Using Blocks

This is a subject that is very personal to me. I was always one who thought that I didn’t need blocks. I would push myself too much to reach places where my body wasn’t ready for. Blocks have taught me to open my body safely so I can breathe into the space. That’s when the magic begins…

Let’s explore how blocks create space a little deeper. One of the biggest entry points into yoga is to create flexibility. By using yoga blocks correctly, they help us create space so we can open and move our body correctly. An example would be a seated forward fold. In this position we often try to touch our toes but tightness in the hips & pelvis can prevent us from folding our body at the waist enough to reach our toes. By sitting on a block, we effectively raise our seat. The elevation creates more opening in the hip area so we can fold more and stretch our chest and arms forward to reach our toes.

Next up, blocks can help create the right alignment. Take Extended Side Angle for example. This asana requires us to rotate our hips and open our chest, so we can create space and breathe into the space. But reaching the floor isn’t always so easy and it can mean we strain our upper body in an effort to reach the floor. This strain causes compression in our body and when we breathe, the breath is now able to flow freely. By raising the ground and touching our finger tips on the tip of a block, we have the correct anatomical alignment to rotate our hips and open our chest. Now when we breathe, the breath will flow with freedom, reaching into all the space we have created.

And finally in relaxation. Yin yoga where we want to hold the asana for longer to improve flexibility or engage in deep relaxation. Here blocks can help support our body so we hold the pose and concentrate on softening our body and feeling the benefits.