If you are looking to deepen your yoga practice but are finding some postures difficult you may benefit from using a yoga block. A yoga block can help you get into postures that are a bit too advanced for your level of experience. They can also help you improve on your level of flexibility, so you can go deeper into poses. As beneficial as yoga is, you can easily injure you back, knees shoulder and other areas if you do not practice properly. This is where props such as yoga blocks can help. They allow you to go into a posture with support so you can deepen your practice without injury.
Modifying Postures with Blocks
Step 1
Modify your triangle pose by placing a block on the floor. Triangle pose is one of the more common poses where a block is helpful. Triangle pose involves straightening the arm and bringing the hand to the ankle or the floor. However, if your hips are tight you may tip or twist forward and pull yourself out of alignment. Instead place the block behind your foot and put your hand on the block. Now you can get a great stretch while staying aligned.
Step 2
Balance on the block. Balancing half moon is a challenging posture. It is difficult to get your hand to the floor while opening the front of the body. Placing a block on the floor can really help. You can either put the block on the floor, put your hand on it and then lift your leg up. You can also hold on to the block and as you tip to the side place the block on the floor.
Step 3
Use the block to modify standing forward bend. Standing forward bend is a great stretch for the lower back and the hamstrings. The goal is to allow yourself to fully relax, which can be challenging if your muscles are tight. Place two blocks on the floor. Come into forward bend (as shown here) and rest your palms on top of the blocks instead of the floor. Then you can work on lengthening through the back of the legs while maintaining a straight spine.
Step 4
Allow your hips to open more when doing pigeon pose. Pigeon pose helps to stretch and open the gluteus muscle and the hips. The goal is to sit on the floor on one side (the same side as leg that is forward). This can often be very difficult to do. To keep yourself in better alignment, come into pigeon pose and then slide the block underneath you on one side. From here walk yourself forward and bring your chest towards your thigh while keeping the spine straight.
Step 5
Support yourself in bridge pose. A yoga block can also be helpful in bridge pose. It can be used two ways. Many times when in bridge pose, students tend to let their knees fall in or out instead of pointing straight up. To help, place a block in between your knees and squeeze it while in bridge. You can also come up into bridge and place the block under your buttocks to help you come up higher into the pose.
Tips and Warnings
- Check with a qualified instructor to make sure you are using the block correctly.
- Do not stretch to the point of pain, and never bounce while in a stretch.
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