In the fast-paced world of high-performance living, yoga is often mistaken for a pursuit of pretzel-like flexibility. However, I am here to make it easy and accessible for you. True mastery lies in alignment, not just how deep your spine bends.
For the modern practitioner, I would recommend you use yoga blocks to achieve this alignment with ease. Not as a crutch but as a precision tool that brings the floor to you. This allows the body to open safely while boosting vitality. You will see tangible results in as quickly as five minutes of practice each day.
Here are four essential asanas designed to refine your alignment and revitalise your organs. All you need to do is spend a minute in each of these poses observing your natural breath.
Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
Target Organ: Liver and Gallbladder.
The Block Advantage: Place a block on the inside arch of your front foot. Instead of reaching for the floor and collapsing your chest toward the ground, rest your hand firmly on the block.
• The Benefit: The block provides the height needed to keep the torso elongated. This creates a massive lateral stretch that decompresses the right side of the abdomen, stimulating the liver and improving bile flow from the gallbladder for better detoxification.
Malasana (Yogi Squat)
Target Organ: Reproductive System and Lower Intestines.
The Block Advantage: Place one or two blocks stacked horizontally directly under your sit-bones, allowing you to “sit” into the squat, while maintaining a tall spine.
• The Benefit: For many, this primal position causes the heels to lift or the back to round. Sitting on a block stabilizes the pelvis, allowing the hip flexors to relax. This promotes healthy blood flow to the reproductive organs and creates the necessary “apana” (downward energy) to support healthy elimination and pelvic floor tone.
Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
Target Organ: Thyroid and Parathyroid glands.
The Block Advantage: Placing a block horizontally under the shoulder blades (thoracic spine) allows for a controlled heart-opening experience. This creates a gentle extension in the neck without compressing the cervical spine.
• The Benefit: By elevating the chest, and opening the throat chakra towards the sky, you stimulate the thyroid gland. This helps regulate metabolism and energy levels throughout the day.
Setu Bandhasana (Supported Bridge Pose)
Target Organ: Digestive System (Large & Small Intestines).
The Block Advantage: Slide a block under the sacrum (the flat bone at the base of your spine) at your preferred height.
• The Benefit: This passive inversion uses gravity to shift the abdominal organs toward the diaphragm. It relieves pressure on the digestive tract, soothing the nervous system to move the body into a “rest and digest” state. This is also a great asana to activate your posterior chain. So don’t forget to fire up your glutes and hamstrings while you are here.
Bonus practice: From foundation to flight.
Sarvangasana
Target Organ: Heart and Thyroid.
The Block Advantage: Use the block as a launchpad. Starting in Setu Bandhasana (Bridge) with a block under your sacrum provides the pelvic stability needed to transition safely.
• The Move: Once stable in your supported Bridge, draw your knees toward your chest. Extend your legs toward the ceiling, keeping your weight on your shoulders and never the neck.
• The Benefit: This transition into Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand) reverses blood flow, giving the heart a break from pumping against gravity. The “chin lock” created in this pose further stimulates the thyroid, boosting metabolic health and mental clarity.
Why We Use Props
We often forget that the most sophisticated machines require the most precise calibration and what is our body if not a vehicle for your life.
Using blocks helps you achieve structural integrity with ease. We move out of “survival mode” into “optimisation mode” because we feel stable and we are no longer focused on trying not to fall. In this space, your breath deepens, your organs receive the targeted compression and release, and your nervous system finally shifts from high – alert to high – performance. True luxury is having the support you need to reach your full potential, both on the mat and in the world.
-Varsha Venkatesh is a wellness visionary and movement specialist dedicated to the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern vitality. With a keen eye for alignment and healing, Varsha is here to empower individuals to reclaim their physical narrative through mindfulness and movement. Varsha is a trauma informed coach who explores the nuances of high-performance living and sustainable wellness for the modern era. @yogavriksha www.yogavriksha.in