Yoga blocks are an essential prop for practicing yoga. They allow the body to move fluidly, allow for modifications, different stretches, and even deeper stretches for the body. Yoga blocks support your range of motion and can be made with a multitude of fabrics.
Yoga blocks improve your style and your form in a multitude of yoga poses. Some very common uses for the block are triangle pose, half-moon pose, standing splits, camel, and bridge. Below, you will find answers for the most asked yoga block questions.
How Many Yoga Blocks Do I Need?
How many yoga blocks do I need? One or two? You need two. Yoga is all about balance. What you do to one side you have to do to the other side. It is best to have one block on each side for when you flow through the poses. This way you will not have to worry about switching over the block or pulling your neck or shoulder in the process.
There are also a couple of poses that two blocks are used for. For example, in pigeon, you might need one block under the front thigh and one to rest your forearms on, or one under the groin to straighten out your hips and one under the forearms.
In bridge, you may want one under the top part of your butt and another one squeezed in between the legs. This will keep the thighs internally rotated and the back up off the mat realigning the spine. Two is better than one when it comes to yoga blocks.
Which Type of Yoga Block Is Best?
The best type of yoga blocks are the ones made of cork that are the standard 4-inch block. Manduka sells a very high-quality cork yoga block. Cork is the best because it has a firmness to it that isn’t found in foam blocks. You can get comfortable in the pose and find security in the block.
They are also easy to grip and don’t get slippery or slide with sweat. They are easy to maintain and are made with natural products. Cork yoga blocks are the way to go.
Manduka High-Density Cork Yoga Block (Amazon): https://amzn.to/2KfbFeZ
What Do You Need Yoga Blocks For?
You need yoga blocks for yoga whether you are a beginner, advanced, or somewhere in the middle. In just about every asana you can incorporate the block. Even in chair pose, you can stick the block in between your thighs, hug it tight, keep your back straight and engage your entire body.
Some of the poses are even harder with a block, so the stigma that blocks are for beginners is simply incorrect.
Can You Sit on Yoga Block?
Sitting on the yoga blocks good for the spine. You can sit in easy seat with the block on the upper thigh and lower part of the butt. You can also place one butt cheek on each block and have a little cushion-like makeshift chair instead of sitting on the hard floor.
Sitting on yoga blocks is comfortable and definitely an option during a class or just in your free time. Sitting on the block also allows your hips to open deeper towards the floor, extending further back and creating a larger range of motion.
What Can I Use Instead Of a Yoga Block?
Yoga blocks are not always available. When you don’t have access to a yoga block you could use a bolster for positions like bridge and pigeon. You could also stack blankets and use that for standing poses like triangle and half-moon.
Another option is to stack books and wrap them in a towel, or just leave them stacked and you will have a higher and harder surface to place your hands on for stretching and strengthening.
Yoga blocks are an assist to the yoga practice. They are not a reason to push your body past its limits. Instead, they are used to improve form and tell your body when you’re at the maximum current stretching point.
In yoga, you should never feel a sharp, electric, or numbing pain. Instead, you should feel a little pull, a tug, and a stretch where your body is growing but not breaking.
So, the question is, do you need yoga blocks? The answer is yes, of course, you do! Not only do you need one, you need two.
You need to balance out your body, mind, heart, and soul and the best way to work on the outside is to work on the inside, vice versa.