How to use support in yoga with blankets an props
When I started learning about therapeutic yoga from Susi Hately, I noticed a question that was coming up a lot: “What support is needed?”
What is the support in yoga that would create enough safety for you to be able to to move with ease, to have less pain, to relax, and to reveal what’s possible? I often find that I don’t know the answer to that question. But this is something that I have learned:
When my symptoms (physical and mental) start to get worse, there is a need for support that has not been met. Often, that need shows up first in my yoga practices — a reminder that something deeper is going on.
When I find myself irritated, complaining, or gossiping, it often means that some form of support is missing. The clearer I can get on what that support looks like so that I can provide it (or ask for it!) in appropriate ways – including support in yoga – the better I feel.
I often find it perfectly acceptable to be under-supported, but my body tells the truth.
Pain, tension, and the urge to fidget all indicate that I haven’t quite found the sweet spot yet or the right support just yet. This is true whether the support is physical (such as a blanket under my arm), emotional (such as a listening ear), or help with a difficult task. The same is true when it comes to support in yoga — when the physical setup isn’t quite right, the body speaks up.
Take a simple yoga pose example like lying on your back in Savasana, or Corpse Pose, as is typically done at the end of a yoga class, and often at the beginning, too. I personally can get by pretty comfortably lying flat on the floor. (This isn’t the case for everyone.) But often, adding more support in yoga using blankets is actually even more comfortable. And adding enough support — which tends to be way more than I initially thought I needed — creates the circumstances for my whole system to relax and let go.
Support in yoga doesn’t always mean using blankets, yoga blocks and other props. Maybe it’s just a pleasant environment. Maybe it’s a guided practice. Maybe it’s having someone watch your kids. Maybe it’s the presence of a pet watching over you. Maybe it’s the right medication. Maybe it’s delegating some tasks so that you feel you truly have the time and space in your life to rest. Maybe it’s something else entirely.
Imagine what your life would look like if you had all the support you need.
Creating that life can start with support in yoga practices, and then it can reverberate out from there. The video below shows how to use tiered blankets to create enough support in Savasana. Some people may feel supported with fewer blankets – feel free to play with different combinations to see what works best for you and your own sense of support in yoga.
CLICK HERE for a post with other propping suggestions for Savasana.
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