Teacher Development: The World of Props with Cathie Ryder
Saturday, April 4
1:30-3:30pm • Brookline & Livestream
In the Iyengar tradition, props are not accessories - they are teachers. Quiet, steady, and endlessly patient, they reveal where the pose truly lives and how the body can meet it with intelligence, precision, and care.
In this Teacher Development workshop, we’ll explore the artistry and logic of props as tools for alignment, accessibility, and longevity. Together we’ll work with blocks, belts, blankets, bolsters, chairs, and the wall to uncover the architecture of common yoga postures - refining actions, clarifying structure, and creating access to poses that may otherwise feel out of reach.
Through hands-on practice and guided exploration, you’ll learn not only how to use props, but why they matter — and how support can be an active force that educates the body rather than simply making things easier.
We’ll explore:
how props create safety, clarity, and sustainability in practice
how to “see the pose” more clearly through prop-supported structure
prop setups for standing poses, forward bends, backbends, and restorative postures
the difference between props that support effort vs. props that refine action
how to choose, place, and adjust props skillfully — not habitually
how props awaken sensitivity and reduce unnecessary struggle
This session is ideal for teachers seeking clearer prop logic, as well as practitioners who are curious about Iyengar methodology, working with injury or stiffness, or simply wanting to deepen familiar poses through more intelligent support.
All levels are welcome. Props meet you where you are - not where you think you should be.
You’ll leave with:
practical prop setups you can use immediately
greater ease, stability, and embodied awareness in key poses
a new relationship to the prop room - and the felt sense that support can be transformative
Cost: $40
Please bring a yoga mat (rentals are available for $3 at the studio)
Required Props for folks joining livestream: Yoga blocks, belts, blankets, bolster, chair, and a sturdy wall
***For livestream participants: a Zoom invitation email will go out to pre-registered students 1 hour before the class. Please make sure we have the correct email address on file for you so you receive your invitation! Contact the studio at 617.566.9642 with any questions.***