How Yoga Blocks Can Enhance Your Yoga Practice
Friday, March 13th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Once you’ve “stumbled upon” the many benefits of using yoga blocks, you will make sure to put them in your yoga bag before going off to class. Yoga blocks have a whole variety of uses, but before we discuss what they can do for you, in addition to the many types that are on the market, let’s talk a little about Yoga, itself.
Yoga Mind/Body Benefits
Yoga practitioners find that habitual yoga practice awakens both mind and body! Doing each pose correctly requires your complete attention, and such focus awakens your mental awareness. Habitual yoga practice awakens, energizes, and strengthens the structure and flow of the body. The goal of yoga practice is to create a union between the body, mind and spirit.
You’ll need time and commitment, as well as a whole lot of patience, to master a yoga pose. Do not expect perfect poses in the beginning. But, slowly over time, as you practice and try to perform each pose flawlessly, 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.
The best environment for doing your practice is an uncluttered, peaceful place with a bare floor and practicable wall. Avoid distractions, such as cell phones, during your yoga practice. Ideally, you should not eat for at least 2 hours before practicing. If you find you need to eat, then try to eat something light, such as a piece of fruit, but no more than 1 hour before you start your yoga practice.
If you should experience pain or discomfort as you undertake a pose, pause or stop, then try again with more mindful movement.
Yoga props and accessories, such as yoga mats, yoga bolsters, yoga straps, yoga blocks, yoga mat bags, and even yoga towels are perfect for assisting you in moving deeper into a pose, in performing a perfect pose, and in practicing in a healthful way.
Yoga Prop Benefits:
- Pain relief and body comfort
- Prevent injury
- Stress relief and relaxation
- Encourage appropriate alignment
- Ease and flexibility of movement
- Create space in the joints
- Deepen awareness, development mindfulness
Unfortunately, on occasion before a beginner can start to know the benefits to mind and body that yoga supplies, discomfort in trying to do some of the yoga poses will cause them to turn away from a life enriching yoga practice. Yoga blocks can assist in improving your alignment and, in the process, make you more comfortable during your yoga practice. A case in point, when a standing pose entails one hand being on the floor, flexibility issues show up. For a novice, the floor can appear to be a long way down. A yoga block can fill in the difference. Think of a yoga block as adding length to your arm. While a newbie is in the process of developing flexibility, he or she will still be able to do the standing poses correctly by positioning a hand on a block that’s been set appropriately on the floor. A yoga block is a wonderful transitional aid. In addition, some sitting poses make use of 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. For instance: Foam blocks are durable and lightweight, an manageable add to your yoga bag! Wooden blocks are also not heavy and hollow, yet essentially indestructible (even Fido would find one hard to destroy!). Lastly, there is the ever-so-green cork block. An added bonus is that the natural makeup of the cork gives some extra traction.
Yoga blocks are more often than not sold separately but, for utility, you’ll probably want to buy more than one.
Technorati Tags: No Tags
Related Tags: No Tags
Possible Related Posts
Types of Yoga AvailableAdd a Yoga Strap to Your Yoga PracticeLooking for the Best Yoga Mats?
