Iyengar Quarter Round Yoga Block: A Key Tool for Better Alignment

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• How the Iyengar Quarter Round Yoga Block Improves Alignment?
• Poses to Practice with the Iyengar Quarter Round Yoga Block
• Tips for Using the Iyengar Quarter Round Yoga Block
• Conclusion

An Iyengar Quarter Round Yoga Block is a unique style of yoga prop, usually made from wood or cork, that has one side shaped in the form of a quarter of a cylinder (with a smooth convex contour) and the other sides are flat.

Unlike rectangular yoga blocks which lay flat only, the curved surface of a quarter round yoga block can provide a typical support and alignment shapes in various yoga poses. Quarter round yoga blocks are favourite props used in Iyengar Yoga. The quarter round yoga block can be very useful for support in standing poses, providing support for the hands in backbends, providing support for alignment against the wall, and help with preventing hyperextension in certain joints.

How the Iyengar Quarter Round Yoga Block Improves Alignment?

That unique curved shape of Iyengar Quarter Round Block isn't just for looks; it's got some alignment superpowers. Here's how it makes your yoga practice smarter and safer:

1. Supports the Back: This block is an absolute life saver. Placing it beneath your upper back in positions like Supported Fish Pose (Matsyasana) gently supports your natural spinal curve.
2. Opens Your Chest: Lying on the quarter round block lengthwise along your spine is excellent. It softly raises your rib cage and helps your shoulders to relax the back, therefore expanding your chest and enabling you to inhale deeply.
3. Hip Stability: Placing the quarter round block under your hips or outer thighs will provide precisely the correct support to level your pelvis like in poses such as Butterfly Pose (Baddha Konasana). This releases strain from your hip joints and inner thighs, allowing you to sit taller and delve farther into the stretch.
4. Providing a Gentle Incline for the Head and Neck: Sometimes lying flat causes strain in your neck. Tucking this block under your head and neck will give a little lift for and gently incline you to support your natural neck curvature.

Poses to Practice with the Iyengar Quarter Round Yoga Block

This versatile Iyengar Quarter Round Block can be used in so many ways. Here are some poses to try with it:

1. For the Backbend Lovers:

1. Fish Pose (Matsyasana) variation: Lie down, place the block horizontally under your shoulder blades, and let your head gently drop back.
2. Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana) variation: Place the block vertically along your spine, from your tailbone all the way up to your head. This one is super restorative and helps open both your hips and chest at the same time.
3. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) variation: Place the block under your sacrum (flat bone at the base of your spine) for a gentler, more supported bridge that feels good.

2. Getting Comfy in Seated Poses:

1. Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana): If your knees are super high in this pose, slide a block under each outer thigh or knee for support. It helps your hips open more comfortably.
2. Seated Wide-Legged Forward Fold (Upavistha Konasana): Just like in butterfly pose, using the blocks under your outer thighs can help you tilt your pelvis forward and lengthen your spine.
3. Hero Pose (Virasana): If sitting directly on your heels feels like torture, place a quarter round block between your feet to sit on. Instant knee and ankle relief!

3. Rest, Relax, Restore:

1. Corpse Pose (Savasana) with Back Support: Lie down with the block either horizontally under your upper back or vertically along your spine. It's surprisingly comforting and helps with subtle chest opening.
2. Supported Neck Release: Just tuck the curved side under your neck while you are lying down. It's a gentle stretch that can really help release neck tension.

4. Standing Poses:

1. Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana): You can keep the quarter round block under your hand in poses. The curve can give you a slightly different angle of support, sometimes leading to a deeper or more precise stretch.
2. Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana): Place the quarter round block under your hand for support. The unique shape of the block makes it particularly useful for providing support that respects the natural curves of the body, which is excellent for spinal health.

Tips for Using the Iyengar Quarter Round Yoga Block

To get the most out of this Iyengar Quarter Round Block, keep these pointers in mind:

1. Be Experimental: There is no one "correct" approach to use it. Try laying it beneath various body parts both horizontally and vertically. See what works best for you and the posture you are performing.
2. Listen to your Body: Listen to the wisdom your body offers; yoga is about feeling good, not about coercion. If something feels harsh or unpleasant, ease off, change the block, or even abandon it for that posture. Comfort is most important.
3. Start slow: Particularly with backbends, avoid trying to hang out there indefinitely if you are new to the Iyengar Quarter Round Block. Increase your time gradually.
4. Mix and match with other props: Combine with other props to check it fits rather nicely with others! Extra cushion can be added by blankets, and belts enable you to deepen stretches while maintaining appropriate alignment.
5. Seek assistance: Talk to an Iyengar yoga teacher if you have a specific physical problem or if you're ever wondering how to use it for a given posture. They can provide you customised advice.
6. Cleanliness and Care: A quick wipe down with a moist cloth can make it long lasting.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! The Iyengar Quarter Round Yoga Block isn't just another prop; it's a smart, comfy tool that can seriously upgrade your yoga practice. By gently supporting your body's natural curves, it helps you find better alignment, open tight spots, and just feel more at home in your poses. Give it a try and you might just wonder how you ever practiced without it!