Iyengar Yoga Props: Ropes, Belts, Sandbags And Chairs Explained By Flametree
Iyengar yoga props: the short version
A belt, a block, a chair, a rope on the wall. Iyengar yoga props can look odd the first time you see them, but they are what let a real body do a real pose. This page gathers everything Flametree has written on props. Iyengar yoga is the style developed by Mr BKS Iyengar. In the 20th century he did more than anyone to set down traditional Indian yoga, through his books and his teaching, and he pioneered the use of props. It is sometimes called modern classical yoga, and it’s the style we teach at Flametree. Props are not a crutch. They show you where the pose is.
Iyengar yoga props in short form
- Wall ropes: what they do, and the rope classes.
- Belts: six ways Iyengar teachers use them.
- Sandbags: how weight helps you let go.
- Head wrap: a quiet calm for a busy head.
- At home: buying or improvising props.
- First class free: for newcomers, plus a half price pass.
This page is one of the topic hubs in Yoga Notes From Flametree.
Why did Mr Iyengar use props?
To let every student reach the real action of a pose, whatever their age or stiffness. A chair can support a backbend, a belt can reach a foot, a rope can hold the hips.
Props also let you stay longer in a pose, which is where much of the benefit comes from.
A sandbag on the legs helps the hips release.
Do I need props at home?
Not many. A belt, two blocks and a firm blanket go a long way, and household items work too. The props buying and improvising guide has the details.
Headstand in the ropes takes weight off the head and neck.
Start here: the main Iyengar yoga props articles
These are the owner pages. Each answers one main question in depth.
- Rope Yoga In Darwin: What The Iyengar Wall Ropes Do, And Three Weekly Classes, the place to begin.
- How To Use A Yoga Strap: 6 Ways Iyengar Teachers Use The Belt.
- Yoga Sandbag: Why Iyengar Yoga Uses Weights To Help You Let Go.
- The Iyengar yoga head wrap.
- Options for buying or improvising yoga props.
- The wonders of gentle or chair yoga.
Yoga Notes on Iyengar yoga props
More notes are being added. You can also browse every Yoga Note in one list.
Classes that use props
- Rope yoga classes in Darwin.
- The beginner timetable, where props are part of the teaching.
Try props in a class
Your first class is free if you’re new to Flametree. New students, and anyone who has been away three months or more, can also get a half price 10 class pass with 2 extra classes free, to use online, in the studio, or both.
For the studio, check the beginner timetable and just come along. For a LIVE online class, go to our online class list, click the class time you want and we email you the link to join.
Questions about this props page
What will I find on the Flametree props page?
You will find every Flametree article and Yoga Note on props, grouped so you can start with the main articles and then read the shorter notes. Each link goes to one page that answers one question, so you are not reading the same thing twice.
Which Flametree article on props should I read first?
Start with the rope yoga article if you are curious about the wall, or the belt article if you practise at home.
Are Flametree’s props notes only for people in Darwin?
No. They are written in Darwin, from our teaching at Woolner and Coolalinga, but the ideas apply anywhere, and classes are also taught LIVE online, so you can join from anywhere in Australia.
How often are new props notes added?
New Yoga Notes are published in batches of about twenty, and this page is updated each time a note on this topic goes live. Older Flametree blog articles stay linked here too.
Flametree Yoga Studio teaches Iyengar yoga in Darwin, at Woolner and Coolalinga, and LIVE online anywhere.
General information only, not medical advice. Talk to your yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and your doctor if you wish, before changing what you do.
