Tools for practice

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:

• a) define a space to practice,
• b) create ritual in rolling out putting away and

c) help create stability in standing poses. 
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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