The History of Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks, sometimes called yoga bricks, arrived on the scene in the 1970s. Until recently, they were always made of wood. In fact, yogis would typically make their own yoga blocks. Because of this, the blocks were rarely uniform and some even featured sharp edges. These wooden yoga blocks were also difficult to transport. Some yogis used other household items to create blocks; notably, the yogi Mittra’s first version of a yoga block was a large telephone directory covered with foam and cloth. Over time, wooden blocks became less ubiquitous and foam blocks became the norm because they were lightweight and easy to clean. More recently, cork yoga blocks and curved egg blocks have become popular. However, wooden yoga blocks haven’t disappeared completely, as many yogis still prefer them for their superior stability.