13/10/2026
Can we explore Mālāsana even when squatting feels difficult?
Tending a plant or crouching beside a child brings us closer to the ground. Yet settling into a squat may not feel straightforward for everyone.
In Iyengar Yoga, Mālāsana (Garland Pose) can be explored through different arrangements of support.
A chair can support the sitting bones while wooden blocks provide a raised surface for the feet. From this supported position, the arms may reach towards the wall, or the hands may come to the floor as the trunk extends forward.
Another variation uses the wall behind the body and a wooden stool beneath the hands, with the feet resting on the mat.
Each arrangement offers a different opportunity to observe.
How do the feet receive the weight?
What happens in the hips as the knees bend?
How does the placement of the hands affect the extension of the trunk?
Can the breath remain easy?
The choice of support depends on the person and the action being studied. With a teacher’s guidance, the height, distance and placement of the props can be adjusted accordingly.
We need not hurry towards a deeper squat. We can begin with support that allows us to study the pose with attention.
That learning can accompany us into daily life—while gardening, joining a child at play, or noticing when it is time to change position.
The next time we move closer to the ground, can we notice what support helps us?
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