Alignment Yoga

Alignment is intended to create a stable foundation for a safe practice, to allow the body to open in new ways, and to reduce the risk of injury. While you might not feel a sudden, sharp pain from doing a pose out of alignment, many yoga injuries are cumulative, accruing little by little. Wear and tear on joints and supporting tissues happens over time, so many yoga students find themselves with repetitive use ailments years into their practices and have to break long-established patterns to remake their poses in healthier ways. That's why it's important to establish optimal alignment (for your own body) as early in your practice as possible, which can often mean using props liberally. Using the right props, like a grippy supportive mat in addition to blocks and straps, is not in any way a signal of inadequacy. These props are intended to help yoga students practice with good alignment right from their very first day instead of compromising their form. For instance, in a standing forward fold, you might not be able to touch the ground with your hands while keeping a straight spine. You could let the spine round or bend your knees, but then you are missing out on stretching the hamstrings and opening the chest. Using blocks under your hands allows you to hit every note of the pose in the safest way.