Knee pain hindering your yoga practice? Try this expert-recommended trick
With minimum scope for injury, yoga is considered to be the safest fitness routine for all, including the elderly. But sometimes even simple yoga practice can seem very difficult due to pre-existing aches in the body. One such common problem is knee pain. Knee pain can stop you from doing the simplest of yoga postures. But worry not, we have an easy solution for you if your knee pain is hindering your yoga practice.
The trick
Using a folded towel or blanket can support your joints and make your practice easy. Even yoga instructors advise people with sensitive knees to cushion their joints with towels or blankets, especially during weight-bearing poses.
How to use a towel to support your knees
Take a medium-sized soft towel, fold it and tuck it under your knees. Once you do this and try doing poses like Camel pose, Child's pose, you will feel a nice stretch in your lower back and shoulders without any added pressure on the knees. Experts advise that it's best to use props to support the practice rather than forcing yourself in a pose.
You can even try keeping a folded mat under your knees. There are many poses that could benefit from using this technique. But poses like Cat-Cow, Chaturanga and Camel pose benefit greatly.
Other props that can revolutionize your yoga practice
Blocks
You can use a block while doing a low lunge, which will help you lift and strengthen your spine better.
Bolster
We all love doing savasana. You can use a bolster under your knees for a gentle position for your lower back.
​Strap
Loop a strap around the ball of your foot while doing the Reclining hand-to-big-toe pose instead of straining your neck and shoulders to reach your toes.
Note: Using yoga props is not a sign of weakness
A lot of people think that using props to perform exercise is a sign that you are not capable enough of doing it, a sign that you need help.
But this is not true. If you feel you need props to perform better, it demonstrated an advanced level of body awareness and presence.
Knowing how to use yoga props effectively implies that you are in tune with how your body is moving and responding and that you are working to give what your body needs.