In reality, all you need to practice are yourself and some carved out space and time. In practice, as with everything in life, we use variety of tools to assist us to practice yoga asana and meditation. What tools are best depends on your intentions for your practice, your body and your available resources. I thought I would share how I use my favourite yoga tools and some thoughts on the pros and cons of common tools. Yoga mat Yoga mats are useful to:
I use a range of mats, nothing fancy, and prefer my oldest mat I have had for 15 years which is grippy rather than sticky... Cons. Mats that are grippy and sticky can sometimes inhibit smooth movement. I have found that the rectangular mats can make my practice linear and defined to a specific shape. I have taught classes and observed how people would modify their stance to the shape of the mat they were using in ways that were unhelpful.. and often unknowingly. More and more I find I prefer to put a blanket down to practice so I can glide more and move in a more of a spiral pattern. Yoga Bolster Bolsters are cylindrical firm cushions that have a variety of uses. I use mine for sitting on in meditation as my hips must be higher than my knees or they hurt to the point I can't walk well after a long period of sitting. I also use the bolster in restorative poses, especially supported child pose and twists and backbends. I also enjoy having one under my knees in savasana. Cons. They can be expensive to buy. They can take up space in your house and are awkward to store. There are alternatives such as using extra blankets, cushions, pillows or even chairs. Blankets The yoga blankets I use are heavy but soft cotton. They fold up in a range of ways and are mainly a support in restorative poses. I can fold one high enough to support myself in meditation, see note about hips higher than knees above...I also lie a blanket flat on the floor for rolling practices and as a cover in savasana to keep warm. Cons. Not all blankets will do all things. Some are just good for covering and not so good for props. Again, special blankets can be expensive and need storage space. Eye pillows I use weighted eye pillows in a range of ways. People may be familiar with my practice to rest an eye pillow in each hand during relaxation. This is my favourite use as the weight helps the hands relax, which also softens the chest. I also like the weight of an eye pillow over my eyes to encourage relaxation through the eyes. Cons. Not everybody likes weight on the eyes, or to have their eyes covered at all. Sometimes the eye pillows are scented which can be off putting for some. A light scarf can also be used if it's a gentle blocking of light that's required. Yoga Block A yoga block can be helpful in exploring postures without over extending yourself. I often use blocks in triangle for example, to stop myself from the temptation of putting my hand on the floor. This helps me focus on the side rib opening here. I also like to support my knees with blocks when I am sitting with my knees out, or to engage muscles such as in the inner thighs in bridge. Cons. They are not always as helpful as I think they will be, and often I get them out and don't use them. Yoga Belts My yoga belts are long with buckles. I use them to help support my body and to lengthen my arms. They are also good to help create an even space between the arms, when moving the shoulders in various ways. Cons. Sometimes they can encourage over efforting, as they can make it tempting to pull our body into shape. Timers I use the insight timer app. I have an open enquiry yoga and meditation practice, so I don't usually plan out what I am going to do although sometimes I do. The timer helps set an intention and boundary. I use two settings - a meditation timer usually for 24 minutes with a beginning and ending bell....I have found the bells on insight timer to be quite authentic sounding. This app allows me to use a different preset setting for my movement practice, and I have set it up with with extra bells so I can move into relaxation after about 25 minutes of practice. This app also includes some ambient music which sometimes helps me find rhythm for my practice. Cons. You have to spend time setting them, they require a smart phone and can be distracting. Any tools that you use for your practice are optional, and must support rather than distract from your practice. I am keen to hear what tools you use, how you use them and why?
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Yoga is a process, not a thing. It's not about what you do, but more about how you do it. Practising mindfulness while you move can help you integrate different aspects of yourself...the nervous system, muscles, fascia, the immune system, our minds, the subtle body of prana...Helping you to have a healthy immune system, be emotionally and mentally resilient with a sense of well-being and choice in how your act.
This is possible when we slow down, develop mindful awareness, move with intention and allow ourselves to feel our body and synchronise with the breath. Slow movements paired with the breath, and intentional holds are emphasised in Banksia yoga classes. Classes are different to a fitness focused class, but you will still find ways to develop strength, flexibility and grace of movement. There are 3 main benefits of practising yoga in this way: 1. Slow practices build vagal tone in the body (our emotional brain in the gut), which helps us develop a healthy nervous system and increases our emotional resilience, 2. Slowing down increases proprioception and interoception skills, which increases our immune function, as we become more aware of how our body responds to internal and external stimulus. 3. When we move slowly, we can be more mindful, which strengthens the parts of your brain responsible for concentration, considered action and empathy. Just like cleaning our teeth, mindful movement is a life long commitment. We can't expect to achieve the benefits without practice, just like we can't expect our teeth to stay healthy without regular brushing. The good news is there is always a way we can show up for ourselves, and slowing down also makes it easier to find our own way to be in our body regardless of our circumstances. We can adapt the practice for heat, cold, grief, anxiety, tiredness, physical injury and illness. What is important is that we show up - regularly and with kindness to ourselves. Join me - classes start January 31 |