How to Choose the Best Yoga Block for You

Yoga blocks aren’t anything new to most avid yoga practitioners. In fact, yoga blocks and other props became popular back in the 1960s. Yoga blocks are basically pieces of sturdy foam or core that are used as a tool to dive deeper into the practices of yoga.

What Are Yoga Blocks?  

                                                                     
Yoga blocks come in a variety of shapes, sizes and even different materials so that you can really get the most out of your yoga sessions. Yoga blocks are great for beginners because they can help you to balance and stabilize yourself as you begin to build up the ability to perform the poses on your own.

Yoga blocks are also great for the more advanced practitioners because they can help you to push your body further into new and more challenging positions. Using yoga blocks can allow you to take your yoga sessions to the next level.

How Do You Use Yoga Blocks?

There is nearly an endless supply of possibilities for ways to use your yoga block or blocks. If you are just getting started with yoga, you may want to consider using them for stability. If you are learning a new pose and need extra stability to help you hold the pose longer or even better the blocks can help.

Since yoga blocks are built to be strong, they can be used to support your weight when you are executing a sitting or standing pose. They can also be used to support your head and neck when you are doing a laying down pose to help to prevent strain and injury to your neck and spine.

Not only can they be used for stability or support but they can also be used to help you with your balance. This is especially great for learning new poses when you are still trying to figure out the technique required to properly perform the pose.

Whether you are sitting, standing, or even squatting, you can have the yoga block to hold onto and provide you with a little more balance.

Increasing your flexibility is another great use for yoga blocks. You can use the block to help you twist and pull your body into the poses that require a larger amount of flexibility.

You can put them under your legs and back to help to stretch your muscles a little further. Over time, your flexibility can improve so that eventually, you won’t need the assistance of the yoga block.

Finally, yoga blocks give you more time. They can’t actually add seconds or minutes to the clock but they can increase the amount of time that you can comfortably perform various poses. Making the poses slightly more comfortable allows you to perform them for longer periods of time.

In performing the pose longer, you get a longer and deeper stretch, which helps to improve your flexibility. Longer time on each pose can also make your yoga sessions more relaxing and enjoyable.

You can use your yoga block however you see fit. Whether you are a beginner who struggles with balance or you are advanced and you just want to dig deeper into your yoga practice, there is a yoga block that can be useful for you.

If you are looking for some ways in which to use your yoga block, consider trying it with mountain pose, downward facing down or even inversions like peacock pose or scorpion pose. You won’t know how a yoga block could change your yoga sessions until you give one a try!

Features of Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks are generally pretty simple in design. They are typically a relatively small object cut into a standard shape and made out of a sturdy but usually lightweight material. But even in their simplicity, not all yoga blocks are created equal and there are a variety of features that you can choose from.

Size

Yoga blocks usually come in two sizes, small and large. Each size has its own dimensions. Smaller blocks are typically around 3 in. long, 6 in. wide and 9 in. high. Larger blocks basically add an extra inch in length, making them 4 in. long, 6 in. wide and 9 in. high.

If your flexibility is more limited or you are taller, then you might want to consider the larger block as that extra inch can give you a little more support, especially when used with standing poses. Decide which size is right for your yoga needs or try both and see for yourself.

Shape

As the name implies, typically a yoga block is shaped like a block, a rectangular block most of the time. But there are similar products on the market that are used like yoga blocks such as a yoga brick which still has the same block shape with holes in the middle.

There is the yoga egg, which has rounded edges that make it look similar to an egg, as well as yoga wedges, and even yoga arches to provide back support. Though the rectangular yoga block is standard, it is important to know that there are other options out there as well.

Material

Yoga blocks are made of three standard materials, wood, cork, and foam.

Wood –  Is the least common of the three materials because it tends to be the most expensive and slightly heavier so it isn’t as easy to carry with you to classes at the yoga studio. But it is the most environmentally friendly option as well as the sturdiest.

If you are buying for your home or your personal studio and wood yoga blocks fit into your budget, the extra sturdiness could definitely be worth the few extra bucks.

Cork – If you are still looking to be friendly to the earth, you should consider a cork yoga block. Yoga blocks made from dense cork aren’t as sturdy as wood but still provide good stability with a much cheaper price tag than that attached to the wood yoga blocks.

Foam – Yoga blocks are the budget friendly yoga block. If you just can’t squeeze enough out of your budget to afford cork or wood, foam yoga blocks are still a great option.

They are super lightweight, making them very easy to just toss into your yoga bag and carry to the studio, the park, the beach or wherever you go for a fun and relaxing yoga session.

Conclusion

There are a lot of great yoga blocks on the market with colors, sizes, shapes, and prices for everyone on whatever your budget may be. Deciding what you are looking for, how much you are willing to pay and then beginning to shop around is a good idea.

If you are new to yoga or new to using yoga blocks, you may want to start with a cheaper foam options and if it is something that you fall in love with, then you can work your way up to higher quality and more expensive yoga blocks. B

ut as you have seen in this guide, you don’t have to pay a lot of money for a good yoga block.

Finding a good product, a brand that you can trust like those featured here and giving the products a try is the best way to find what you are looking for.

Many of these Yoga blocks include money back guarantees so if you aren’t completely happy, you can simply send it back for a full refund.

Whichever yoga block you decide on, you won’t regret venturing deeper into the world of yoga which leads to more flexibility and a better and healthier you! Happy shopping!

I hope this guide was helpful for finding the best Yoga block to fit your needs. If you want to comment or recommend a block I didn’t include, please use my contact form to get in touch.

Have fun and enjoy your workout!