Yogaloft’s writer in residence explains why, if you’re going to invest in yoga props to use at home, you should start with a brick

Bricks: the basics

Bricks are fantastic props to have when practising yoga. Knowing how and when to use them properly can greatly enhance and develop the quality of your practice.

Bricks, unlike foam blocks, should be hard or firm and not soft, spongy or bendy. (Yoga bricks are different to the large rubber ones sometimes found in gyms.) Usually made from wood or cork, they replicate the quality of bones, creating the sensation that they are extensions of our skeletal body.

In terms of material choice, cork is probably the best to have as it is light, firm and aesthetically pleasing. Bricks are versatile and can be turned or rotated to give different heights or widths. They are usually the size and proportions of an actual building brick.

Bricks give lift, resistance and extension

Bricks can be used to support the hands in standing poses or raise the height in sitting poses. If you place a brick below the hand in Triangle Pose or Half Moon Pose and press down firmly, it allows the spine and legs to stretch effectively without straining. Putting a brick under the buttocks in sitting poses lifts the pelvis and gives the sensation of a longer spine. In many people the lumbar and pelvic muscles are very stiff and there is little movement. Having the brick lengthen the spine means better access in forward bends, extra lift and more extension.

Squeezing a brick between the forearms, thighs, calves or ankles helps to tone the inner parts of the body which are often substantially weaker than the outer parts. This helps to create balance in the musculature. If multiple bricks between limbs are needed, try using a belt to secure them.

Below are a few examples of how a brick can help with some of the more common yoga poses.

How bricks can help with common poses

1. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)

Place the brick outside the mid shin and press down onto it when in the pose. If it is too low and difficult to reach, place foam blocks under the brick to make it higher. Spin the upper arm bone outwards (of the arm extending down to the brick) and lengthen the lower trunk.

2. Parsvakonanasa (Extended Side Angle Pose)

Place the brick outside the ankle bone. Stand it up and turn it so the narrow end is facing forwards. When in the pose, press down firmly on the brick and rotate the upper arm bone (of the brick hand) outwards so the crook of the elbow faces forwards. Lengthen the chest and waist. Press the tailbone in firmly. Always make sure the knee is over the heel and never further. Make sure the knee is in line with the baby toe and press the elbow against the knee and the knee against the elbow.

3. Prasarita Padottonasana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend)

It is vital when practising forward bends to learn to concave the spine before bending forwards. This helps teach the lumbar part of the spine to lift as well as creating mobility in the pelvic/hip joints – essential for achieving proper forward bends. Place the bricks shoulder width apart and under the shoulders and keep the back straight or slightly concave and stretch the front of the spine and chest forwards.

4. Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose)

Use the brick under the arm which is extending to the floor. Press down firmly on the brick with the heel of the hand. Rotate the upper arm out. Press the shoulder blades into the back. Using good support in this pose can bring great freedom to what can otherwise be a challenging posture.

5. Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)

If you can hold the outer edges of the feet easily then this variation can help lengthen the spine even more. Place the brick against the soles of the feet and hold the outer edges with the hands. Straighten the legs, lift the kneecaps and make the thighs firm. Lengthen the spine and press the shoulder blades into the back. Make the spine straight or concave.

6. Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Stretch Pose)

Place two bricks under the shoulders. Press down firmly onto the bricks and spin the upper elbows outwards so the crooks of the elbows face forward. Make the spine straight or concave. Press the spine into the back and stretch the chest and chin forwards. Make sure to make strong contact with the floor with the inner foot.

7. Setu Bandha (Bridge Pose)

This is an extremely important posture for strengthening and stretching the spine, improving blood circulation and stimulating organs and glands. The brick should be placed on the sacrum and feel comfortable on the flat part of the bone. Press the upper arm bones down into the ground and lift the chest. Start with the legs bent and the feet flat on the floor.

8. Sirsasana (Headstand)

3 bricks can be arranged in such a way as to give great lift to the shoulders and shoulder blades. Not only do the bricks provide support but they also give the shoulder blades feedback with which you can improve the posture. Stand two bricks upright against a wall, diagonally to each other at a 90 degree angle. Place a third brick across the top like a bridge. Interlock the fingers inside the brick structure and place the forearms in headstand position. Lift the knees and walk the feet in until the spine makes contact with the brick. Press the spine strongly against the brick and note how it helps you to lift the shoulders and shoulder blades.

As this hopefully shows, bricks are super-versatile props and learning how to use them can really support your practice. Their texture makes them tactile and sensorial to handle and their size means they fit well with the body. Bricks aren’t just for beginners either. If you watch the medical class in Pune, India, where some of the most learned teachers in the world study and practise therapeutic yoga, you’ll see that they see the humble brick as an integral piece of kit.

Bricks are available to purchase at either of our studios.

The Brick: A Yoga Prop That Everyone Should Own