I admit that at one time I thought the term modification in yoga practice was akin to a dirty word. “I don’t need that,” I would think to myself. “Those words are for quitters.”
When I became a teacher, I realized just how off the path I was. Modified asana yoga practice has a well-deserved and respected place in today’s fast paced, heart-thumping, physically demanding yoga practice, and not just for aging or injured yogis. Modifications and props are the best-kept secret to going deeper in our practice, twisting further, and gaining strength both on and off the mat.
The secret to making yoga work is in the details. I struggled for years to find alignment until I decided to look at my yoga practice “from the mat” and not from the eyes of others. Transitioning into and out of yoga poses became my gauge, and mindfulness became my guide.
Make your yoga mat your experimental laboratory.
Become your own yoga “scientist.” Roll out your mat, grab a few tools, and look at your body from your mat’s perspective. Feel the sense of freedom in your practice. Give yourself permission to let go of expectations and find your own way. Using these props and living “from the mat” helped me get the help I needed, and allowed me to explore deeper expressions of the pose. Modification went from “unmentionable” to secret weapon.
Props are not just for inflexible folks; blocks, straps, and bolsters help advance your yoga practice. Props help smooth out the places where our practice becomes more difficult due to our unique bones, connective tissue, and joints. Our joints and their range of motion will eventually improve with correct use. Have fun, and remember to be open to creative possibilities with props in your yoga practice. Don’t be afraid to make it up as you go along. It’s your mat, your body, your yoga.
See More At Making Yoga Work For You: 5 Modified Yoga Poses To Deepen Your Practice
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