Complete Guide to Yoga Props, The

Explore the possibilities of using props in your yoga practice! Contrary to popular belief, props are not necessarily for beginners. Research shows that props can be an essential tool to modify and deepen poses, achieve optimal alignment and comfort, accommodate physical limitations, aid in injury recovery, and facilitate a safe and effective practice.

The Complete Guide to Yoga Props provides over 120 poses with more than 800 variations that use a yoga prop such as a block, strap, bolster, blanket, chair, or wall to modify, progress, or otherwise change the pose. The poses are grouped together as follows:

• Standing, kneeling, and lunging poses
• Seated and squatting poses
• Backbending and heart-opening poses
• Arm balances
• Inversions
• Prone poses
• Supine poses

Packed with beautiful photos showcasing the pose variations, no other resource offers the sheer number of options to make your yoga practice truly personal for every body and need.

Learn what to look for when choosing a prop and how and where to position it depending on whether you want to make a pose more challenging, need to make a pose more accessible, or just want to try something new. Each pose includes the English and Sanskrit names to aid in identification and help foster a deeper appreciation for the historical and traditional roots of yoga.

Whatever form of yoga you prefer, using props can supply you with a limitless variety of ways to customize your practice. The Complete Guide to Yoga Props is an invaluable resource—an authoritative guide you will turn to again and again.

Audience

Yoga teachers, training schools, and practitioners of all levels of experience.

Introduction: A Brief History of Yoga Props

Part I. Recognizing the Value of Props
Chapter 1. Overview of Props
Chapter 2. Evidence for the Use of Props

Part II. Integrating Props Into Practice
Chapter 3. Standing, Kneeling, and Lunging Poses
Chapter 4. Seated and Squatting Poses
Chapter 5. Backbending and Heart-Opening Poses
Chapter 6. Arm Balances
Chapter 7. Inversions
Chapter 8. Prone Poses
Chapter 9. Supine Poses

Appendix. Pose Transliteration and Sanskrit Guide

Jenny Clise is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) with over 1,000 hours of training, and she has been teaching yoga since 2012. She completed her yoga therapy training at Prema Yoga Institute and integrates therapeutic principles into her practice, making yoga accessible and inclusive for all students. Jenny's approach prioritizes individual needs and encourages self-discovery through mindful movement, breath work, and props.

Her teaching style emphasizes building from a strong foundation, finding alignment based on individual needs, and safely guiding students through more challenging postures. Jenny believes in cultivating an intentional practice that nurtures both physical and mental strength. By offering her students and clients personalized guidance and encouragement, Jenny helps them find their own paths to wellness.

Beyond the studio, Jenny is an avid traveler who leads yoga retreats in beautiful locations worldwide. Her love for adventure complements her teaching, offering students unique experiences to deepen their practice in nature. As an experienced writer, she regularly contributes to Yoga Journal, sharing insights on yoga, meditation, and wellness.

Jenny began sharing her passion for yoga props with her ebook Blockasanas. She has now channeled her expertise into writing this comprehensive book. These works demonstrate her commitment to educating and empowering others in their yoga journey.

“The vast history and modern world of yoga can leave some students confused as to where to begin when practicing asanas. In The Complete Guide to Yoga Props, Jenny Clise uses her immense yoga therapy knowledge, her inclusive lens, and a generous dose of humor to inspire and guide the modern practitioner when supporting yoga poses. This accessible and encyclopedic book is sure to become a must-have classic for yoga students, teachers, and yoga therapists alike.”
—Dana Slamp, MFA, C-IAYT, Founder of Prema Yoga Institute

“I can still recall the first time I experienced Jenny’s approach to working with yoga props, and I know well the lasting effect it has had on my teaching and my practice. She helps you understand not only the mechanics of using props but also what it means to truly understand and support someone’s needs in a pose. Whether you’re a beginner to yoga or have been teaching it for decades, the insights that Jenny shares in The Complete Guide to Yoga Props can normalize bringing props into every aspect of your practice.”
—Renee Marie Schettler, Editor in Chief of Yoga Journal

Frog Pose II and Half Frog Pose
Props Used in This Book and DIY Options
Props Used in Various Yoga Formats