| Yoga, which originated from India more than five | | | | flow to the perfection of postures. |
| centuries ago, was essentially a school of thought | | | | In Iyengar yoga, a lot of props, such as yoga balls, are |
| leading to a spiritual discipline for its followers. Even | | | | used in perfecting the postures. The teachers help their |
| though different branches of yoga evolved, the core | | | | disciples attain the perfect postures using different |
| teachings of these branches did not have much to do | | | | prop models including the yoga balls, thus eliminating the |
| with physical exercise or development of the body. | | | | need for undue or unbearable strains to improve the |
| However, the 20th and 21st centuries saw a big | | | | postures. These props are of tremendous help to the |
| transformation taking place with lots and lots of people | | | | beginners, as well as for those who have health or |
| seeking yoga as their means to better health and | | | | strength problems. |
| stress relief. This in turn resulted in the development of | | | | Yoga aids like yoga balls can be of help in different |
| a new range of branches in modern yoga. | | | | levels ranging from helping someone keep one leg |
| With yoga gaining popularity in the Western world, a | | | | elevated for an extended period in a balancing pose or |
| new set of visions and experiments started emerging | | | | in perfecting the arch of the back. Yoga balls can also |
| in order to help yoga reach more individuals and to find | | | | be used for sitting. Yoga balls are of help not only for |
| innovation in the practices. The yoga ball happens to | | | | the weak or the less balanced practitioners but also |
| be one of the products of this innovation. An inflated | | | | for the experts. Yoga balls help the experts stretch |
| vinyl ball to support the yoga postures wouldn't have | | | | their boundaries to achieve even more difficult |
| likely been thought of by the ancient gurus; | | | | postures or to hold to their postures for longer periods. |
| nevertheless, it was the need of the hour for yoga to | | | | Iyengar yoga may not have the cardiovascular |
| be more innovative and accessible. | | | | benefits that can be had from the yoga types that |
| Until the path breaking movement of the renowned | | | | follow the vinyasa flow principle, but it offers improved |
| yoga guru BKS Iyengar, vinyasa (the fluid transition or | | | | muscle strength and perfect postures. Yoga aids used |
| the movement from one pose the next in a series) | | | | in Iyengar yoga apart from yoga balls include straps |
| used to be considered more important than a perfect | | | | for bound poses, bricks for support, and rollable |
| posture. But with Iyengar yoga growing out of Hatha | | | | blankets for back support. The blankets can be used |
| Yoga, the emphasis was transformed from vinyasa | | | | for holding sitting poses also. |