Blocks and Straps and Why we use them at the Studio

The Use of Straps and Blocks in Yoga Practice

Yoga props such as straps and blocks can be valuable tools for practitioners of all levels. Rather than making a posture easier, they can help improve alignment, stability and awareness within the posture, allowing students to experience poses more deeply, making micro adjustments to create a deeper level of experience in the shape.

A yoga strap can provide extra length and support when flexibility is limited. For example, in seated forward bends or reclining leg stretches, a strap can help the practitioner reach the feet without rounding the spine or forcing the body. Straps can also be used to support the arms and shoulders in particular postures.

Yoga blocks provide height, stability, and support. They can bring the floor closer to the hands in standing poses such as Triangle or Half Moon, assisting practitioners in maintaining healthy spinal alignment without overstretching. Blocks can also be used under the hips, hands, or other parts of the body to make restorative poses more effective and supportive for release.

Using props encourages practitioners to work with their bodies. They are useful tools that can make yoga more inclusive, mindful, and sustainable for the practitioner. When used thoughtfully and freely, they allow students to focus less on reaching a particular shape and more on breathing, awareness, encouraging a meaningful conversation with the sensations within the body.

":Yoga is not about touching your toes, it is about what you learn on the way down"