Yoga props and Yoga for Scoliosis
As I understand it from my teacher Baba Hari Dass, when he learned yoga in the jungle of India as a child, they used wooden boards as their only prop. That’s all they had available.
Fast forward nearly 100 years later and across an ocean, props are an essential component of some yoga styles. When working therapeutically, as in a practice that takes scoliosis into account, props make a big difference. They enhance the stability of the poses as well as provide feedback you receive in terms of what areas are open and what areas aren’t. If one main function of physical poses is to open up closed areas so energy/breath/blood etc. can flow more easily, then having props to support this end makes sense. Props help you to find the version of the pose that works for your body, They are the modern tools of the practice.
The recommended props below are all ones that I use regularly and are in order of most frequently used to least used.
Yoga mat: choose your own thickness. If you can get one with vertical and horizontal lines it, so much the better. If not, you can draw them on yourself with a sharpie.
I used to like really thin mats on a hard floor. Now I like a firm rubber mat and if I don’t have that at a studio I will use two thinner mats or one half inch mat.
Blankets: I use these cotton ones and find them cozy as well as firm enough.
Blocks: soft chip foam blocks are great for sitting on and stacking and a bunch of other uses. I get them with the washable covers.
Hard foam blocks are light and used frequently. I have both 3 and 4 inch ones.
Belts: I suggest these 8 foot long ones with a metal buckle. If you are taller you might want to source 10 foot ones elsewhere.
Bolsters: rectangular and cylindrical are used for different poses and it somewhat depends on your body size as well as what poses you practice.
Pranayama bolsters: I use these more often during restorative practice.
Eye pillow: optional and lovely for relaxing the face.
Massage balls: The smooth ones I use for foot work and getting into tight muscles. I use two in a sock for massaging either side of my spine. The spiky ones are more intense and like an acupressure treatment for the feet.
Sandbags: Halfmoon has 10lb empty bags with liners and you can get fine sand from your local gardening supply store. Home version could be a bag of rice.
Rectangular wall pelvic swing and over the door hangers (2): for inversions. Get these and have your own home yoga wall over a door. Can also be adapted as a home TRX. https://yogawall.com/shop/pelvic-swing/regular-wall-pelvic-swing/regular-wall-pelvic-swing/
Chair: a folding chair from an office supply store is used alot in my practice. The back can be knocked out with a hammer.
Affiliation disclosure: I am affiliated with Bmat/Halfmoon props and have used their props for years.
Go to this link to order from B Mat/Halfmoon: ca.bhalfmoon.com/YOGAKAT15
Use this code at checkout YOGAKAT15 to receive 15% off the regular posted price of your entire order. As a thank you, the company will send me a small amount of money, which I will most likely use to purchase more props.
If you have questions about these props, send me a message at info@yogakat.ca
For help with your yoga practice, contact me for a free 30 minute meet and greet call to discuss whether we are a fit to work together. Use this link to book: https://yogakat.ca/schedule-an-appointment/
