If you are someone who has been practicing yoga for quite some time, but you still have not made yoga blocks your best friends yet then we must ask: what are you waiting for? We want to reassure you that now is that time.
It is completely understandable if you do not yet feel completely comfortable with using yoga blocks, or if you do not feel entirely confident with using yoga blocks. This is what we are here for.
Not everyone knows how to use yoga blocks, it might feel as though everyone and their mom can use yoga blocks – but that is not the case. Lots of people fall into the trap of feeling inferior if they use props as a way of assisting different yoga poses. This is not true.
Incorporating props such as yoga blocks into your yoga routine can make yoga poses a lot more accessible, and if you are a more advanced yoga practitioner then using yoga blocks can really help you to deepen yoga poses.
Here, we will talk you through some of the different yoga poses that you can do while using your yoga blocks.
Things To Remember When Using Yoga Blocks
You need to ensure that when you are using yoga blocks to help you with your yoga poses, that you use blocks that are an appropriate height.
You can purchase yoga blocks that are all relatively the same in terms of sizing, and to begin your yoga block journey we would recommend purchasing a standard size and then modifying the positioning of the block during each yoga pose where you feel you need to.
It is important to remember that there is a small, a medium, and a large edge of the block, so to help you navigate a range of yoga poses. You must be sure that your yoga blocks are always stable when you are practicing different yoga poses.
You also need to select the right kind of yoga block for you. This is all to do with the kinds of yoga positions that you are planning on doing. For example, the yoga poses that are much more weight-bearing will be better suited to stable cork blocks, but these blocks should not be used on joints.
If you are looking to practice more joint-orientated poses then foam blocks will be much more comfortable for your joints. These kinds of blocks are less stable, so it is a good idea to have both of these kinds of yoga blocks available to use.
Let’s get into the different yoga poses that you can try with yoga blocks.
Balasana – Child’s Pose
This yoga pose is best recognized for being a very restorative posture, and this is known to be very restful. Lots of people can find this pose hard to do because of the weight and also the positioning of your head.
This pose can transition very quickly from being relaxing to uncomfortable for a lot of people, and this defeats the point of doing yoga in the first place.
So, to use a yoga block in the balasana pose you should place the yoga block under your forehead, or you should place the yoga block at your third eye center (this is the space between your eyebrows) and you can use the yoga block to massage your brow bone.
You can also consider placing another yoga block under your tailbone for additional support. Additionally, to deepen this yoga pose you can place your forearms or your elbows onto two yoga blocks to help you attain that thorough arm and chest stretch.
Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Facing Dog
This yoga pose has a whole host of benefits, but that is not to say that this pose is super easy. In fact, this yoga pose can be especially difficult due to the amount of upper body strength that it requires. This yoga pose can also be difficult to do due to the requirement to hang your head below your heart.
To use the yoga blocks in the downward facing dog pose to make it much more accessible, you should consider using the blocks right underneath your palms so that you can shift your weight right back, towards your heels. This will also help you to alleviate pressure in your wrists.
In order to deepen this yoga pose you can consider placing the yoga blocks right under your feet. Alternatively you can even place the yoga blocks against a wall and you can then place your feet on them.
Uttanasana – The Standing Forward Fold
The standing forward fold yoga position really stretches the whole back side of the legs and it can also be calming to the heart and to the mind. This yoga pose can end up being quite challenging to do, and this is where using yoga blocks can really help you.
To give this yoga pose much more accessibility, you can place your fingertips without a lot of weight in your hands on any appropriate height of the block. While you are doing this, you can bend your knees as much as you want to, to a point which is totally comfortable for you.
You can deepen this posture by placing one foot on each yoga block. If your foot seems to be slightly too big for one yoga block then you might have to turn the block diagonally. Alternatively, you can actually align two blocks just so you have more length to work with.
You Should Try Yoga Blocks Within Your Daily Yoga Routine
It is clear that there are so many ways that you can incorporate the use of yoga blocks into your daily yoga routine. You can experiment beyond the poses we have outlined and you can ultimately work out when the prime time to use yoga blocks in your routine is.
You can include yoga blocks in your yoga routine whether you are a beginner at yoga and you are looking for ways to make yoga poses much more accessible, or you can use yoga blocks if you are experienced at yoga and you want to deepen your favorite yoga poses. There are no barriers when it comes to the incorporation of yoga blocks within your daily yoga routine.
Regardless of how much experience you have with yoga, or what variation of yoga you practice then you can find a lot of different ways to include yoga blocks into your practice.
I created this website to help newcomers to yoga and enthusiasts alike, and to share our common passions for yoga.
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