{"id":529819,"date":"2026-04-14T05:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T05:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/529819\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T05:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T05:54:13","slug":"6-best-yoga-blocks-to-level-up-your-stretches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/529819\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Best Yoga Blocks To Level Up Your Stretches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before becoming a regular at my local yoga studio<\/a>, I always assumed those rectangular blocks were there to help you balance in challenging poses. Yet, as I tried different classes, I learned this versatile prop can be instrumental in getting an easy but deep stretch and easing tension in your back and hips. You can literally just lie down<\/a> on them for a few minutes and start feeling relief. <\/p>\n

According to Jennifer Purwin<\/a>, a former yoga teacher and physical therapist who specializes in pelvic health and orthopedics at FemFirstHealth in Manhattan, the relief you feel when lying on yoga blocks (or other yoga props) comes from your muscles being externally supported and able to relax, allowing gravity to do the heavy work. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat might be a block underneath the thorax or the ribcage, one under your head, maybe on the outsides of your knees. Once you\u2019re in a position where you\u2019re not having to contract your inner thigh muscles, your glutes \u2014 the muscle gets this opportunity to passively lengthen.\u201d <\/p>\n

Of course, in addition to these passive deep stretches, Purwin says that blocks are also great for more active poses in yoga, pilates or any sort of stretching at home. Whether you\u2019re doing lunges or trying to bend over and touch your toes, having a rectangular block, which you can use on any of the three heights for extra length can bring the floor to you, helps you make the most of your practice. <\/p>\n

Below is my favorite yoga block, as well as some top-rated items that come highly recommended from reviewers. Most of them measure 9x6x4 inches, but they all have different weights and densities for your personal preferences. <\/p>\n

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Amazon<\/p>\n

An extra-firm, heavier Manduka cork block<\/p>\n

If you’re looking for something a little heavier, these fine-grain cork blocks<\/a> weigh a little over two pounds making them extra firm and sturdy in your practice. They measure 9x6x4 inches and have a natural texture to them that can make them steady in the hand. <\/p>\n

Promising review: “Upgraded to these from foam yoga blocks that I’ve had for years. The cork weighs a whole lot more but can really support your weight and make you feel stable if you’re trying to put a lot of weight on the blocks. Highly recommend these.” \u2014 REF<\/a><\/p>\n

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Amazon<\/p>\n

A set of two lightweight foam blocks with a strap<\/p>\n

Jumpstart your home setup with this budget-friendly set of two EVA foam blocks<\/a> and an 8-foot D-ring strap. These 9x6x4-inch blocks are incredibly lightweight, coming it at .35 pounds each, with a soft, non-slip surface that will keep your grip. <\/p>\n

Promising review: “These work perfectly to enhance my yoga practice. Firm and stable without being rockhard and digging if I use them for back support or under hips.” \u2014 Jennifer F.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Amazon<\/p>\n

The Manduka foam block I love with a twist<\/p>\n

These are the blocks<\/a> my yoga studio has and I’d recommend them for any home practice. The surface is soft and feels good in your hand or between your knees, and the material has a bit of give but is still firm and supportive. It’s a higher price point than some other options, but it can really take a beating and keep its shape and integrity for a long time. Truly, I have seen the same blocks used hundreds of times by hundreds of students, and they’re still in great condition. They’re made from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, measure 9x6x4 inches and weigh just under a pound each. <\/p>\n

Promising review: “I decided to spring for the extra cost for these because I thought the quality would be worth it. And, I was not wrong. These blocks are sturdy, comfortable and the weight is perfect\u2026not too heavy like a cork block but heavier than then more inexpensive brands. Manduka makes a quality product so if you plan to use your blocks a lot in your yoga practice, these are well worth the investment.” \u2014 J. Champagne<\/a><\/p>\n

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Amazon<\/p>\n

A mid-weight block that comes in a ton of colors<\/p>\n

Looking for something a little more vibrant? This .68-pound block <\/a>comes in 18 colors and patterns, giving you a little self-expression as you stretch. They’re 100% EVA foam, measure the classic 9x6x4 inches with beveled edges for added comfort. <\/p>\n

Promising review: “I picked up the Everyday Yoga Foam Block with Soft Non-Slip Surface for Stability, Balance, as I’m an older person who is not so flexible in certain areas of my body and need a little help with balance. It does the job, in one of my favorite colors, no less. Highly recommend.” \u2014 scandia<\/a><\/p>\n

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Lululemon<\/p>\n

Lululemon’s soft edge block<\/p>\n

This yoga block<\/a> is made from EVA foam in an eye-catching marble and measures 9.8×5.9×3.5 inches. It’s super lightweight, at just over half a pound, and strikes the balance of being firm with some give.<\/p>\n

Promising review: “I bought this for pilates exercises and for a heel cushion in oversplits. I love the swirly pattern and the firm but not too hard material. It looks like it will last a long time!” \u2014 d097<\/a><\/p>\n

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Target<\/p>\n

A budget-friendly, super lightweight block<\/p>\n

Of course, if you’re just looking to test a block out, this foam option<\/a> costs $8 and weighs less than half a pound. It measures 9x6x4 inches and comes in this dreamy sky blue that you’ll love to look at. <\/p>\n

Promising review: “If you need a yoga block, this is a great basic option! It does everything it needs to do and the price point is hard to beat! The blue color is beautiful and clean.” \u2014 Crystal<\/a><\/p>\n

Yoga Pose With Blocks<\/p>\n

As Purwin describes, in a healthy muscle contraction, the protein filaments in your muscles pull toward each other and then go back to their baseline. Yet, when your muscles are tight<\/a>, it means these lines of protein are stuck too close together.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can try doing a more aggressive stretch, but if you\u2019re allowing time and gentle gravity to happen, you\u2019re allowing for this lengthening, where these protein filaments to just slide back where they should be. You\u2019re allowing these structures to relax back to a baseline that is healthy, and from there, you have more power.\u201d <\/p>\n

Purwin recommends the passive pose seen below, which is easy to do at home and doesn\u2019t require extreme strength, flexibility or equipment. <\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Before becoming a regular at my local yoga studio, I always assumed those rectangular blocks were there to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":529820,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[6647,102,55918,1758,87377,56,54,55,7268,15036],"class_list":{"0":"post-529819","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-fitness","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-physical-therapy","11":"tag-shopping","12":"tag-stretching","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom","15":"tag-unitedkingdom","16":"tag-wellness","17":"tag-yoga"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529819\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/529820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=529819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=529819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}