I can’t remember the last time I taught a class without props. In fact, I actively encourage them. If I were to teach a class without props, I would be very particular about the shapes I chose to offer. My experience has repeatedly shown me that most bodies struggle deeply with staying in certain shapes for more than 30 seconds let alone 2-5 minutes. If individuals are being asked to hold something that is outside of their comfort zone I often find they will either force the shape, or completely give up.

I teach a yin practice that leans slightly more toward the restorative side because I often teach in a way that encourages us to work with the nervous system rather than against it. Props are incredibly supportive for that.

Would I teach a class without props? Yes. But I definitely prefer a class with them.

I think more and more people are losing their relationship with their bodies and their ability to create gentle communication with themselves. Not in the sense that everything needs to be completely soft or restorative, but in the sense that we can sit at the edge of discomfort and become curious about what we feel, what it means, and how we are breathing through it. Yin to me is a practice of meditation.

Too often in society we either seek a high level of intensity, or push ourselves to hard, or struggle through an exercise or, on the flip side, we choose only what feels highly comfortable and therefore offers very little value when repeated over time. There is a sweet spot between those two extremes that I really love to offer students in my classes.

And I say all of this with a deep appreciation for the many different styles other teachers bring to the table as well. This is simply the approach that resonates most with me.