To Prop or not to Prop
30th October 2024
In this blog we feature a small section from an article written by
Richard Agar Ward for the November issue of Yoga Magazine – Issue 259
Props in yoga are essential tools that enhance practice, promote intuitive learning, and deepen understanding, allowing practitioners to develop skills and awareness in asana.
What is a “prop” and how important are they?
Generally, we take “prop” to mean a material object such as a blanket, belt, brick, chair and so on. Sometimes “props” are manufactured specifically for use in an asana but commonly they are objects adapted for asana use from some other common use. However, the identity of a prop can reasonably be expanded beyond this and if we can expand our understanding of what a prop is and what a prop is really for we may be able expand our understanding of what is asana. We may then reach a point where our practice of asana greatly increases in its scope, sophistication and depth. It may eventually become a truly yogic practice.
As practitioners we decide when we should use a prop during asana or pranayama practice. According to our knowledge of the use of props we decide what type we should introduce, how many to use, in whatever combinations we select and we make a judgement as to how they should be placed and how we should place ourselves in relation to them.
While we are in a class as pupils the teacher may decide these matters for us according to their knowledge and experience or they may allow the pupils with sufficient experience and knowledge to decide what props to use and how to use them to deal with individual personal conditions.
What matters in all cases is the judicious use of props and this is what requires discussion. It makes no sense dogmatically either to employ or to renounce the use of props. Both are thoughtless actions. We should not be addicted to props. Neither should we become addicted or attached to their non-use. Either way we may hinder our practice and its development. We may think “no props equals greater independence” but it could just as well be the case be that “no props equals poorer independence.”
What is more important than whether we use a prop or not is the development of our subjective intelligence, our subjective mind and our intuition. A prop can prompt the arousal of the intuition. Intuition teaches us technique: it is not just a case of a teacher telling us or reminding us what to do to develop technique. The arousal of the intuition is an important part of learning…………
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