I always have a block (or two) with me whenever I am in a yoga class or just stretching at home, and I love all the benefits they can bring! I’ll admit, at times I wouldn’t go to using one because I thought it made me “lesser” - less good at a yoga pose, less cool, whatever it was. That is so stupid. If you’re in that mindset, I strongly encourage you to get out of that place, immediately.
One thing I like that most yoga teachers say is something along the lines of “see what type of body you brought today” or “do what feels best for your body today” and I think the moment I actually fully realized what that meant was when I was recovering from my c-section.
I listened to my doctor on when to get back into light work and such, so I know I didn’t rush things, but man it was hard. Really hard. And I had a completely different body in so many ways. I would use all my tools during flows and stretching - including blocks. Not because I wanted to necessarily, but because I physically had to. My body was so tight and fragile in so many places, I couldn’t bend like I used to, couldn’t fold like I used to, couldn’t be as flexible just in general.
After I started getting back into “my old body” again, I still kept the block around at all times because I realized just some days I’m not super bendy or I’m super tight from a weight workout — and the block is this magical little helper that gives me the ability to feel the full pose or stretch without straining myself. It doesn’t mean I’m less cool or that modifying is “lame” - it means you are doing what is right for you and that body you brought to the mat that day. In fact, I think using the block in many cases is HARDER! A lot of poses the block forces me to balance more, utilize my core more, and really just focus and breath more.
I took the time out in Costa Rica to get a little yoga stretch in using my block, incorporating some of my favorite go-to poses and stretches with them. There are sooo many more uses with the block and I encourage you to try what works best for you, and for anybody out there that thinks using a block or a strap or whatever is “less than”: I encourage you more to use them :)
Forward folds and twists
Triangle and reverse triangle
Half-moon and standing splits — actually harder for me and really makes me balance, great for my core!
Yoga squat and child’s pose
Supported candle stick and bridge
Savasana — great shoulder and heart opener!