Yoga is the most gentle way for you to enjoy good mental and physical health. Daily practice of yoga can help you reap many benefits. But this holistic approach to good health is not without its share of injuries. It is a major reason why many yoga teachers advice their students to use yoga props.
One of the yoga props are yoga blocks. These help you practice different yoga asanas with ease. Using yoga blocks ensures you practice correct alignment. This helps you develop the right muscle memory. It also lets the sacred life force flow in your body without any hassle.
Also Read : Deep Yoga Stretch
How Many Yoga Blocks Should I Have?
Yoga experts recommend that you have at least 2 blocks. These help you work both sides of the body with ease. There are many yoga asanas that require the use of two yoga blocks to work on multiple areas in your body.
Now, one yoga block can be useful when:
- Looking for support during Triangle/Extended Side Angle/ Half Moon pose
- Get support when doing Hero/Fish/Pigeon pose
- For balance and alignment in Crow and Boat pose
You can use two yoga blocks for:
Length support for two sided yoga asanas like Full Split, Downward Facing Dog, and Camel pose
- Strength building exercises like Chaturanga pose
- Comfort support for both sides in Reclined Bound Angle pose
- Extra support for restorative yoga poses like Bridge and Fish chest openers
- If you are too tight on one side
The Yoga certification can help you understand how yoga blocks can make practicing yoga easy.
Now it is time we check out the five reasons you should use a yoga block for.
4 Reasons to Use Yoga Blocks
Many yoga practitioners undermine the important role yoga blocks play in improving daily yoga practice.
To help you not make the same mistake, yoga experts have come up with 4 reasons you should use yoga blocks.
1. Release Tight Hips in Seated Postures
If you practice seated yoga poses and your knees are above the hip line, it is time to use a block. Sitting on a yoga block in the following yoga asanas provides space for your hips to be comfortable.
- Lotus Pose
- Half Lotus Pose
- Hero Pose
- Easy Pose
2. Maintain Alignment of Your Arms & Shoulders
You can use yoga blocks in any position where your arms are shoulders-width apart. You can place one block between the palms with them pressing into the smallest side of the block. This engages the tricep and bicep muscles without tensing the shoulders. Yoga experts recommend that you try this with:
- Warrior I Pose
- Chair Pose
- Side Angle Pose
- Tree Pose
Do not let your palms press into the block. This causes your shoulder blades to rise to your ears. Imagine your shoulder blades gliding your back to make it long. The block helps activate the arms. Join the yoga teacher certification to understand how to use yoga blocks for maximum comfort.
3. Relaxing Into Poses
In the Restorative yoga, blocks are the king and queen. These help your body relax and get into the yoga asana. You can use these in the following yoga asanas:
- Supported Fish pose
- Supported Bridge pose
- Supported Bound Angle pose
- Neck Release
4. Help Move Into Advanced Yoga Poses
You don’s start to run, you start from crawling, then walk, and then learn to run. Yoga blocks offer you the in-between of yoga asanas. These help your body transition from crawling in a yoga asana to a smooth walk. Apart from this, these also provide you:
- Jump-through support
- Dolphin support for proper shoulder alignment and shoulder girdle engagement
- Forearm Stand support for proper shoulder alignment and shoulder girdle engagement
- Support entering Grasshopper pose
- Support for entering Full Split pose
- Support for working into Sleeping Tortoise
Yoga blocks are not just accessories made to be ignored during a yoga practice. These provide your body the necessary support during every yoga session. You can join a certified yoga school to learn about other yoga accessories you can use during practice.
Conclusion
Do you want to move ahead in yoga practice? It is time you enroll in Yoga Alliance certification to learn how yoga blocks can help you with yoga practice.