I will confess that the first time I took a yoga class, I sat on my mat--bare of other accessories, and felt a bit of smug pride as I watched other students pick up their blocks, blankets, straps & eye pillows. I liked the simplicity of just-me-and-my-mat, and I had a deep down conviction that I was better at yoga already because I didn't need anything else.
I think many of us have this attitude towards props--something along the line of Real Yogis Don't Need Props. And, like many others, I didn't start using them until I was injured. Sometimes it takes a knock on the head to change my mind (or less metaphorically, a tweak to the psoas). It came down to a choice of not doing yoga, or doing yoga with block. And I started to like it, I got really tight with my block. And since I was already using a block, why not try a strap? Soon I was setting up with 2 blocks, a strap and a blanket every class--just in case I might want them.
Props became another way to discover new depths to certain poses, or greater relaxation. We're friends these days. Of course, I have Jasper's example as well--props are for playing!
Maybe it's a manifestation of the Don't-Want-To-Ask-For-Help issue. Do we think we're somehow stronger or worthier if we refuse the support that's available to us and go it alone?
ReplyDeleteBut I also think there's a fine line between accepting the help that props can provide and caving into the materialism that surrounds modern yoga and the yoga industry. You shouldn't need STUFF to do yoga, and you shouldn't feel pressured by the ads in YogaJournal and the wealthy yogi on the next mat to spend MONEY on pretty gear. Yoga is more than yoga pants! (But oooo, I love cute yoga pants...)
Props to you for a thoughtful post. :)
ReplyDeleteMy yoga block is helpful because I'm not totally flexible yet.