A word about props

A word about props: You may want to purchase some props for lessons, but they are not required. You will be able to do this yoga without them. Many people believe if you use props that you are not doing real yoga. They think that the pose is less effective or that they are not doing the “full” pose if they are using props. This is simply not true. Poses, or asana, have a specific purpose. That is to facilitate connection to the divine and to prepare for meditation. If you are straining or in pain because you are pushing a pose past your limits, then you will not be able to focus on spiritual connection. You will instead be focused on the pain. Props can actually assist you in achieving deeper spiritual connection. If you push yourself past your limits, you will injure yourself and then not be able to practice any more. This is a violation of yoga’s spiritual principle of non-harming, or ahimsa. Props assist you with more complete access to the physical, spiritual, and mental benefits of a pose.