You might wonder, “How many yoga blocks do I need?” Most people find that two yoga blocks are best. With two blocks, you can do many things. You can use one block. You can use two blocks side-by-side. You can use them stacked. Having two blocks gives you more choices in your yoga practice. One block is okay for some things, but two blocks unlock many more uses of yoga blocks. Sometimes, you might not need any blocks. It just depends on the pose and what your body needs that day.
Image Source: yogarove.com
Finding out About Yoga Blocks
Yoga blocks are simple tools. They are like sturdy bricks. People use them in yoga class. They help you do poses better. They make yoga easier for your body. They add support. They help you keep your balance. They help you stretch further. Yoga blocks are great for everyone. They are super helpful yoga blocks for beginners. They can also help people who have done yoga for a long time.
Knowing the Help Yoga Blocks Give
Yoga blocks offer many good things. These are the yoga block benefits. They can make yoga feel safer. They help you reach the ground when your hands don’t quite get there. They can support your back in sitting poses. They can help you feel more stable when standing.
Here are some main benefits:
- Making Poses Easier: Blocks help you do poses that feel too hard.
- Adding Support: They hold you up in different ways.
- Better Balance: They give you a steady point to lean on or reach for.
- Going Deeper in Stretches: They help you stretch muscles that feel tight.
- Staying Safe: They help you keep good form in poses. This stops you from getting hurt.
- Personalizing Your Practice: You can use blocks to fit the pose to your body.
Yoga blocks let you work with your body. They don’t make you force your body into a shape. They help you find a shape that feels good for you.
How to Use Yoga Blocks
Learning how to use yoga blocks is easy. You can put them under your hands. You can put them under your feet. You can put them under your hips. You can put them under your back. Blocks have different heights. Most blocks have three heights you can use.
Look at a block. It has a short side. It has a medium side. It has a long side. You can put the block down on any of these sides. This gives you three different heights from one block.
- Lowest Height: Put the block on its widest, flattest side.
- Medium Height: Put the block on its second widest side.
- Highest Height: Put the block on its tallest, narrowest side.
Choosing the height is important. Pick the height that helps your body best in the pose. Sometimes, a low block is perfect. Sometimes, you need the block on its tallest side. Don’t be afraid to change the height during a pose if you need to.
Seeing What Yoga Blocks Do
There are many uses of yoga blocks. They are super helpful in all kinds of poses. Let’s look at some common ways you can use them.
For Reaching the Floor
Many standing poses ask you to touch your hands to the floor. If your legs are tight, this can be hard. Your back might round a lot. You might strain yourself. This is when to use yoga blocks.
- Example: In a Forward Fold (Uttanasana). Stand up tall. Bend forward. If your hands don’t touch the floor easily, place blocks under your hands. Put them on a height that lets your hands rest on them. Keep your legs mostly straight. Keep your back long. The blocks bring the floor up to you. This feels much better.
- Example: In Triangle Pose (Trikonasana). Stand with legs wide. Reach one hand down towards your front foot. The other hand reaches up. Many people round their back to touch the floor. Don’t do that! Put a block outside your front foot. Place your hand on the block. Use the block on a height that lets your front leg stay straight and your chest stay open.
For Sitting Up Tall
Some sitting poses are hard if your hips are tight. Your back might slump. This is not good for your spine. Blocks can help you sit up straight.
- Example: Simple Cross-Legged Pose (Sukhasana). Sit on the floor with legs crossed. If your knees are higher than your hips, your back might round. Sit on a block. Place the block under your sitting bones. This lifts your hips higher than your knees. It makes it much easier to sit with a straight back. You can use one block on a low or medium height. Or, if you are very tight, you might need two blocks stacked for extra height.
For Adding Support
Blocks can hold you up in poses where you need a little help.
- Example: Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana). Lie on your back. Bend your knees. Put your feet on the floor. Lift your hips. Slide a block under your lower back (your sacrum, the flat part above your tailbone). Rest your weight on the block. This is a gentle backbend. The block supports you. You can use the block on different heights depending on how it feels. This is a great relaxing pose with block support.
- Example: Supported Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana). Sit with legs straight out. Reach for your feet. If your back rounds a lot, or you can’t reach your feet, place a block (or two) on your legs. Rest your forehead on the blocks. This helps your body relax into the stretch. It supports your head and neck.
For Helping With Balance
Blocks can give you a steady point when you are balancing on one leg.
- Example: Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana). Stand on one leg. Reach one hand to the floor in front of you. The other arm reaches up. This pose needs balance. Place a block under your bottom hand. This gives you a solid base to balance on. It’s much easier than trying to touch the wobbly floor!
For Making Rest Poses Better
Blocks can make relaxing poses more comfortable.
- Example: Supported Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana). Lie on your back. Bring the soles of your feet together. Let your knees fall open to the sides. If this feels like too much stretch on your inner thighs or hips, place a block under each knee or outer thigh. The blocks support your legs. Your muscles can relax more fully. You can stay in the pose longer.
Yoga Poses Using Blocks
Let’s look at more specific yoga poses using blocks. Blocks can change how a pose feels. They can make it easier. They can make it deeper.
Here is a simple table showing some common poses and how blocks help:
| Yoga Pose | Where to Use Blocks | How Blocks Help | How Many Blocks? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward Fold | Under hands | Bring floor closer, keep back long, ease hamstring stretch. | 2 |
| Triangle Pose | Under bottom hand (outside front foot) | Keep chest open, front leg straight, avoid rounding back. | 1 or 2 |
| Seated Poses | Under sitting bones | Lift hips, straighten spine, ease hip/knee tightness. | 1 (sometimes 2) |
| Bridge Pose | Under lower back (sacrum) | Support backbend, relax spine, gentle stretch. | 1 |
| Reclining Bound Angle | Under knees/outer thighs | Support legs, relax hips and inner thighs. | 2 |
| Half Moon Pose | Under bottom hand (in front of standing foot) | Aid balance, bring floor closer, help open chest. | 1 or 2 |
| Seated Forward Fold | On legs, under forehead | Support head/neck, help body relax into stretch. | 1 or 2 |
| Standing Forward Bend | Between thighs | Engage leg muscles, help align hips. | 1 |
| Pigeon Pose | Under hip of bent leg | Support hips, make pose less intense if hips are tight. | 1 (sometimes 2) |
| Fish Pose | Under upper back and head | Support backbend, open chest, gentle neck stretch. | 2 (one for back, one for head) |
These are just a few examples. You can get creative! Think about where you feel strain or where you can’t quite reach. A block can likely help there.
Yoga Blocks for Beginners
Yoga blocks are often seen as important yoga blocks for beginners. Why? Because beginner bodies are often not very flexible. Muscles might be tight. It can be hard to do poses that need big movements or deep stretches. Blocks make these poses possible and safe.
Imagine trying your first Forward Fold. Your hands might hang far above the floor. You might feel a big pull in your hamstrings (back of your legs). You might round your back a lot, which is not good.
With blocks, you put them on the floor. You put your hands on them. Now your hands are supported. Maybe you still feel a stretch, but it’s not too much. Your back can stay longer. You learn the pose with good form from the start.
Blocks build confidence. When a pose feels too hard, you might feel discouraged. When you use a block and can do the pose, you feel good! You feel strong. You feel like you can do yoga.
Blocks also help beginners learn about alignment. Alignment is how you hold your body in a pose. It’s about stacking bones and using muscles correctly. When a block supports you, you can focus on alignment instead of just trying to reach or balance. For example, in Triangle Pose with a block, you can think about opening your chest instead of just trying to touch your foot.
Types of Yoga Blocks
Not all yoga blocks are the same. They come in different materials and sizes. Knowing the types of yoga blocks can help you choose.
The most common materials are:
- Foam:
- Feel: Soft, squishy.
- Weight: Very light.
- Grip: Can be a little slippery if hands are sweaty.
- Firmness: Less firm than cork or wood. They compress (squish) a bit under weight.
- Cost: Usually the cheapest.
- Good for: Beginners, poses needing gentle support (like under the back), when you want something light to carry.
- Cork:
- Feel: Firm, natural texture.
- Weight: Heavier than foam.
- Grip: Good grip, even if hands are a little damp.
- Firmness: Very firm. They don’t compress much.
- Cost: More than foam, less than wood.
- Good for: Needing solid support (like under hands in standing poses), balancing poses, poses where you put a lot of weight on the block. Many people like cork because it feels more solid and is natural.
- Wood:
- Feel: Hard, smooth.
- Weight: Heaviest.
- Grip: Can be slippery.
- Firmness: Hardest. No compression.
- Cost: Usually the most expensive.
- Good for: Needing maximum support, certain types of restorative yoga. Not as common for general vinyasa or hatha yoga. Can feel too hard for some people.
Size:
Most blocks are about 9 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 4 inches thick. This standard size works for most people and poses. Some blocks might be slightly smaller or larger. The standard size is good because it gives you the three usable heights (9 inches, 6 inches, 4 inches).
When choosing, think about:
- What will you use them for? Gentle support (foam) or firm support (cork)?
- Do you need to carry them? Foam is lightest.
- What feels best? Some people prefer the feel of natural cork.
- How much do you want to spend?
Foam blocks are a great starting point for most people, especially yoga blocks for beginners.
When to Use Yoga Blocks
Knowing when to use yoga blocks is a skill you learn. You use them any time a pose feels difficult, strained, or you can’t get good alignment. Don’t think of using blocks as “cheating” or being “not good enough”. Using blocks means you are being smart! You are working with your body.
Use blocks when:
- You can’t reach the floor comfortably in standing poses.
- Your back rounds in seated poses.
- You feel unstable in balancing poses.
- You want to relax more deeply in restorative poses.
- You feel a pose is too intense and needs less stretch or pressure.
- You want to explore a deeper version of a pose safely (sometimes blocks help with this too!).
Listen to your body. If a pose feels wrong or painful, see if a block can help. Ask a yoga teacher if you are unsure. They can show you when to use yoga blocks in specific poses for your body.
Is One Yoga Block Enough?
Sometimes, yes, one yoga block is enough. You can do many things with just one block.
With one block, you can:
- Sit on it to raise your hips.
- Put it under one hand in a standing pose.
- Slide it under your lower back in Bridge Pose.
- Rest your head on it in certain poses.
However, having just one block limits you. Many poses use blocks on both sides of the body, or need two blocks to be stacked.
Things you can’t do easily with only one block:
- Support both hands in a wide-stance Forward Fold.
- Support both knees in Reclining Bound Angle Pose.
- Support both hips in poses like Pigeon (if you need support on both sides).
- Use blocks to ‘frame’ your feet or hands for certain transitions.
- Stack two blocks high for seated poses if you have very tight hips.
- Use one block for your upper back and one for your head in Fish Pose.
So, while you can start with one block and see how it feels, you will likely find that using two yoga blocks gives you much more flexibility and support in your practice. It is often recommended to get two blocks right away.
Using Two Yoga Blocks
Using two yoga blocks opens up many more possibilities. It lets you use symmetry in poses. It lets you use blocks in different ways at the same time.
Reasons for using two yoga blocks:
- Symmetry: Many poses are done the same way on the left and right sides (like Forward Fold, Triangle Pose). With two blocks, you can put a block under each hand. This helps your body stay balanced as you stretch.
- Height: You can stack two blocks. This is useful if you need extra height to sit on, or to bring the floor even closer in poses like Forward Fold. Stacking foam blocks is common. Stack cork blocks carefully to make sure they are stable.
- Support on Both Sides: In poses like Reclining Bound Angle, you can put a block under each knee. This gives balanced support and helps both hips relax evenly. In Pigeon pose, you might need a block under one hip, but sometimes two blocks are needed side-by-side or stacked under the hip depending on how much lift you need.
- More Creative Uses: You can use one block for support and another for a different purpose in the same pose. For example, one block under your hand in Half Moon, and another block nearby if you need to switch sides quickly.
Most experienced yoga teachers recommend having two blocks. They are used so often together that it makes sense to have a pair. If you are serious about using blocks to support your practice, two blocks are the way to go.
Figuring out If You Need Blocks
How do you know if you need a block for a certain pose? Here are some signs:
- You feel strain or pain: If a pose hurts or feels like too much pulling, a block can help ease the intensity.
- Your back rounds: Especially in seated or forward folding poses. Blocks help you lengthen your spine.
- You can’t reach: If your hands don’t touch the floor or your feet easily when needed.
- You are losing balance: A block can give you a stable point to anchor yourself.
- You are collapsing: If a part of your body (like your chest or hips) is sinking or collapsing in a pose, a block can offer support to lift and open.
- You feel unstable: Blocks add firmness and steadiness.
If you are new to yoga, try using blocks in common poses like Forward Fold, Triangle, and seated poses. See how they feel. They will likely make the poses feel better and safer. Don’t wait until you are struggling; use them as a helpful tool from the start.
Yoga Block Alternatives
What if you don’t have yoga blocks yet? Are there yoga block alternatives? Yes, you can use other things around your house in a pinch. However, be careful! Make sure your alternatives are safe and stable.
Possible yoga block alternatives:
- Thick Books: Stack a few large, hardcover books. Make sure they are stable and won’t slide. Books can work under hands or to sit on. They are usually hard.
- Firm Cushions or Bolsters: A very firm cushion or a yoga bolster can work to sit on. A firm cushion might offer some support under a hand, but they are usually not as stable as blocks.
- Small Stool or Ottoman: A low, sturdy stool can sometimes work to put your hands on. Be very careful it won’t tip over.
Why alternatives are not as good as real blocks:
- Stability: Blocks are made to be firm and not move. Books can slide. Cushions squish. Stools can tip.
- Shape and Size: Blocks have specific dimensions (9x6x4 inches) that work well for hands, hips, etc. They also have three distinct heights. Alternatives usually only offer one height or are the wrong shape.
- Durability: Blocks are built to last and hold weight. Books can damage spines. Cushions can flatten.
- Grip: Yoga blocks, especially cork, offer good grip. Alternatives can be slippery.
Using yoga block alternatives is okay if you are just trying things out or are traveling. But for a regular practice, getting real yoga blocks is recommended for safety and effectiveness. Two blocks are best if you plan to practice often.
Making Your Choice
So, how many yoga blocks do you really need?
- Start with Zero: You can definitely do yoga without any props! Many poses don’t need blocks.
- Try One Block: If you are unsure or have a very tight budget, start with one block. See how you use it. You will likely find it helps, especially for sitting or supporting one side.
- Get Two Blocks: This is the most common recommendation. Two blocks let you do the widest range of poses with support. They help with symmetry. They let you stack for extra height. If you are buying blocks, getting two is the smart choice for most people. It gives you options.
- More Than Two: Some specific types of yoga (like Restorative) might use more than two blocks, maybe even four or more, to fully support the body in various shapes. But for general yoga, two is plenty.
For yoga blocks for beginners, having two blocks from the start is very helpful. It allows you to properly modify many foundational poses.
Think about your own body. Are you new to yoga? Do you feel tight in your hips or hamstrings? Do you struggle with balance? If yes, blocks will be very useful. Two blocks will give you the most help.
Consider the types of yoga you do. If you do gentle yoga or restorative yoga, blocks are used a lot for support and comfort. If you do very active, flowing yoga, you might use them less often, but they are still great tools for certain poses or times when your body feels tired or tight.
Ultimately, the “right” answer depends on you. But the common answer, the one that helps most people do the most things safely and comfortably, is two yoga blocks.
Grasping the Value of Props
Yoga props, like blocks, are not there to make yoga easier because you are not strong or flexible enough. They are there to make yoga more accessible and more effective. They help you find the intended shape and feeling of a pose, even if your body isn’t ready for the full pose without support.
Using blocks can help you:
- Learn poses correctly: Building good habits from the start.
- Stay longer in poses: Allowing your body to relax and stretch.
- Explore new poses: Trying things that felt impossible before.
- Practice safely: Reducing the risk of strain or injury.
Don’t shy away from blocks. Embrace them! They are wonderful tools. Think of them as friendly helpers on your yoga path.
Summing Up
We looked at what yoga blocks are, how they help (yoga block benefits), and many uses of yoga blocks. We saw examples of yoga poses using blocks. We talked about why they are great yoga blocks for beginners. We looked at the different types of yoga blocks. We discussed when to use yoga blocks. We asked is one yoga block enough and saw why using two yoga blocks is usually better. We also mentioned yoga block alternatives, but noted their limits.
The key takeaway? For most people, two yoga blocks are the ideal number. They offer the most support and versatility for a wide range of poses and needs. If you are just starting out or want to make your existing practice feel better and safer, investing in a pair of blocks is a great idea.
Now you can find the right answer for you about how many yoga blocks you need!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some common questions people ask about yoga blocks.
h4 How do I choose the right size block?
Most blocks are a standard size (around 9x6x4 inches). This size works well for most people. If you have very large hands or a very tall body, you might look for slightly larger blocks, but the standard size is usually fine.
h4 What is the best material for a yoga block? Foam or cork?
Foam is lighter, softer, and cheaper. It’s good for gentle support. Cork is firmer, heavier, and offers better grip. It’s great for solid support and balance poses. It’s also a natural material. Many people prefer cork for its firmness and feel, but foam is a perfectly good option, especially for beginners. Try both if you can!
h4 How do I clean my yoga blocks?
How you clean them depends on the material.
* Foam: Wipe with a damp cloth and a little mild soap. Rinse the cloth and wipe again. Let them air dry completely. You can also use a yoga mat cleaning spray.
* Cork: Wipe with a damp cloth. Do not soak cork blocks as they can get damaged. Let them air dry completely. Cork naturally resists germs a bit.
* Wood: Wipe with a damp cloth. Do not use much water. Dry them right away.
h4 Can I use books instead of yoga blocks all the time?
It’s better not to use books all the time. Books can work for sitting on or putting your hands on lightly. But they are not as stable or durable as real yoga blocks. They can also damage your books or slide on the floor, which could lead to falls. Real blocks are designed for yoga practice and are safer.
h4 Are yoga blocks only for beginners?
No, not at all! While blocks are great for beginners, people who have practiced yoga for many years still use blocks regularly. They use them for deeper stretches, new poses, or just to support their body in a way that feels good that day. Blocks help people of all levels.
h4 Where should I put the block in Bridge Pose?
In Bridge Pose, you lift your hips and slide the block under your lower back. Place it under your sacrum. This is the flat, bony area right above your tailbone, below your lower back curve. Find a spot that feels comfortable and stable. Do not place the block directly on your spine. You can use the block on its low, medium, or high setting depending on what feels like a gentle, supported backbend for you.
h4 Can blocks help with tight hips?
Yes! Blocks are very helpful for tight hips. Sitting on a block (or two) in seated poses helps tilt your pelvis and makes it easier to sit up straight without straining your hips or lower back. Using blocks under your knees in reclining poses helps release tension in the inner thighs and hips. Using a block under your hip in poses like Pigeon helps support the pose and make it less intense.
h4 How do I know which height to use?
Experiment! Try different heights in the pose. Choose the height that allows you to feel support without strain. You should be able to breathe easily. The block should help you find better alignment, not push you too hard into a stretch. Start with a higher height if you are unsure. You can always go lower.