The Presence of Right Now

Continuing to Spring Clean our Poses

BACKBENDS
Aah that feeling of opening up the front body and strengthening the back! We do so many of these poses throughout our sequencing it’s just bringing our awareness to them and the affects they create on our body-mind connection.

CONNECT WITH OUR BACKBENDS

They can be done from standing, seated, kneeling, supine and prone. If we’ve been sitting at desks, driving or been hunched over then they’re a great way to reverse the effects of daily life and improve our posture. Some of them stabilise our relationship between the sacrum and pelvis and also improve our breathing as we expand our chests and ribcage and also stimulate the kidneys.

ENERGETIC EFFECTS

They are said to awaken our nervous system, provide an uplifting and stimulating effect to our energy levels, and provide courage and stamina. However if we do too much as with anything we need to monitor our energy levels as they may bring up feelings of vulnerability and also fear. They provide a sense of awareness and connection to unseen parts of the body, which could create a feeling of empowerment in this way when we open up to new realms and possibilities. They are also said to activate Anahata Chakra – our energy centre in the middle of the chest associated with Loving Kindness and Compassion.

MINDFULNESS

As with every Asana (pose) there is never a one pose fits all, as we are all different. We have vulnerable curvatures of the spine, namely our lower backs and necks as they move the most whilst the other areas of the spine stay locked in and stiff.

So as we move through the sequence, please be mindful to note if you are dropping/collapsing into the lower back and jamming the neck, or can we maintain an even curve through the whole length of spine!

Please only take the poses to where you feel comfortable and that means you can breathe into the posture.

Legs: Use your legs – if you avoid using your legs this can put more pressure into the lower back.

Hips: Internal rotation of the hips can alleviate compression of the lower back and
External rotations where the knees fall out can cause contraction and more pressure through the lower back area.
Tight Hip flexors: you may benefit from contracting your glutes.
Open hip flexors – you may be better staying relaxed in your glutes.

“Backbends are not poses meant for expressionism. Backbends are meant to understand the back parts of our bodies. The front body can be seen with the eyes, but the back body can only be felt. That’s why I say these are the most advanced postures, where the mind begins to look at the back..” – B.K.S.Iyengar