Yoga Blocks: How Many to Have, When to Use Them, and Choosing the Right Ones

How Many Yoga Blocks Should You Have?

While a single yoga block can offer valuable support, most practitioners will find two blocks to be the optimal number for versatility, symmetry, and comprehensive support across a wider range of poses and modalities.

The Core Recommendation: Why Two Blocks Are Often Best

For the majority of yoga practitioners, investing in a pair of yoga blocks is the most practical and beneficial approach. This recommendation is rooted in the principles of anatomical symmetry and functional versatility, allowing for balanced support and greater adaptability in your practice.

• Symmetry and Balance: Many yoga poses are bilateral, meaning they engage both sides of the body simultaneously (e.g., Downward-Facing Dog, Bridge Pose, Seated Forward Fold). Having two blocks allows you to support both hands, feet, or hips evenly, promoting proper alignment, preventing compensatory patterns, and fostering a sense of balance throughout the body. This symmetry is crucial for developing strength, flexibility, and proprioception without creating imbalances.
• Versatility in Poses: Two blocks significantly expand the range of poses you can modify or enhance.
  • Standing Poses: In poses like Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) or Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana), one block can support the hand, while the second can be used for balance in another variation or kept nearby for a seamless transition.
  • Seated Poses: For poses like Staff Pose (Dandasana) or Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana), placing blocks under the sitting bones can elevate the hips, allowing the pelvis to tilt forward more easily and facilitating a longer, more neutral spine, especially for individuals with tight hamstrings.
  • Restorative Poses: Two blocks are invaluable for supporting the head and shoulders, or knees, in restorative poses like Supported Fish Pose (Matsyasana) or Supported Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana), providing comfort and enabling deeper relaxation.
• Progressive Overload/Support: Blocks allow you to incrementally adjust the support level. As your flexibility improves, you might use a block on a lower height. Conversely, if you're recovering from an injury or experiencing stiffness, a higher block can provide necessary elevation, reducing strain and making poses more accessible.

When One Block Suffices

While two blocks are generally recommended, a single block can certainly be a beneficial starting point, especially for beginners or those with specific needs.

• Beginner Exploration: If you're new to yoga and unsure about committing to multiple props, one block is an excellent way to introduce yourself to their benefits. You can use it to explore basic modifications and understand how a prop can enhance your practice.
• Specific Poses: Some poses inherently only require one block. Examples include placing a block between the thighs in poses like Eagle Pose (Garudasana) to engage adductor muscles, or under one hand in Half Moon Pose.
• Limited Space or Budget: Practical considerations like limited storage space or a tight budget might lead someone to start with just one block.

When More Than Two Blocks Can Be Beneficial (Advanced/Specialized Use)

For specialized practices or advanced practitioners, having more than two blocks can unlock further possibilities for support, depth, and creative exploration.

• Restorative Yoga: In deeply relaxing restorative practices, multiple blocks are often stacked to create custom supports for the spine, head, or limbs, allowing the body to fully release into passive stretches. For example, a "T-shape" support under the upper back and head in Supported Fish Pose might use two blocks.
• Pre- and Post-Natal Yoga: Pregnant individuals may benefit from additional blocks to create stable, comfortable supports that accommodate a changing body, ensuring safety and ease in various postures.
• Advanced Prop Work: Some advanced practitioners and teachers utilize multiple blocks for challenging inversions, arm balances, or intricate alignment drills, building custom structures to achieve specific biomechanical objectives.

Factors Influencing Your Yoga Block Needs

The ideal number of yoga blocks for you can depend on several personal and practical factors.

• Your Current Flexibility Level: Individuals with tighter hamstrings, hips, or shoulders will often benefit more from blocks to bring the floor closer, making poses accessible without compromising alignment. As flexibility improves, blocks may be used to deepen stretches or challenge balance.
• Style of Yoga Practiced:
  • Hatha & Vinyasa: Two blocks are highly versatile for most poses.
  • Restorative & Yin: Multiple blocks (2-4) are often preferred for passive, long-hold stretches and deep relaxation.
  • Ashtanga: Blocks are used more sparingly, often for specific modifications or to build strength.
• Specific Goals: Are you aiming to deepen stretches, improve balance, support an injury, or simply make your practice more comfortable? Your goals will dictate the utility of blocks.
• Space and Storage: Consider where you will store your blocks. They are relatively compact, but two take up more space than one.
• Budget: Yoga blocks are generally affordable, but purchasing multiple can add up. Prioritize quality over quantity if budget is a major concern.

Choosing the Right Yoga Block: Material and Size Considerations

Beyond the quantity, the type of block you choose also impacts its utility and feel.

• Material:
  • Foam: Lightweight, soft, and affordable. Excellent for beginners, sensitive joints, and restorative practices where comfort is paramount. They can compress slightly under heavy load.
  • Cork: Denser and heavier than foam, providing more stability and firmness. Environmentally friendly and durable. Offers a solid, grounded feel, ideal for standing poses and balance work.
  • Wood: The heaviest and most rigid option, offering maximum stability and support. Highly durable but can be less forgiving on joints and more expensive. Best for advanced practitioners needing unwavering support.
• Size: Most yoga blocks are standard dimensions (e.g., 9 x 6 x 4 inches or 23 x 15 x 10 cm), offering three different height options depending on which side they are placed on. Some brands offer slightly larger or smaller blocks, which can be useful for individuals with particularly long limbs or smaller hands.

Proper Use and Safety with Yoga Blocks

Integrating yoga blocks into your practice should always prioritize safety and mindful awareness.

• Stability is Key: Always ensure the block is placed on a stable, flat surface and that it is not wobbling before you put your full weight on it.
• Listen to Your Body: Blocks are tools for support and accessibility, not for forcing yourself into a deeper pose. If you feel pain or excessive strain, adjust the block's height or position, or back off the pose.
• Placement: Experiment with placing the block at different heights and orientations (flat, on its side, or on its end) to find the position that best supports your body in each specific pose.

Conclusion: Investing in Your Practice

While a single yoga block can certainly enhance your practice, acquiring two blocks is generally the most effective and versatile approach for the vast majority of yoga practitioners. This allows for balanced support, opens up a wider array of modifications, and enables you to progress safely and effectively. Consider your specific needs, the style of yoga you practice, and your personal goals, but know that a pair of well-chosen yoga blocks is a foundational investment in a sustainable and enriching yoga journey.