Yoga Blocks

Yoga has been all the rage for several years now, mostly due to its great way of healing the body, both physically, mentally, and spiritually and is a great form of exercise for everyone who practices it.

Flexibility can play an important role in yoga, and some beginners, or those with injuries, may find it difficult to get themselves into some of the poses (or Asana) that are required. Fear not though, as many yoga props are available that will act as supports to help you achieve the poses more easily and hold them for a lot longer than you would have before. One of these props that you can use is the yoga block ….

If yoga isn’t practiced in the right way, it can counteract the good benefits that you’re trying achieve and possibly even lead to injury. Yoga supplies such as yoga blocks can help reduce the risk of injury and make sure that you’re getting the maximum benefits from your routine. Holding on to a pose is also an important factor that will help maintain your overall health.

Yoga blocks allow you some extra strength for certain poses without putting extra unnecessary strain on your body, which can be harmful in some cases. The  ‘pincha mayurasana’ also known as the ‘feathered peacock pose’ is one such pose that might benefit from the use of a yoga block.

Yoga blocks can be manufactured using a variety of different materials such as bamboo and cork, which are a little bit more environmentally friendly than the more common foam blocks. Each block is fairly lightweight and will often be sold individually, however if you want a bit more choice and versatility for your poses, it is best to purchase two.

The alignment of your body will be improved by using yoga blocks and they are often used to aid standing poses where you are required to have one hand on the floor whilst performing the pose. The yoga block will help by reducing the amount of distance between your hand and the ground and help you to hold the correct pose more easily. They can also be used to aid some sitting poses as well.

Yoga blocks made out of cork are extremely sturdy and durable, however foam wedges are also extremely popular. Example uses include keeping the block under the heels whilst squatting, or keeping under the hips while performing forward bending movements. They will aid you in making these types of poses more comfortable and manageable and will help avoid too much stretching and exertion of the joints, especially during poses such as the ‘upward bow’ or ‘facing dog’.

If you are carrying any injuries, then yoga equipment, such as yoga blocks, will help you greatly. If you have back problems or tight hamstrings, you might find it more comfortable to sit cross-legged on your mat by using a yoga block and support your back and lift the pelvis up.

As a final note, there are also many different colours available if you wish to stay colour co-ordinated with the rest of your gear, and don’t forget these marvellous bits of essential yoga equipment are a definite must have for anybody that is serious about their yoga training.