Often, we walk into the yoga studio, unroll our mats, and—almost by inertia—grab the same block, the same blanket, and the same strap as always. We do it on autopilot, as if these props were an immovable extension of our own bodies.
Today, in class with Silvia Ros (from Iogabcn), a single sentence from her shook me out of that inertia:
"We cannot commit to our props as if they were our partners. We must change them according to the state of our body or what we want to work on today."
This idea is revolutionary in its simplicity. Silvia, who has studied directly at the source with the Iyengar family, reminds us that yoga is a living organism, not a static choreography.
The "Autopilot" Trap
Why do we always use the same tools? Sometimes it’s comfort; other times it’s ego ("I don’t need the block anymore"), and often it’s a simple lack of presence. But the body you bring to the mat today is not the same one you brought yesterday:
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Maybe today you need that extra blanket because a joint is protesting.
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Maybe you are exhausted and decide your practice will be restorative, letting the support do the heavy lifting.
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Maybe you want to explore a new action, and the strap is the key that opens that door.
Navasana: From Struggle to Balance
Today we worked on Paripurna Navasana (Boat Pose). Normally, this pose can become a battle of abdominal strength and leg tension. However, by using a strap, the equation changed: we found the point of balance without the agony of misdirected effort.
Later, using the yoga chair and the wall, the focus shifted from "holding on" to "extending." We were able to lengthen the back and soften the frontal groins, feeling space being created from the inside out.
Beyond the "Magazine Pose"
What I appreciate most about Iyengar Yoga is precisely this body intelligence. It removes the pressure of "Instagram flexibility" and returns us to the essentials:
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Awareness: Where am I right now?
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Correct Action: Which muscle needs to wake up and which needs to let go?
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Creating Space: Can I breathe within this pose?
In the end, yoga isn't about reaching your foot with your hand; it’s about reaching the union of mind, body, and spirit. And to do that, sometimes we have to "break up" with our favorite prop and choose the support our body actually needs today.
Check out our iyengar yoga approved props here.
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