Using Blocks in Forward Fold Yoga Pose

Video Transcript

"GINA KENNEDY: Uttanasana or a standing forward fold seems like it would be an easy pose and it may be for some people, but for people with tight hamstrings and a tight lower back, it can be somewhat difficult to get your hands to the floor. So we're going to alleviate that problem by having the floor come up to your hands. We're going to ask Faith to stand nice and tall in her mountain pose. Good. She's going to inhale and reach her arms up to the sky. Good. She presses her heels down, lifting up and then exhaling, just falling forward right out of her waist. Good. For Faith who's very flexible, it's kinda hard for her not to come all the way down there but, yeah, we're going to pretend Faith can't come down and would have a rounded spine, so that we can place the blocks right underneath her hands. Good. So, she can adjust by bending her knees and coming down. Good. And then we can place another block just so the crown of her head can go right to that block and--yes--then she doesn't have to worry about not being able to touch the floor, 'cause we've brought the floor up to her hands, up to her head, and she can get a nice spinal release and a stretch through the hamstrings and her calves."