Getting Started 10: Backbending

Crossposted at sun_salutation.

Disclaimer: I am not a yoga instructor. I don't know anything about exercise safety or fitness instruction. I'm not even an advanced practitioner of yoga. But I have come to love yoga and am completely self taught.

You know your own body best, so please respect your known health conditions and use the variations offered by instructors that are best for you. Remember to balance where you are now with where you could be in the future. There is no perfect pose.


Backbending

What should be in every (vinyasa) yoga session, ideally? Standing poses and sequences with a lot of movement, such as sun salutations, to generate heat. Twisting. Extensions to the side, as with Triangle (OMG we have not done Triangle!) and Reverse Warrior. Movements in opposite directions, as with any lunge. Building strength. Practicing and enjoying relaxtion while developing flexibility, in seated postures.

What's left? What's left will get your heart pounding and you doing things you haven't considered in years.

Backbending and inversions are what's left! Yup. We still need to really max out moving backwards in space, and we need to get our feet over our heads.

I've been stuck on this backbending post, because I know that while once you are warmed up and have developed some arm strength and confidence, it's not that hard just to pop up into Urdhva Dhanurasana, but the best, most rewarding deep backbending comes after thorough preparation of the knees, quads, abs and back, and I wanted to give you good advice about how to approach that.

( Postures of Increasing Depth )

( Some sequences to get you started )

( Adding Deeper Backbends to Your Practice )

So! Now frighten impress your spouses, friends and children by doing a full backbend, just like you used to do when you were eight! :D


Namaste.