How to Use Yoga Props - Blocks, Mats, Straps, with Workout [VHS]
If you're someone who wants to get into yoga but are so stiff that even  touching your toes is a struggle, then this tape will help. Unlike its companion  tape,How to Use Props: Bolsters, Blankets, Pillows, which focuses on the  passive, "restorative" yoga style, this one employs props with a variety of more  active poses, using them specifically to promote correct alignment and support  and thus enable the user to feel the full benefits of a given posture without  unnecessary strain (not to mention the frustration that often accompanies it).  The non-stick yoga mat is thesine qua nonof props--whether you're on a  bare floor or a carpet, it's almost impossible to practice satisfactorily  without one. But even experienced yogis may be unaware of the virtues of a strap  (for tight hamstrings, hips, and shoulders) or blocks (also for hips and  hamstrings, especially in standing positions). Simply using a strap as an arm  extension in a basic seated forward bend, for instance, straightens the back for  a proper stretch and better circulation. After explaining the props, instructor  Suzanne Deason finishes up with a brief (about 10 minutes) practice, using the  strap or blocks for a shoulder stretch, the upward- and downward-facing dog  poses, the triangle, the warrior and extended warrior, and a couple of forward  bends. Not bad, and all to the accompaniment of genuine French impressionist  music instead of the usual New Age wallpaper.--Kelly Welldon