You won’t forget to place your yoga blocks in your yoga bag once you’ve discovered their many benefits to your practice. Yoga blocks have plenty of uses, but before we detail what they can do for you, plus the many types that are on the market, let’s review a bit about Yoga, itself.
Yoga Mind/Body Benefits
Consistent yoga practice will stimulate your mind as it enlivens your body! As you clear your mind to give your complete attention to each pose, you awaken your “inner body” awareness of the present moment. Your “outer body” profits as each pose nourishes, energizes, and revitalizes every cell, fiber, and tissue through enhanced breathing, flexibility, strength and alignment. The goal of yoga practice is to create a union between the body, mind and spirit.
You’ll need time and commitment, as well as a whole lot of patience, to master a yoga pose. No one is a master the first time they try to do anything. But, slowly over time, as you practice and try to perform each pose correctly, without pushing yourself too far physically or beating yourself up mentally, you will notice that you are developing flexibility, strength, and energy physically and feeling more peaceful and clear mentally.
Try to create a fresh, serene space for your yoga practice, with a bare floor, if possible, and a clear wall. Remove any distractions from your yoga environment. Ideally, you should not eat for at least 2 hours before practicing. If you find you need to eat, then try to eat something light, such as a piece of fruit, but no more than 1 hour before you start your yoga practice.
Remember to be mindful of how your body feels, and stop or pause if you experience any pain or discomfort while attempting a pose. Then try again.
Yoga props and accessories, such as yoga mats, yoga bolsters, yoga straps, yoga blocks, yoga mat bags, and even a yoga towel are perfect for assisting you in moving deeper into a pose, in performing a flawless pose, and in practicing in a wholesome way.
Yoga Prop Benefits:
- Pain relief and body comfort
- Structural strength to avoid injury
- Stress relief and relaxation
- Encourage appropriate alignment
- Ease and flexibility of movement
- Create space in the joints
- Develop awareness and understanding
Yoga Blocks
Unfortunately, sometimes before a beginner can start to experience the benefits to mind and body that yoga supplies, discomfort in attempting to do some of the yoga poses will provoke them to turn away from a life enriching yoga practice. Yoga blocks can aid anyone, but expressly those just starting out, to feel more relaxed during yoga practice because yoga blocks assist to improve alignment. For instance, when a standing pose includes one hand being on the floor, flexibility issues show up. For something just starting out, the floor can look a long way down. A yoga block can fill in the difference. Think of a yoga block as elongating your arm. While a beginner is in the process of developing flexibility, he or she will still be able to do the standing poses correctly by placing a hand on a block that’s been placed appropriately on the floor. A yoga block is a wonderful transitional aid. In addition, several sitting poses make use of a yoga block. Yoga blocks assist with balance, poise, and stability. Who could ask for more from something so “square.”
Yoga blocks come in a variety of materials. For instance: Foam blocks are durable and lightweight, an effortless add to your yoga mat bag! Wooden blocks are also not heavy and hollow, yet essentially indestructible (even Fido would find one hard to destroy!). And, then there is the ever-so-green cork block. An added bonus is that the natural makeup of the cork gives a bit extra traction.
Yoga blocks are generally sold singly but, for utility, you’ll probably want to buy several.
