Yoga Blocks and Straps for Better Alignment

Quick answer

Place a block under your hand in Downward Dog to level your shoulders, and use a strap to extend your reach in Seated Forward Fold for a safe hamstring stretch.

Step-by-step alignment fixes

1. Downward Dog with block: Place a block under each hand at its lowest height. Press your hands firmly into the blocks as you lift your hips. The blocks shorten the distance to the floor, letting your spine lengthen and your shoulders relax. If your shoulders feel tight or your lower back rounds, raise the block to a higher setting.
2. Seated Forward Fold with strap: Loop the resistance band stretch strap around the balls of your feet. Hold one handhold in each hand. Inhale to lengthen your spine, then exhale to hinge forward. Pull gently on the strap to bring your chest toward your thighs without rounding your back. Choose a higher handhold if you feel a sharp pull behind your knees—the stretch should be in your hamstrings, not your joints.
3. Triangle Pose with block: Place a block on the floor outside your front foot at its tallest height. Rest your bottom hand on the block instead of reaching for the floor. This keeps your side body long and your hips square. If your top shoulder collapses forward, lower the block one height and press more firmly through your back foot.

Props that help

• Printed Yoga Block: Yoga’s go-to prop to lift and lengthen your reach now comes in prints. Lightweight yet stable, with beveled edges for easy gripping and a non-slip surface. A printed block adds grip and stability under your hands or feet, so you can hold poses longer without slipping.

  

• Resistance Band Stretch Strap: Multiple handholds let you decide how deep of a stretch you want, and medium resistance lets you use it for strength training too. The handholds let you gradually increase your hamstring stretch without overstretching, and the resistance adds versatility for pre-yoga warm-ups.