Posts Tagged ‘yoga block’
Yoga Blocks, What Are They Good For?
Once you’ve found out for yourself the many benefits of using yoga blocks, you won’t forget to put them in your yoga bag before leaving for class. Yoga blocks have plenty of uses, but before we detail what they can do for you, plus the many types that are purchasable, let’s review a bit about Yoga, itself.
What Yoga Practice Can Do for You
Habitual yoga practice will awaken your mind as it stimulates your body! Doing each pose perfectly requires your complete attention, and such focus enhances your mental awareness. Your “outer body” is enriched 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.
Patience is not only a virtue, it is the “key” to mastering a yoga pose, particularly when combined with ample time and commitment. A beginner should not give up if they don’t do a pose flawlessly on the first try. But, slowly over time, as you practice and make an effort to perform each pose perfectly, without pushing yourself too far physically or beating yourself up mentally, you will discover that you are developing flexibility, strength, and energy physically and feeling more peaceful and clear mentally.
Choose a clean, graceful space for your practice area, preferably with a bare floor and an accessible wall. Remove any distractions from your yoga environment. Preferably, you should not eat for at least 2 hours before practicing. If this is not possible, 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 feel any pain or discomfort while trying out 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 benefiting you in moving deeper into a pose, in performing an impeccable pose, and in practicing in a healthful way.
Yoga Prop Benefits:
- Relieve pain and discomfort
- Prevent injury
- Stress relief and relaxation
- Maintain proper alignment
- Ease and flexibility of movement
- Create space in the joints
- Deepen awareness, development mindfulness
Yoga Blocks
Unfortunately, on occasion before a beginner can start to experience the benefits to mind and body that yoga provides, discomfort in attempting to do a few of the yoga poses will make them turn away from a healthy yoga practice. Yoga blocks can aid anyone, but especially beginners, to feel more relaxed during yoga practice because yoga blocks help to improve alignment. Several standing yoga poses involve one hand being on the floor. For a novice, the floor can seem a long way down. A yoga block can supply 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 situating a hand on a block that’s been set appropriately on the floor. A yoga block is a wonderful transitional aid. Also, several sitting poses specifically require a yoga block. Yoga blocks aid with balance, poise, and stability. Who could ask for more from something so “square.”
Yoga blocks come in a fairly wide range of materials. To name a few: Foam blocks are durable and lightweight, an easy add to your yoga mat bag! Wooden blocks are also lightweight and hollow, yet virtually indestructible (even Fido would find one hard to destroy!). And, then there is the eco-friendly cork block. An added bonus is that the natural consistency of the cork gives some extra traction.
Yoga blocks are usually sold separately but, for versatility, you’ll probably want to buy several.
Tags: nutrition, exercise, Health
