Walls can be used for support and alignment in almost any posture,
sometimes in several different ways for the same posture. Why do a posture or an entire session using the wall? For many reasons:
they are solid and vertical and give us direction and deeper understanding of the posture in any position, including doing
it equally as well on either side (for two-sided postures - one side is often weaker, or tighter). In the tradition of B.K.S.
Iyengar's development of props for yoga, walls allow a deeper and safer experience in postures. In addition, postures can
be modified and adapted to one's own ability level, from beginning to advanced. You can also experience a kinesthetic feedback
from the wall as if it's a partner assisting you. Since walls allow you to practice with comparative ease and freedom from
pain, they are an incentive to practice, especially for people with physical challenges. And they're something to hold on
to.
In the words of Iyengar:
Walls provide a frame for the posture and assist in learning.
They allow you to hold the postures longer and more comfortably, including people with illness, injury, or other limitations.
With longer holding, circulation, endurance, strength, and other benefits increase.
They adjust the posture to fit one's own state of health and condition.
They are safe and available, and build confidence in postures, leading to improvement.
They
teach us by allowing us to compare the feeling of the posture when it's done without the wall, leading eventually to independent
performance.
