Yoga Blocks Central

The yoga block has been used in the practice of yoga for thousands of years. Some schools of yoga rely far more on props (including not only blocks, but belts, balls, and many other things) than others do. Some of the schools of yoga more popular in the west do not rely quite as heavily on props. But if you practice a type such as Iyengar yoga, which is known for its use of props, you will definitely need a yoga block. But even in the less prop-heavy classes, you will almost certainly have occasion to use a block, so it is important to know why they are used, and what to look for in a purchase, so that you are ready when that time comes.

The purpose of a yoga block is to add support. If you are advanced, you will probably be learning and practicing poses that use the block as a built in part of the pose, as more challenge uses of your body will require added support in order to be done correctly.

If you are a beginner, you can use the block to add support while your muscles develop. Yoga requires an incredible amount of strength and stamina from almost every muscle group in your body. The block can help give you a little bit of a ‘boost’ while you are waiting for your muscles to become accustomed to the poses. It also helps you keep your balance, which is another thing that will improve as your muscles gain strength.

When you go out to buy a yoga block, expect to spend between $15 and $40 dollars in most cases. Of course, there are always designed blocks available for much more than that, but if you are just starting out, the basic block will probably be more than sufficient.

The most common block is made of foam, but there are also cork and other materials available. Colors include ‘calming’ shades such as purple, green, blue, aqua, and similar hues. For this, there is no proper advice. Just choose the color you like and enjoy it.  You may also want to get a matching yoga bag to carry your yoga block and accessories. I recommend checking out Manduka yoga bags which are among the best.

If you are planning on buying a yoga block, this means you are either a beginner to the practice and want to be well-equipped when you start, or it means you are an experienced participant in classes and/or private practice and you want to expand your capability.

For either situation, a yoga block is a great addition to your routine. For beginners, the block gives the option of added support and reinforcement. So if you can’t reach the ground when you lean over, you can place the block under your hand to provide support until you become more flexible.

If you are more advanced in yoga, you can use the block to expand the poses you incorporate in your routine. Some advanced courses do quite impressive poses, and use the block for these. This is especially true if you are interested in Iyengar yoga, which is known for its use of yoga props, particularly blocks and belts.

So you know that you want a yoga block but you are not sure what you should be looking for when you finally make your purchase. Fortunately for you, these blocks are fairly straightforward.

The blocks used in yoga come in pretty standard sizes. You will commonly find 4 inch and 3 inch blocks at most stores you look in (this includes both online stores and local chains and specialty shops).

One decision you’ll need to make is what material you want the block to be made of. Many are constructed of a smooth, soft, spongy foam material that is a little giving, but plenty supportive for the weight of your body (or your head, if a pose requires you to lie down and rest your head on a support).

There are also cork blocks available, as well as a few other eco friendly materials, but these are more common online. If you’re looking for eco-friendly blocks in person, you will definitely need to visit a specialty store, especially if you want to move past cork.

And the last decision is a fun one: what color do you want your yoga block to be? There’s no advice to offer here. It’s all based on personal preference. So find the block color that most speaks to you, and enjoy the versatility it brings to your practice.

A yoga block is a lightweight, sturdy, but somewhat giving block used in the practice of yoga. There is no single school of yoga, so it is important to note that some schools use blocks, belts, and other props much more so than others. How often you will have need to use a block depends on which type of yoga influenced your instructor, how advanced you are, and what poses you will be doing.

The yoga block is actually used by beginners and experts alike, and this is for entirely different reasons.

Beginning practicers of yoga generally use a block because it helps add much needed support and reinforcement to their poses. If your flexibility is relatively weak, and you have not built up strength by weeks or months (or even years) of yoga practice, a block can help give support if you are not able to reach all the way to the floor, but need to rest your hand or arm on a solid surface to really do the pose well.

In the case of a yoga expert, a block is used in more advanced poses that seem to challenge our conception of gravity, strength, and what the body can do.

There are a few choices you will need to make if you are considering buying a yoga block. First of all, what material would you like it to be made out of? Most of the blocks sold by large chain retailers are made of a substance that is quite foamy. They are generally sold in ‘calm’ colors such as blue, purple, green, and turquoise.

However, there are many more eco-friendly options available now that people are more concerned with this aspect of the products that they buy. You can easily purchase a cork-based yoga block either online or in specialty stores. Cork is considered more eco-friendly than foam rubber because it is a more natural material that requires less processing and no dye, but in some areas, the cork trees are becoming limited due to over-harvest, so do your research before you buy if this is your concern.

If you are buying a block for yoga, the most important factor is to find one you are comfortable with. Then head to your class, and have fun!

Yoga poses come in almost countless combinations of arm, leg, and spine positions. When you are first starting out, there are poses that will seem almost impossible to you, with which you may require some help or assistance—poses that will, if you continue your practice, one day be quite easy as you move on to more and more challenging poses.

But when you are starting out, it can help to have a way to add support without changing the essence of a pose. A yoga block can be used for this. Say, for example, you are doing a pose that requires you to bend at the waist, turn, and place your hand on the ground. You need to do so without bending your arms and legs too much, but because you are a beginner, you are having trouble getting your hand to reach the floor. Without the support of your hand on the floor, you are shaky and struggling to find stability.

This is when a yoga block comes in handy. You can set the block below your hand, between your hand and the floor, and use it for support until your flexibility and strength improve and you are able to reach all the way.

Another way that the block can be used is when you are doing a pose that requires you to lay on your back. Many times, the person leading your class will suggest that you place a rolled up cloth (such as a towel) or a yoga block under your head and neck for support.

Then, after you have moved from a beginner to an intermediate or expert in of the art of yoga, you will find many many other uses for your yoga block. More advanced poses use the block in quite clever and challenging ways. In fact, the Iyengar school of yoga is known for its use of props, the yoga belt and block in particular.

No matter what your level of expertise, the block is a great yoga prop to have. They come in different sizes and are fairly affordable, so once you have one or two, you will be ready for years of practice before you need to replace them (if indeed you ever do).

Yoga has found its way from the rich history of the middle east to the cutting edge of western culture. Along the way it has changed, evolved, and combined with other cultures in ways that are at times fascinating, and at times quite physically challenge.

One thing that you will find in common Western practice is the use of a yoga block during a yoga session. Yoga blocks are not essential for some of the most basic yoga poses in most common classes in the U.S. However, as you get into more advanced poses and classes, or if you pursue learning different styles of yoga (such as Iyengar yoga), you are much more likely to come across poses that will use the block as part of the move.

So what does a yoga block help to do? Well, the block is largely a supportive prop. There are any number of props used in yoga, but the most common is the mat. The mat gives support and grip to the feet and hands, allowing the individual to pose firmly without slipping and sliding out of the pose. Most mats are lightly padded, which adds some comfort and keeps the balls of the feet and palms of the hands from getting sore against a hard floor.

The block is the second most common yoga prop. It is used not as an under-support for poses, but as an occasional support for very specific poses. Say you are leaning forward but do not have the flexibility to reach your hands all the way to the ground. Using the block , you can rest your hands firmly without having to over-extend yourself by trying to go all the way to the floor. This is a nice way of modifying a pose so that it is easier to do, while still giving you the solid support to lean on (that will eventually the floor once you get better and have more practice).

In other cases, the yoga block is used to support the head, such as when you are doing a pose that requires you to lay down. You could roll a towel to lay under your head instead, but having an actual block gives you more consistence and more versatility, making it easier to do a number of poses in your personal practice.