Have you tried using yoga blocks, bolsters, or belts in your yoga practice? Although props are usually connected to yoga styles like Iyengar, Yin Yoga, or even restorative practices, today these have become a part of yoga practice for a large population of people helping them deepen stretches, improve asana alignment and balance irrespective of the yoga practised. While traditional yoga comprises only a yoga mat that lends cushioning, the new-age yoga practices have come with different add-ons that don’t just elevate the workout levels but also create a sense of comfort and build a foundation. Fitness tools such as yoga blocks and cork yoga wheels can be useful in exploring the anatomy of the yogic asanas and enhance body stretches. They add a new dimension to your workouts.
If you have been struggling with yoga poses, here are some major benefits of yoga and fitness tools and why is it a good idea to add them to your home workout!
OFFERS COMFORT AND STABILITY
Yoga practice is incomplete without a good yoga mat. While Yoga can be practised anywhere and everywhere, your yoga mat can be your area of comfort and stability to practice the asanas more mindfully. The yoga mat lends body support and provides a soft cushioning to help you transition from one pose to another swiftly. Besides being a good base to get down for the practice, a yoga mat can help your body get the right comfort that helps you hold a pose for longer without hurting the muscles/joints.
DEEPENS THE STRETCHES
Yoga poses require deep stretches to open up the muscles and attain the yogic poses correctly. A yoga block is one fitness tool that should be on the list of every beginner’s practice. If you are struggling to sit straight in a lotus posture or stretch your hamstrings enough for the warrior pose, a yoga block can help you deepen the stretches, and open up those muscles for better practice. Yoga block becomes a support tool that helps you attain poses even when your body isn’t flexible enough.
IMPROVES ALIGNMENT
Do you feel lost when your yoga teacher asks you about aligning the shoulder blades or thigh muscles internally? They are just making you aware of the muscle movements that help you attain proper alignment without any injuries. Body alignment is most important to reap the benefits of the poses and practice it with greater awareness. Yoga blocks and mats can help you keep your firm grip, and move effortlessly into poses with the right muscles into focus. Placing the yoga block where you need assistance can help you attain poses with better body alignment.
ENHANCES THE PRACTICE
Holding yoga poses for long helps you build up strength, agility, stamina, and flexibility. Adding cork yoga wheels can elevate your workout levels and enhance your practice. As you try to balance the wheel in your practice and work on your core muscles, you dive deep into stronger practice that builds your body. With a yoga wheel, you can lay focus on specific muscle areas that need strengthening.
MAKES YOGA MORE FUN
Besides adding a challenging quotient to your yoga practice, the yoga tools can be a great addition to make your practice fun. As you play around with the yoga tools such as blocks and wheels, you are able to challenge yourself, try new yoga poses, and enhance your body fitness levels.
Yoga can bring in new ways of exploring your body’s strength and improve fitness quotient. The need is to pick up the right tools and inculcate them into your practice.
The writer is founder and CEO of Svech.
