I CAN practice yoga without props, but why would I? They make many poses much more beneficial for me. Today I used, not including the mat:
- Eight-foot strap, to strap my elbows in Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward-facing dog), to hang onto my foot in Uttitha Hasta Padangusthasana (hand-to-foot) I and II, to hold between my hands in Gomukhasana, and to strap up my feet and hips in Supta Baddha Konasana (reclining bound angle)
- Blankets, one flat on the mat in seated poses to protect my bony ankles, several under me in a seated twist I can’t remember the name of but possible a variation of Ardha Matsyendrasana (half lord of the fishes, no, I don’t know why), under my block to raise it just a bit in Virasana (hero), and under my head in Supta Baddha Konasana (reclining bound angle).
- Blocks, to help me reach the floor in Trikonasana (triangle) and Ardha Chandrasana (half moon), under my hips in Virasana (hero), and on the arm of a chair as a place to put my foot in Uttitha Hasta Padangusthasana (hand-to-foot) I and II.
- Chair, see above.
- Wall, for wall dog.
- Bolster, under me in Supta Baddha Konasana (reclining bound angle).
- Ropes, to do a supported version of Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward-facing dog). I don’t actually have my ropes adjusted properly, and it drives me nuts. The knots are very tight, and I can’t undo them myself, so I’ve just worked around the ones that are too short and the ones that are too long. Really, I should fix them once and for all. They’ve been wrong since we moved into this house three years ago.
Practice Notes 