Tag: yoga equipment

How to Use Yoga Blocks to Strengthen Your Body

Posted on

Yoga is one of the best ways to improve your flexibility, mobility, and strength. Of course, each of these territories has its own best exercises, and when it comes to strength training, yoga blocks are the perfect way to kick your yoga sessions up a notch. From intensifying already existing exercises to opening up opportunities for new ones, let’s take a look at how you can use yoga bricks to strengthen your body.

Yoga Poses With Blocks

Of course, if you’re looking specifically for new yoga poses to try out your new yoga mat and block set on, there are plenty of those as well. The downward-facing dog pose, for example, gains a lot from a yoga block, working to not only boost your leg and lower back strength, but improve your balance as well. Another of our favorites is the butterfly stretch, where you can place either ankle on the block to change things up a little.

Enhance Your Everyday Exercises

Yoga Poses With yoga Blocks

As mentioned above, yoga blocks fit right into many common exercises that you may even already be practicing. Workout staples like planks and pushups become much more of a challenge when a yoga block is added to the equation. That extra bit of elevation makes a huge difference, requiring your muscles to work much harder and making for a better workout overall.

Of course, the yoga block isn’t limited to just planks and pushups. The exercises that a yoga block can enhance are near-limitless, so don’t be afraid to experiment with them a little! You’d be surprised how many of your favorite exercises can be adapted to a yoga equipment, and just how much of an impact that yoga block can have on the quality of your workouts.

Work On Your Balance and Coordination

Yoga Blocks

Finally, there’s your balance and coordination. While balance and coordination training isn’t strength training in its purest sense, having greater dexterity and flexibility reduces the risk of injury during those tougher strength workouts. 

One of our favorite yoga block balance exercises is the classic series of warrior poses. If you feel like you’ve mastered the original poses, using a yoga block will allow you to refine them even further, and your sense of balance with them. With a balance between coordination and strength exercises, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better, happier you!

Looking for more great fitness tips and products? Visit NineFit today!

Yoga Poses to Help Relieve Your Back Pain

Posted on

If you want a pain relief method that can benefit your entire body, look to yoga for back pain. Yoga is great for your entire body, but included in this article are three poses geared specifically towards the back. These back poses can relieve many types of back pain, but it’s important to remember to check with your doctor before going all out. 

Three Great Yoga Poses for Back Pain

If you’re having constant back pain, yoga stretches for the spine will benefit you in both the short term and the long term. 

Man is doing yoga poses for back pain relief

Take a look at these three great back poses: 

1. Cobra Pose

The cobra pose is a great type of yoga for back pain because it stretches out the chest, shoulders, abs, and neck.

How it’s done:

  • Lie on the floor facedown with your legs out behind you. Place your hands flat underneath your shoulders, spread your fingertips, and press the tops of your feet into the mat. 
  • Keep your elbows tucked in and lift your chest by pressing your palms against the floor mats. Lift up until you’re fully extended (or as far as you’re comfortable). 
Cobra yoga pose for back pain relief

2. Child’s Pose

Child’s pose is great for relaxation, as it releases tension in all of your muscles.

How it’s done: 

  • With your knees wide, sit on your knees and make sure your big toes touch each other. 
  • Lower down so your belly is between your thighs and rest your forehead on the mat. 
  • Extend your arms with your palms touching the floor, then extend through your fingertips and your tailbone. 
Child yoga pose for back pain relief

3. Seated Side Stretch

This yoga pose stretches the side body, the hips, the hamstrings, and releases tension that builds up in the spine. 

How it’s done:

  • Sit on the floor with your legs extended and your feet hip-width apart. 
  • Open your left leg out as far as what’s comfortable and keep your foot flexed. Bend your right knee and place the sole of your right foot on the inside of your left thigh. 
  • Extend your arms over your head and lean your torso towards the left foot. Keep your spine long and your gaze forward, and rest your hand on your left foot, shin, or thigh while your right arm continues reaching over your right ear. 
Seated Side Stretch yoga pose

Yoga Pose for Back Pain Relief

When it comes to home remedies for back pain, there’s almost nothing more useful than yoga you can Use spine supporters during yoga. The next time you’re feeling tight or achy, try out one (or all) of these poses for some much-needed relief. 

5 Pieces of Yoga Equipment That Belong in Your Home Gym

Posted on

The health benefits of yoga can’t be understated in your everyday exercise routine. If you’re interested in starting with a few basic yoga exercises, you’ll need some high-quality equipment. Fortunately, we at NineFit are here to help! Take a look at our five favorite pieces of yoga equipment to get for your home gym.

1. Basic Yoga Equipment

Before moving on to the more specialized yoga accessories, you have to take care of beginner yoga equipment. Be sure to pick up a comfortable yoga mat, a high-quality yoga towel, and of course, some light, breathable yoga clothes. Once you have the basics covered, you can start looking for more specific pieces of equipment.

Yoga equipment

2. Yoga Cushions

Yoga cushions can be used for certain exercises, and also help to make your exercises more comfortable as a whole. If you need to kneel for a certain yoga pose, for example, you can put a yoga cushion underneath your knee to ease a bit of the strain. In addition, you can invest in a meditation cushion to make long meditation sessions a bit easier.

3. Flexbands

Flex bands can be used to add a bit of extra challenge to yoga poses, as well as any other resistance-based exercises. Typically made of a thick rubber cord, flex bands create tension when stretched, requiring much more effort to move than you’d need under normal circumstances. Naturally, they’re a great way to build muscle strength and get the most out of your yoga exercises.

Woman is doing yoga using flex band

4. Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks are similar to yoga cushions but may be made of tougher materials. Because of this, they can help you stabilize some of your trickier yoga poses and simplify your exercises. They may also help to commit further to a yoga pose than you’d otherwise be able to. Essentially, it’s one of those yoga room accessories that are small but can have a huge impact on the quality of your workout.

5. Yoga Strap

Yoga straps are essentially the opposite of flex bands, designed to help you stretch further than normal. Just put one of the strap’s loops over the area you want to stretch and pull on the strap’s other end. Though it certainly still takes effort, using a yoga strap is one of the easiest ways to become more flexible and build up your range of motion.

Woman is doing exercise using yoga strap

Looking for more great equipment that suits your active lifestyle? Visit NineFit to learn and shop today!