Why Use Your Yoga Strap?

Straps are the most overlooked prop in yoga – but I’m a great fan. It can be intimidating to see some of the complicated ways yoga straps can be used. Yet are some very straightforward uses for a strap that can be extremely beneficial – and you don’t even have to buy one,  just use the belt from your robe or something similar. Consider these three reasons to use yoga straps.

Alignment – and bad habits

Are you full present during forward folds? When a pose isn’t difficult our mind tends to wander – it’s only human nature.

Next time you do a forward fold – whether standing or seated – a strap can help focus on

• lengthening your spine rather than reaching.
• We tend to have the habit of bending our back to get closer to our body  – we’ve all done it – but that’s not as good for our spine. Notice any difference in feeling when you use a strap.

Best of all,  I find using a strap reminds me
to be present and really notice my forward fold.

Extend Your Arms – and feel the pose while gaining flexibility

 

 

I’m quite inflexible, and I like to use a strap to help get the benefit of a pose that is ‘outside of my grasp’. This is true of some more complicated poses like Dancer Pose or Hand to Big Toe Pose, but makes a huge difference in some more straightforward poses like supine leg stretches. You can get my guide to using a strap for supine leg stretches.

What happens with a strap is that you can do the pose while keeping good form
and this in turn means you benefit more from the pose while increasing your flexibility.

Tune into your Body That Day – connect your mind and body and prevent injury

Some days it makes sense to dial it back and take it easy. Perhaps you’ve mastered Hand to Big Toe Pose but it doesn’t feel like a day to extend yourself to your fullest. Listen to your body, some days ease into the pose and feel what it’s like with a strap. Another day your body will tell you that it’s ready for a good stretch.

Don’t let your ego interfere with what you’re body’s saying
– that way lies injury.

Interested in going deeper? Find out more info about working with me
https://bit.ly/stepintonewnormal
or email me antonia@newlandscapeyoga.com