A yoga block – or a yoga brick, a yoga block – is one of the most popular aids in yoga. They are used as aids to support the body and deepen stretches and prevent overstretching in yoga exercises. They work as an extension of the hands, support for the back, head and hips, and to increase awareness of body contours. The yoga support piece is most useful for beginner yogis and people who are injured or otherwise physically limited. Experienced yogis benefit most from yoga props when learning new, more challenging moves.
The block is most commonly used in asanas where the hands would not otherwise reach the ground without bending the knees, such as forward bending. The versatile block also works conveniently as a meditation chair!
Yoga blocks are distinguished by size, material, shape and price. The most popular shape is a square yoga support piece measuring approximately 25 x 12 x 7.5 cm, which most yogis should consider purchasing. The more special forms are aimed at experienced yogis or those looking for a very specific kind of support. For example, an oval-shaped block fits under the back and kneecaps. The smaller your hands and/or the more bent you are, the smaller the yoga support piece will be for you. Large hands or stiffness favor the purchase of a larger yoga support piece. The size of the hands is important when holding the yoga support piece - the most popular size will remain in the hands of almost all adults.
The original yoga support pieces were made of wood, but today more materials are used. The most used materials are cork, foam and wood. The material differences are detailed below.
From the cork the manufactured yoga props are environmentally friendly, soft and weigh less than wooden yoga props - they also have a good grip. When doing yoga, it's easy to use more than one piece of cork yoga support - they stay well on top of each other. Cork as a material absorbs moisture (sweat) and odors, which can lead to the yoga prop starting to smell and crumbling. This, on the other hand, takes years even for a hard-working trainee, and yoga studios don't hesitate to include cork support in their selections.
Foam yoga props are usually the cheapest compared to wooden or cork yoga props. They are also lighter, softer and easy to clean. Because of these features and the cheap price, foam yoga props are also widely used in yoga studios. The downsides are that dirt can stick to the foam, and it is not very environmentally friendly. Some people think that the foam is not sturdy enough or stable enough for hard use.
Wooden yoga props can be made of almost any wood - usually bamboo, birch, oak or spruce. Hard wood is naturally harder and more durable in use than soft wood. Compared to cork or foam, a wooden yoga support piece is always harder and usually also heavier. The wooden yoga prop is really durable and can even last your whole life. They also often look better than other props and are almost always more expensive. The weakness of wooden yoga props is the possibility of slipping if the hands sweat a lot or if they are used on a wooden (or similar) floor. The wooden block is used a little less often these days
You can get started with one block, but we always recommend getting two so that you can get support for both hands if needed.
You can get to know our comprehensive selection of blocks here. Our customer service will help you choose the right product if needed!