Our History
Where Wall Yoga came from, how it has evolved and what's happening now.
A Brief History of Yoga Props
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Yoga has been practised for over 5,000 years, and for much of this time, props were not a part of the practice.
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As the need for non-slip surfaces and extra padding emerged to aid certain postures, early practitioners began using deer skins as
Yoga mats.
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Gradually, more elements from nature were incorporated. Rocks and trees were used to provide additional support and to help shape the body in alignment with the
Yogis' intentions.
The Use of Wall Ropes in Yoga
For many years, Yogis have used wall ropes in their practice, a technique known as Yoga Kurunta. In South Indian theatre, a kurunta is a puppet controlled by strings. Just as these strings bring a puppet to life, wall ropes in Yoga can help bring life to our body and mind.
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The renowned Yogi B.K.S. Iyengar, considered by many to be the most influential modern practitioner, popularised the use of props to enhance students’ practice. He is especially known for developing a wide range of asana variations using wall ropes.
Development of the Great Yoga Wall™
The Great Yoga Wall™ is a newer version of this wall with a system of adjustable straps to fit any body size and physique. The new system was developed by Kedric Wolfe in the early 80s after he injured his foot from the older wall hook system. He figured there had to be a "better way" to use the Wall with more ease and versatility.
He came up with the Yoga Wall design, which is the basis of the Wall Yoga System. It consists of a spring-loaded frame that holds the ball of the other components, like a range of Yoga Wall belts or a wall bar.
The plates are high-quality machined metal and are mounted in veneer plywood panels for a precise fit. The more plates in the wall, the more slots you have for the Yoga Wall straps and correspondingly the more options to practice a greater variety of Yoga postures. There are hundreds of positions that can be practised using the Yoga Wall system.
Wolfe Movement System as the next logical evolution
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With the Wolfe Movement System, we expanded upon the Great Yoga Wall by collaborating with Martin Zilbauer to create a comprehensive training program around it.
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Martin, a long-time certified Iyengar yoga teacher and owner of Relax & Move in Germany, is an experienced trainer who offers Yoga Wall Teacher trainings worldwide. His expertise has been instrumental in unlocking the full potential of this equipment through structured training.
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The Wolfe Movement System pairs the Yoga Wall equipment with specialized teacher training and well-developed class content.
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To make the most of the Wall System, practitioners and teachers need a wide range of poses and exercises, as well as an understanding of how to connect them fluidly with the equipment. This approach creates an effective and engaging class experience.
