All about yoga blocks

1. Virasana (Hero Pose)
 
 Virasana is great for stretching the hips and quadriceps. The most common complaint from people in this pose is that their ankles start to hurt, or the fronts of their thighs can't take the stretch.
 
 How a yoga block helps: Using a block under your buttocks provides comfort for your ankles and makes the stretch softer so you can stay in the pose longer. If one block isn't enough, add another!
 
 Virasana
 
 2. Shoulder stand
 
 Shoulderstand is a restorative pose used at the end of many sequences. It's great for stretching your lower back and hamstrings, but if you lack flexibility in your hamstrings, you may have a hard time lifting your legs straight up in the air or simply have a hard time holding your legs in this position.
 
 How a yoga block helps: Placing a block directly under your lower back gives extra support to your back and makes lifting your legs straight up into the air much more accessible. This will allow you to focus on pulling your legs up and pushing through your heels to get the most benefit from the pose.
 
 Shoulder stand
 
 3. Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
 
 Fish Pose is a backbend often practiced after Plow Pose, but it can be very uncomfortable if you have poor range of motion in your chest, shoulders, or back. It can be difficult to stay in the bend and strain your neck if you don't have the flexibility to maintain proper alignment.
 
 How a yoga block helps: Placing a yoga block between your shoulder blades will help you relax. This allows you to still get the benefits of bending without the discomfort until you develop flexibility.
 
 Matsyasana
 
 4. Pigeon pose
 
 Many people find Pigeon Pose difficult for a few reasons. One is that they can't keep their knees bent or they simply can't stand the pose because of their tight hips. While this pose is great for relaxing your hip muscles, it's not very effective if you can't stay in it for more than 1 second.
 
 How a yoga block helps: Using a yoga block under the hip of your bent leg takes the strain off your knee and also makes the stretch much more gentle than if you were doing it on a flat surface. This will help stretch your hips until you are ready to "come down."