Yoga block

A yoga block is a rectangular prop, commonly foam, cork or wood, used to bring the floor within reach when flexibility alone cannot. Blocks are not training wheels to be outgrown, experienced practitioners use them constantly, because a block lets the body do the actual shape of a pose instead of a collapsed imitation of it.

In standing poses like triangle, a block under the lower hand restores length through the side body so the chest can rotate open properly. In seated forward folds, sitting on a block tilts the pelvis forward so the fold comes from the hips rather than a rounded lower back. Blocks typically come in low, medium and tall heights, and picking the right height for the pose is part of using them well.

Foam blocks are lightest and most forgiving under weight, cork blocks are heavier and more stable for load-bearing support, and wood blocks are firmest and most durable. A common mistake is treating a block purely as a temporary crutch to remove as soon as possible, when for many bodies it is simply the right long-term tool for a pose.