I bought a yoga block. I still need some time to expose myself to new exercises to include the yoga block, but so far I’ve found it can be great to help or further challenge your practice.

Laying flat on my back, I place my feet flat on the floor so that my knees are pointed upwards. Then I place the yoga block on its smallest height under the small of my back so that it sits directly under my tailbone. This provides a very small stretch, and a good position to take several deep breaths. After a minute, I move the block beneath me onto it’s side, making it’s height slightly higher. You can either have your arms at your side, or raised above your head on the ground. More deep breaths as the stretch settles in across my back. Then finally, I flip the block to it’s tallest height, putting me into a small back bend. This is a reverse table-top position, and it feels amazing. I have also challenged myself to then remove the block, and hold my body lifted in place.

The yoga block has also helped with stretching. If you are not super flexible, the block can help to bridge gaps that would normally be strenuous. For example, when you reach towards the ground in forward fold, you can place the block between your hands and the floor, allowing you to feel the stretch at your own pace without pushing your limits. In my case, I am already relatively flexible, but the block helps me to stretch further. One example is when I am sitting down on the mat with my legs straight and leaning forward. I do not have trouble reaching my toes, and can actually pull my feet off of the ground a bit to challenge the backs of my legs. By putting the yoga block to sit at the bottom of my feet, I can reach past my toes to grab the block and further my stretch. This can really help to improve flexibility, because you are able to control the amount you are stretching your body, so you challenge yourself at the pace that feels good.

After doing some quick online research for stretches and exercises, I have ordered a second yoga block so that I can continue to explore different practices.

Looking forward to more challenges in the future! Thanks for reading.