What to use instead of Yoga blocks: 7 alternatives

Do you know this situation? You follow along with a Yoga video, enjoying the flow, when all of the sudden the teacher says “Now grab your Yoga blocks and…” And, of course, you don’t have a Yoga block available. Either because you are travelling or because you simply don’t own one. So what now?

If you keep finding yourself in the situation where you ask yourself “What can I use instead of a Yoga block?!”, don’t worry. I’ll give you 7 substitutes for Yoga blocks right here!

Related: Everything you need to know about Yoga blocks

Disclosure: Some of the links below are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Book

If you’re practicing yoga at home and are not sure what to use instead of a yoga block, simply go for a book!

Books are certainly the classics for replacing Yoga blocks in your practice. Many of them have just the right size to act as a substitute for yoga blocks.

And if they are sturdy enough, you can easily use them to help you balance your standing poses as well as sitting asanas.

Towel

Okay, no matter if you’re at home or on vacation in a hotel, you’ll definitely have access to a towel. And guess what? A rolled up towel can work perfectly well as a stand-in for Yoga blocks!

Because of its softness, this solution works best for those poses where you want to boost your seat up a little. Or for restorative Yoga poses where you need a little added height.

Related: 12 of the best restorative yoga gifts for some yogic R&R
Related: How to lower cortisol levels with restorative Yoga

Box

Still got some boxes around from your last online shopping spree? Chances are, at least one of them is the right size to act as a yoga block replacement.

You could even use them to craft your own DIY yoga blocks! Just be careful to not put too much weight onto an empty cardboard box. Simply use it to boost your arm length.

Blanket

Similarly to the towel solution, you can also use any blanket as replacement for your Yoga props.

Simply roll it up to the height you need, and go for it! Keep in my though, that both a blanket and a towel will offer less stability than a block. Softness comes with a price!

Milk carton

Want to use more household items as yoga props? Try a milk carton! Those little boxes have the perfect size to double as a Yoga block replacement, and most people have them around.

To make it more stable, use one that’s still full.

Related: How to use a yoga strap to improve your practice (+free PDF)

Foam roller

I love my foam roller to roll out painful muscles and increase my flexibility. And I also regularly use it as a Yoga block alternative, when I don’t have my blocks around.

It will not work for all poses, as it is round and might roll away when you try to gain some stability. But to simply add a little height, it can work perfectly well!

Oh, another note: my foam roller is sleek like this one*. If your foam roller has 3d massage grids on it, it might not work as well as a Yoga block substitute.

Yoga mat

Last but not least, you can also simply replace a Yoga block with your rolled-up Yoga mat.

Related: How to find the best Yoga mat​

This is more of a last resort, as you might not reach the height or the stability you’ll need. But it’s definitely worth a try, and a 100% better than nothing!

Share these Yoga block alternatives!

I hope you found something you can use on this list. If you liked it, please share this with someone who could benefit from it as well!

And, then keep reading on how to use yoga blocks most efficiently here!

*These links are so-called provision links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I can earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.