The History of Yoga Blocks

The History of Yoga Blocks

The modern yoga block is closely associated with B.K.S. Iyengar and the development of Iyengar Yoga during the 20th century. Iyengar developed an extensive system of yoga props, including blocks or bricks, straps, blankets, chairs, and bolsters to help students work with poses according to their individual physical needs. The purpose was not simply to make poses easier, but to help practitioners experience proper alignment and positioning when their bodies could not yet achieve a particular position without assistance.

Early yoga blocks were generally made from wood and were often referred to as yoga bricks. According to historical accounts of yoga equipment, blocks used in the 1970s were not always standardized in size, and some practitioners even made their own. As yoga became more widely practiced, manufacturers began producing blocks in standardized dimensions and introduced lighter materials such as foam and cork. Today, wooden blocks remain popular for their firmness and stability, while foam and cork blocks are widely used because of their different combinations of weight, comfort, and grip.