How To Prop Up Your Posture with Props

We’re all familiar with props when it comes to our movement or yoga practice. Sometimes, we’ve even been led to believe that props are mostly required by those that aren’t so advanced or need more help getting into a pose or practice. I don’t believe that’s true at all, especially when it comes to your posture and healing your body.

If you’ve done any of my posture routines, you’ll know that about 99% of them require the use of props. I’m talking about really simple tools like straps, blocks, a cushion, foam pads, a wall, a good solid chair and even the wooden stick part of an old mop. Stuff that you can easily find in and around your home,

To help you understand why props are so epic for your body, think of how scaffolding is used on a building that’s in need of some maintenance or repair. Not only does the scaffolding offer safety, but it offers support to the building/structure so that the proposed work can take place in a more efficient way. So when it comes to your body, props offer the same kind of safety and support in order to help you maintain, repair and or stimulate your body.

Having said that, your body’s needs are individual; therefore, how and why you’d use props in a posture routine or your movement practice may vary, but the intention is usually always the same; that is to create stimulus.

This process of stimulation, in physiology, is often referred to as ‘neuroplasticity’.

[Geek out with me for a sec, because this part is really cool].

You see the chain of command that triggers your muscles to do their job, originates from your brain. But it doesn’t just happen on its own. Your brain first requires specific input or information in order to pass this onto your muscles.

This input is received in two ways:
🧠 from your sensory organs by way of touch, smell, taste, sight and sound and;
🧠 from your vestibular sense (your body’s awareness in space which happens in your inner ear canal).

[Geek sesh over ...]

So, with the help of props, you’re stimulating the brain, central nervous system and muscle responses in your body which eventually start shifting your bones and joints, balance and body function, a.k.a. your posture. Another really awesome reason to use props is they’re such a great feedback and strength training tool. For anyone who has a home practice or is limited for space and time, props add such fire and juice to your movement routines head to toe.

My prayer for you all is to keep moving like well oiled machines and living on a path that is free of resistance and more love.

I hope my ‘Props to You’ posture collection on the Soul Sanctuary Membership will inspire you to use props in a playful and confident way and you leave feeling more posture and body smart.

AS PART OF THIS SERIES, THERE ARE THREE VIDEOS FOR YOU TO ENJOY: