Props aren’t meant for beginners only.

There is a common misconception that experienced users have no use for props. Granted, with a lot of experience and improvement in flexibility, these props are probably unnecessary for some people but sometimes, people just let their ego get in the way of rational thinking. There is no shame in using a prop and it doesn’t take away from your skill.

More experienced yoga practitioners and instructors will tell you that using props isn’t meant for beginners alone or people who find it hard to touch their toes. There is no weakness in relying on these props for certain poses.

“Many students have a false perception that using props makes asanas [a.k.a. poses] ‘easier’ or ‘dumbs down’ a posture,” Ashleigh Sergeant, yoga instructor and head of yoga content at Gaia.com, tells SELF. “But with some basic education and a bit of practice letting go of that ego, yoga can be greatly enhanced and advanced through the use of props.”

These are a few reasons why you should consider using props:

Personalization

With props, you can make your routines unique and thus get the best out of it specifically for you. It is a form of customization. “Props allow you to tailor your practice to the specific shape and structure of your body,” Sergeant says. With this strategy, you get to achieve the alignment that best suits you rather than trying to conform to a certain standard that may not be best for you.

Better breathing and relaxation

People have carried the no pain no gain mentality into yoga and this has made us neglectful of one of the most important factors which is the breath. It is very easy to cast aside your breathing when trying to achieve a difficult pose and this is not the best for your body. Yoga instructor Jessica Mathews says: “Using props helps you breathe properly, using deep diaphragmatic breath, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a sense of calm,”

Calms your mind

There are exercises that can help you quiet your mind to a certain extent such as the ujjayi breathing used in yoga but props can also assist you better achieve this. “They help create moments of steadiness where you can be present and aware in your body, calming the chatter and distractions in the mind,” Matthews says. With props, you get to achieve a balanced pose and you don’t have to worry about falling at any point thus achieving a peaceful state of mind.

Permutations made easier

There are various permutations that can be made to different poses when you make use of props. For instance, you can achieve a certain variation of the bridge or camel pose when you squeeze a block between your legs. Props also make it easier to progress gradually through more advanced techniques.

Room for Improvements

With props, you are going to get a lot more feedback on how your body responds to different positions as you move in space. This can help you be more aware of your muscle imbalances and better help you understand your body workings. With this feedback, you can make adjustments to compensate for any issues you might have noticed.

Make a decision on whether you need props and if they will improve your poses. “Props open up more pathways to explore your practice, so notice the sensory feedback you receive (with and without props),” Sergeant says

This seemingly inactive aspect of yoga is perhaps the most important.

It is always wonderful to see yoga practitioners settle into the restorative Savasana posture after an intense yoga class. It is equally frustrating to see people completely ignore this aspect of yoga.

This pose is also knowns as the corpse pose and mainly you just have to lay on your back, face up, eyes closed with your arms by your side and legs stretched out. You’re required to lay completely still and quiet your mind focusing on yourself and embracing all of the sensations of your body. Easier said than done though. Some people appreciate this pose as that opportunity to get a little meditation done and others simply can’t wait to leave as quickly as possible and thus skip it.

It is understandable that life is full of tasks and there is little time to waste considering all of the chores that must be done in a limited time. But since yoga is about doing what’s best for your wellbeing, it is perhaps necessary to consider taking out a little time for this practice no matter how little. A short practice is better than no practice at all.

Every time you skip this pose, you miss out on a couple of benefits that Savasana has to offer to us physically and mentally. It is a lot more than just lying down and it is indeed worth your time.

Savasana offers a rare opportunity to remove yourself from the chaos of life. This pose prepares you for the ability to remain still with a quiet mind.

“[Savasana] is a time to relax our efforts, stop ‘doing,’ and rest. Sometimes the few minutes of Savasana at the end of class is one of the only times we stop in the day for conscious rest,” Mariana Caplan, Ph.D., a psychotherapist, yoga teacher, and the author of Yoga & Psyche, tells SELF.

Savasana doesn’t have to take too much of your time, you can start small and gradually increase the time you spend doing it in increments of 30 seconds. For short spells, focus on steadying your breathing and relaxing your body. As you get more comfortable in the pose, you can start to extend the duration.

Savasana is not the easiest thing to do. It actually takes a lot of effort and that is the point. Staying still and focus is a lot of work in itself but the benefits make it worth your time.

“One of the common concerns many yoga students have expressed to me over the years is that they think they are doing it ‘wrong,’ because during Savasana they find themselves thinking about many things, or they feel restless rather than peaceful,” Caplan shares. “One of the most important things about Savasana and all yoga practice is that practice really is the goal.”

Skipping out on Savasana is basically denying your body an opportunity for an internal and emotional message. Your body will remain in an activated state and you’re denying it the rest and relaxation hat it deserves. We need to place a lot more emphasis on Savasana and the benefits are tangible even in the short term.

In the short-term, you’ll simply be able to go back into the real world a little more prepared. “[Savasana] is a moment to pause at the doorway between the yoga studio and the busy world that often awaits us just outside,” Caplan says. “In that pause, you can bring the balance, energy, insights, and awareness you experience on the mat into the world.”

One singular piece of advice that has resonated deep within me is ‘Self Focus,’ which means focus on being the best you can possibly be. Focus on setting goals for yourself and achieving them. Focus on learning and improving yourself daily.  In today’s world, where so much negativity abounds, this advice has stayed with me. Since most of this negativity comes from your interactions with other people, I’m going to show you how you can lead a more positive life by focusing on you.

1. Gossip Less

It’s undeniable. We all love to gossip. It’s a natural thing to do and can be harmless. But then, it’s a huge drain of our time and can lead to comparisons and even worse –  judgment. You really should try this: stop talking about some other person for a week and instead, direct all your attention to your own life. You will observe some positive effects this simple exercise has on you.

2. Unfollow

Hey! Why are you still following that annoying old classmate and scrolling through her timeline in irritation? Do yourself a favour by untying yourself with the unfollow button. Following someone, you find infuriating on social media and getting pissed on a daily basis is a sure way to infuse your life with negativity.

3. Gratitude Heals

Personally, I have been focusing on this recently. Whenever I feel low or a bit miserable, I compile a gratitude list – all the wonderful things in my life which I often take for granted such as my health, food on the table, a cozy bed to tuck into, etc. it might seem simple, but it has such an empowering effect.

4. Set Goals

This is very key! There is always room for improving yourself and setting personal goals helps you focus on yourself to become a better person. The goals don’t have to be lofty, making your bed every morning, getting more exercise or getting up 20 minutes earlier in the morning are all achievable and can greatly enhance your positivity and keep you motivated.

5. Find Time To Recharge

Finally, its essential you take time to disconnect every week, even if it’s just for a few hours. I chose Sunday as my day of total relaxation and rest. I always go to work on Monday at my best because of it. With the very busy lives, most people live these days, this might be hard to do. However, you should try to structure in some ‘me time’ in your routine, and you’ll be much better for it.

I was in Dallas for #RStheCon, and it was terrific! I attended some really useful workshops, got to meet with so many incredible brands and listened to the most stirring presentations from Amber Venz Box, Aimee from Song of Style & Kendra Scott, just to mention a few. Attendance at the conference is by invitation only, so I was totally honored to be there. They invite their best 100 performers annually and as you can imagine, meeting and chatting with other attendees was insanely inspiring as well. I met the coolest girls from all over the world, and I especially loved all the girls from the UK I spent the weekend with. It was just as if we were in Blogger Camp. I know not everyone will be interested in this sort of thing, but for fellow bloggers/YouTubers that follow my blog, I felt it  could be helpful if I shared some of the best things I learned all through the weekend

1. Be motivated by your content.

This one really struck a chord when I heard it. I’ve been blogging for a fairly long time now (6 years), and for me to remain passionate about what I post every day, I truly have to love it. For instance, when posting a particular outfit photo on Instagram gets me excited, I know you guys will also love it. But if I just post for the sake of posting something, most times, the post just doesn’t perform. Always post something you’re excited about – quality trumps quantity every time.

2. You shouldn’t aim to please everyone

When Aimee Song (@songofstyle) was asked about a single strategy she had implemented and that made a significant difference in the growth of her business, she answered that she now, more than ever,  has a point of view. It sounds so basic, but its something we forget from time to time. Aimee said it is very easy to copy successful people like her (4.9 million Instagram followers) but in the saturated world of blogging, that might not work any longer. Until you develop your unique voice, you won’t be able to stand out. She said instead of trying to  make everyone happy, she just writes for 10% of her audience at a time, and in the long run, she will get all of them., Its difficult, most times, to write about sensitive topics or wear an outfit that is unusual or post pictures that are different from the norm, but in 2018, you are left with no choice. As the amazing Kendra Scott said, ‘If you’re doing what everyone else is doing, you’ve already failed.” Be disruptive.

3. Show love to the followers you ALREADY have.

I recall someone once telling me that blogging is like a big game where no one ever gets to win. We spend all our time trying to get more followers but no matter the number we get, we still want and can get more. It even sounds crazy just writing it out, doesn’t it? Growth is an important aspect of any business, but it won’t do to forget the followers you already have. The OGs, those that have been with you and still are. if you are more interested in getting new followers that you forget the amazing ones you already have, the chances are that it won’t end well. Most of the talks throughout the weekend were about the importance of building a community that truly cares. You might have a million followers but if they’re not fully engaged with your stuff- commenting and sharing, then what’s the point? While if you have just 50,000 followers that appreciate, respect and value all that you give back to them, you are in a better situation. So don’t be too hung up on getting a million followers, instead focus on building a community of loyal followers -your tribe – that actually cares.

4. Appreciate the ‘no’s’  – let them fuel your fire.

Every now and then, we all get hit with a flat out ‘NO’ – I get them all the time, believe me. I’m always taking a chance, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. sometimes, a negative response SERIOUSLY rattles my confidence, but I have learned to move on, learn, and use the rejection as a spur to do better. Honestly, there is no better motivation than a NO. So when next you get one, smile and strive to be better.

5. LiketoKnowit App

And finally, we learned quite a lot about Rewardstyle’s new app ‘LiketoKnowit.‘ To say the truth, I’m OBSESSED with it. Naturally, I use it myself to post my outfits/home decor, but I’ve also been using it a lot to shop. The app for me is a shoppable Pinterest. You know the feeling when you’re on Pinterest, and you find the perfect interior shot of the exact kind of room you’d like to create but can’t find links no matter where you look? Well, this new app will give you the pretty picture as well as every relevant link. It’s quite a game-changer. I even post new outfits on the app daily (more than I post on Instagram) so you need to come check it out. I also post lots of home-related stuff there too.  Just search with ‘Retro Flame,’ and I’ll pop out. Much respect to Rewardstyle for their constant innovativeness and I believe this new app they’ve built is the future of shopping. Such an awesome company!

This really is just a tiny bit of what I learned. The conference seriously inspired me to keep improving for you guys, and I also made so many new friends which is always a great thing. I really enjoyed writing this kind of post so let me know if you’d like more  ‘business-advice’ type posts and I’ll get started on them.