Often a yoga pose that seems unattainable can be performed with a bit of help from a yoga block. A yoga block can help you to access new poses and modify positions to make them more or less challenging. Yoga blocks are made of materials such as bamboo, wood, cork and foam. Not all yoga practitioners use yoga blocks and some yoga styles such as Iyengar and restorative yoga use props more frequently than other styles.
Hero Pose
Hero pose stretches the ankles, knees and hips. To practice hero pose, sit back on your heels on the floor. Let the tops of your feet touch the ground with the toes pointing behind you. Lengthen through the spine and place the hands lightly in your lap. You can use a yoga block to modify the pose if you feel pressure on the ankles or knees. Place a block under the buttocks and sit back on the block instead of your heels.
Extended Triangle Pose
Triangle pose stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, neck and trunk. To practice triangle pose, start in a standing position at the top of the mat. Step back with your right foot 3 to 4 feet. Turn the right toes out to a 45-degree angle. Rotate your torso to the right and extend both arms out. Your left arm should be in front of the body and your right arm behind the body. Shift your torso forward and down as the left arm drops to the shin or the floor. Your right arm reaches toward the sky in line with the shoulders. To use a block to modify the pose, place a block on the inside of your left foot and place your left hand on the block for support.
Standing Forward Bend
A block can help support you in a standing forward bend, especially if you find it difficult to touch your toes or the floor. Begin standing at the top of your mat with your spine lengthened and your weight evenly distributed between all four corners of both feet. Bend at the waist and pitch your chest forward and down. Let your head and neck relax toward the floor. Place the block in front of your feet and use it as a support for your hands. You can adjust the block to three different heights; use the height that is the most appropriate for your flexibility.
Downward-Facing Dog
Use a yoga block to turn downward-facing dog into a restorative, stress-reducing pose. Placing your head on a block while in the pose helps to alleviate tension in the head and relieves headaches. To move into downward-facing dog, begin on all fours. Tuck your toes under and press your hips up and back. Spread your fingers and press yourpalms into the floor to create space in the chest and upper back. Place a block directly under your skull so that your forehead touches the block. You may need to use two stacked blocks if your hamstring and back muscles are tight.
Member Comments