Gripitz Yoga and Exercise Blocks

by Gripitz

Product Features

• Reduces stress on the wrists & elbows
• Grip area is 5" long and approximately 1.75" diameter

Product Description

Gripitz Blocks ,(2 in a package) allow the user to maintain a more neutral wrist position while performing exercises where your arms, wrist and hands bear weight; exercises like pushups, handstands and sun salutations in yoga. The neutral wrist decreases stress at the wrist joint and carpal tunnel, reducing tension on the median nerve. "As an orthopedic physical therapist for nearly 20 years and a student of yoga for 6, I can honestly say 'I love Gripitz'. They help my wrists stay safe and comfortable, and also double as a yoga block. I recommend them to my patients who cannot or should not perform a traditional chatarunga. They are a safe and smart yoga tool!" --Kathleen McDonough M.A.P.T. Clinical Exercise Specialist; Pilates Instructor Specialist "Gripitz allow the user to load the wrist in a more neutral position, reducing unwanted stress on the wrist joint, carpal tunnel, and surrounding ligaments" --Gretchen Nelson MSPT-Physical Therapist CYT-Yoga Instructor

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• ASIN: B002IAQKNG
• Item model number: GRIPITZ PAIR
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,749 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good for static poses, January 11, 2011

By 

Kathleen Church "Kathy Church" (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gripitz Yoga and Exercise Blocks (Misc.)

I've been practicing vinyasa power yoga regularly for two years and I got these blocks hoping they'd help relieve the chronic wrist/thumb pain in my right hand. While the blocks may work well for a static pose like upward dog, they don't work very well for the flow between Chaturanga, upward dog, and down dog. The rigidity of the blocks do not allow for enough natural motion of the hands, wrists, and arms. And if you are not strong enough to push into upward dog from Chaturanga without lowering your torso to the floor first (I'm not), then these blocks may be very difficult to use. In short, if you practice any kind of vinyasa yoga, these blocks may not work for you. If your practice involves a lot of static arm balances, then these may help with wrist pain.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saved my practice, June 20, 2010

By 

yoga girl "yoga girl" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gripitz Yoga and Exercise Blocks (Misc.)

I have been practicing yoga for 8 years, and recently started experiencing wrist pain from the intense extension of many yoga positions. A substitute teacher noticed my constant stopping to rotate an flex my wrist to ease the pain. She told me that she had had the same problem and, after being evaluated by two hand surgeons, had been told that small boned people are prone to these injuries and that they will likely not get better on their own. She recommended gripitz. I LOVE them. They have totally saved my practice. In addition to allowing me to keep my wrist in a neutral position, they provide a little extra room for jumping through and such....My wrist has almost healed, and I'm not sure whether I'll try yoga without gripitz or just consider them a permanent part of my practice...

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Saved my practice, but bummed that they are "Made in China", October 13, 2011

By 

turtledove (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gripitz Yoga and Exercise Blocks (Misc.)

I had to give up my home yoga practice 2 years ago after developing ganglion cysts in both of my wrists, which prevented me from being able to bear any weight or do any position that required flexing my wrists at a 90 degree angle. I went through PT to alleviate the wrist pain, but wanted to find out how to start practicing yoga again. I found the Gripitz blocks on Amazon and decided to give them a try. After my first practice with them, I can say that they definitely allow those of us with chonic wrist pain to keep our wrists in a more neutral position doing weight-bearing poses. I kept them at the front of my mat and adjusted them as needed throughout my practice. I was a little suprised that the material that forms the large blocks on the ends (same material as typical yoga blocks) slid a little bit off my mat during long downward dogs, so I just adjusted them to be on the carpet and the sliding stopped (this could also be because I have an old mat that has lost some of it's stickiness). I can understand how having to use them can break up a faster paced "flow" practice and make it feel more clunky, but for me and anybody else who can't practice due to wrist pain, these are a god-send. My biggest disappointment in this product was seeing the packaging that said "Made in China", although it's an American company that designed and markets them. Really, why can't an American company manufacture their products in America?