If these props could talk, they’d declare their creation stemmed from the mind of BKS Iyengar. He realized that giving students the option to include props in their yoga practice could considerably improve accessibility and alignment. Some props would also reveal that they were there in the beginning days of what would become MBS adaptive yoga classes, being hauled in and out of Matthew Sanford’s car. He, too, wanted to share accessibility and alignment but with a heightened focus on people living with disabilities. He was one of the first to do so.
If props could provide their own real-time commentary, as sports commentators do, they might describe the unfolding of a chest opener pose as follows:
And they are off! Bolster number one moves toward the top of the mat, parallel to the long edges. A folded blanket goes on the upper end. Bolster number two opts for a position perpendicular to the first, a few feet away. The student bursts onto the scene and assumes a seated position, with the legs extended toward the bottom of the mat and the bent knees resting over the bolster. With a lifted chest, the student extends up and over the first bolster, face up. The head settles on the blankets with the chin slightly tucked. Arms are placed comfortably away from the body with the palms facing up. Coming down the home stretch, the student hits pay dirt and crosses over into the sensation of relief!
The second bolster notices that the student’s heels, sacrum, and head are all anchor points, providing balance and a sensation of direction. There is a simultaneous physical/energetic connection from the ankles to the knees and from the knees to the hips. The hips and the shoulders suddenly forge their own chemistry, encouraging the lifted chest to add reference to the back body and make a deepened connection to the legs. The skin softens, space is felt between the muscles and the bones, and the winner is energetic release. During the victory trot, breath spreads evenly through the body, producing a feeling of wholeness and a hum. Your whole story lets go, and here comes the prize….life feels good!
Gratitude to the yogis who have revealed such things, especially B.K.S. Iyengar
Watch Amy and Elaine as they play with props in the video below! And if you don’t have any props at home, no worries! Watch Bethany’s short yogathon video on found objects as prop substitutes!
