apply gentle pressure to help release tightness 

• Help muscles relax to release deeply held tension

Beginners can feel a lot of resistance when entering a pose. But props work with your body to find more comfort, which then helps you go deeper into a stretch. They also allow you to hold a posture for longer, increasing the benefits of that pose.

Here are some ways you can use props to help students with muscle tightness and tension:

• Placing a block or rolled-up blanket under the thigh in Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) can reduce tension in the hip and allow students with tightness to hold the pose safely and comfortably. 

• Place a block or bolster under the knees or between the legs in a Supine Twist can help ease tension in the lower back and hips.

• Using a strap in Cow Face Arms (Gomukhasana) allows students with tightness to stretch their shoulders and chest more comfortably.

• Using a bolster under the knees in Savasana can release tension in the lower back by promoting a natural curve in the spine.

Using Yoga Props To Deepen Postures

Yoga props can enhance your advanced yogis' flexibility, helping them access deeper variations of poses over time. They safely extend your range of motion without straining muscles or joints and while maintaining proper alignment. Props can also help you hold strengthening poses for longer, engaging your muscles for longer and helping you build strength. Moreover, props allow you to work towards more advanced yoga poses, including inversions and arm balances, and ensure you practice them safely and with the correct alignment.

Here are some ways your advanced yogis (and yourself) can work with props:

• Placing a block (or two) against the soles of the feet in a Seated Forward Bend can deepen the stretch.

• Looping a strap around the upper arms in Plank Pose allows students to hold the posture longer and develop strength.

• Squeezing a block between the thighs in Bridge Pose increases muscle engagement and lifts the hips higher, deepening the backbend.

• Using a wall for support in a Headstand allows students to practice lifting their legs and finding alignment safely before attempting the full inversion.

How Yoga Props Cultivate An Inclusive Environment

While props have many physical benefits, their usage can also help your students emotionally and mentally. The comfort and support provided by props reassure students with muscle tightness or limited flexibility that they can practice yoga, no matter their current level of ability. Props send the empowering message that yoga is for everyone—not just those who can touch their toes or execute advanced poses.

By incorporating props, you foster an inclusive and welcoming environment where beginners and less flexible students feel encouraged rather than intimidated. This helps remove the fear of "not being good enough" and eliminates the embarrassment often felt by those new to yoga or self-conscious about their abilities.

In essence, props unlock an easier and more accessible level for beginners (and sometimes a more challenging level, too!). So, by using props in your classes, you're offering more options and catering for all levels, abilities, and bodies!

Final Thoughts

Yoga props aren't just accessories—they're secret tools for unlocking comfort, alignment, and depth in your practice. So regardless of whether you teach Vinyasa, Ashtanga, or Yin, if you're not already offering props in your yoga classes, start now. If you already offer props, use this article as inspiration to introduce a broader range of props into your classes or explore more ways to use them.

Finally, remember that yoga props extend beyond blocks and straps. Bolsters give yogis the option to take a supported, relaxing variation of a pose, blankets are excellent at providing cushioning for the joints, and weighted eye pillows can elevate your yogis' savasana experience!