In the article on yoga tools we have proposed an overview of the most commonly used accessories for yoga. If the mat and pillows are widespread and their use is easy to understand, a few more words must be reserved for blocks and walls whose introduction in yoga is quite recent and, in general, not too widespread.

We will start with the blocks, also called bricks (in English, blocks or bricks). As already stated, there are endless dimensions, colors and materials on the market. Some are hollow and shaped, others in natural materials like bamboo : these details cause price changes and perhaps can slightly improve usability, but the substance does not change.

If you do not have blocks and you are still not sure if you want to buy them, a surrogate can be made up of very high books: it is an option that I do not recommend because it is very difficult to find the right height and consistency, but if do not use them as supports for forward bending (ie the most common mode) and therefore do not download part of your weight there, you can try to do a test at least to see the sensation and the possible comfort they can offer (if they offer it ) to your practice.

The blocks for forward bending

As anticipated, the most frequent use of the blocks is during forward bending, in the event that the back is not sufficiently loose to allow reaching the floor with your hands . In this case, the student will have to find the appropriate adjustment that allows him to still be able to maintain the asana, perhaps placing his hands on his lower limbs or bending his legs or letting his arms float (depending on the position). The bricks intervene to help fill this gap used both horizontally and vertically: the yogi can therefore lean on them and have the feeling of a support that reproduces that of the floor.

Some examples of asanas referred to in this context are: trikonasana (triangle and its variants such as parivritta, rotato, and utthita, Extended), ardha chandrasana (position of the crescent), utthita parsvakonasana (position of the extended lateral angle), uttanasana (position of intense lengthening).

Basin blocks

Another use, less prolific than the previous one, but equally interesting, is to use the brick not as an extension of the limbs, but of the vertebral column. The speech is similar: where the body has not yet come to appropriate a certain position, the block can help relaxation through a simulation of the floor .

With an example, it will be clearer: if in the Kapotasana ( position of the pigeon ) the basin fails to settle comfortably, the brick can be inserted into the space that separates it from the ground so that the pupil can relax that part of the body and allow yourself to progress in the position.

Some examples of asanas where this modality of use of the blocks can be implemented are: besides the already mentioned kapotasana also vajrasana (thunder position) - if the buttocks do not touch the ground - hanumasana (monkey position) and, finally, setu bandha sarvangasana (bridge position) in the case in which a support for the pelvis is needed (in this case, using more bricks or arranging them vertically).

Chest blocks

Moving from the pelvis area, we can move on to the thoracic area where we will place the brick in case we need support to widen the opening of this area of ​​the spine so as to allow greater relaxation . It can be positioned both vertically and horizontally, depending on the student.

This discourse is applicable to positions such as: supta vajrasana (position of the reclining thunder) and also matsyasana (position of the fish).

A further use of the bricks may be to position a block at the buttocks end in the seated positions to make them more comfortable and to facilitate the opening of the hip (if the pillow is not available or not preferred) and to improve paschimottasana (position of the clamp ) which could be easier in this mode.