Yoga Props: Yoga Block Edition

I used to struggle with using props. It was so important to me to be able to "do" yoga that I resisted any help what-so-ever, including those little foam or cork blocks.

In reality, props actually support our practice more than I ever would have given them credit for doing. They help us fos on where we intend to grow and allow us to get the most out of each pose. This of course, helps us tune into our bodies even more.

In a lot of poses, there's a point where we start to strain. For example, in this half split without blocks, I'm rounding through my back which means my hip flexors are more slack.

Now add blocks under my hands and bring the ground up higher. I can actually lengthen my spine and engage the hip flexors. It also deepens the stretch in the back of my hamstrings and calves.

When I first started practicing yoga, I didn't realize that straining was our body's way of saying "no" and asking for help. It's important to listen and to support.

Try it yourself!! Grab some blocks and bring the ground up higher in a lunge, pigeon pose, forward fold or half split. Use it to sit on in sukasana or easy pose and see how the hip flexors have a little more grace to them. You'll love it! And you'll get the most out of your practice (more growth and transformation! You're welcome!)

Janice is a Yoga Instructor and Registered Respiratory Therapist with a background in kinesiology. She is the founder of Flow and Go Yoga - an online platform that provides yoga for everybody in a way that suits your lifestyle.

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