When it comes to yoga, props can help you to deepen yoga poses and to practice more advanced moves, despite limited flexibility or balance. Yoga blocks are a great tool to help yogis of all ages achieve different yoga poses, build balance, target specific muscles and to overall deepen a practice.
Yoga blocks are extremely accessible, and most studios have yoga blocks to use during practice. If you want to add them to your own personal in-home studio, yoga blocks are affordable and come in a variety of materials from cork to rubber or foam.
What Are Yoga Blocks For?
Yoga blocks are a great addition to any yoga practice. They can help you on many levels to deepen your practice and to boost stability when attempting more difficult balancing yoga poses. Yoga blocks can help you to build upper body strength in certain poses, practice proper alignment, strengthen your wrists and other supporting joints, and to practice deeper poses.
How to Choose the Right Yoga Block?
When it comes to yoga blocks, there are so many options. Depending on your needs, choosing the best yoga blocks for you will help you reach your goals. If you’re looking for a lighter block that is soft to the touch and adds minimal support, try a foam block. These are great for beginners. Cork blocks are also a common choice. Many yogis love these because they are a bit heavier, but also have a grip on them. They are perfect for hot yoga or when you start to get a bit sweaty during your practice. For the most traditional version of a yoga block, woodblocks are a great option too. Often made from bamboo, these blocks are for advanced practitioners and are more expensive.
Another thing to consider when choosing the perfect yoga block for you is the size of your block. Before you make a purchase, hold the block and consider the width of the block in your hands. You should be able to grip the block with a single hand. We recommend beginning with a 9” x 6” x 3” block. This is the most common size and fits most people.
How to Use Yoga Blocks?
Yoga blocks can be used to help you lengthen your body and practice correct alignment. If you are struggling with a yoga pose, a yoga block may help you to correctly perform the pose. They will prevent you from overstraining and will allow you to achieve certain yoga poses without overexerting yourself or injuring yourself due to overstretching or overreaching. This practice will inevitably make you more flexible over time.
Yoga Poses to Use Yoga Blocks In
Try using a block to help support you in the following yoga poses.
Triangle Pose
In this pose, the goal is to be completely linear. When you add a block to this pose, you are adding stability so you can really focus on the linearity of the pose – lifting through your chest, lengthening your fingertips and hinging from your hips over your front leg.
Standing Forward Fold
If you find it difficult to touch your toes in Standing Forward Fold, then you should be using blocks! The most common reason for this is not strength or mobility, it’s tight hamstrings! You can really enjoy a stretch of the back of the legs in this pose by resting a set of blocks in front of your toes. Focus on stretching the hamstrings and keeping a straight, long back.
Camel Pose
Camel Pose can trigger many emotions due to it being an extreme heart opener. Use yoga blocks to add length to the body and to lighten the backbend. This will give you more control and will help you achieve all of the benefits of the pose without overextending. As you gain more flexibility in your back, you can remove the blocks.
Are you going to add yoga blocks to your practice? Share your experience with us! Post an image of your practice with yoga blocks to your Instagram and tag @weareyogapose for a chance to be featured on our feed.
