#bikram backbending

[26yogapostures-blog]

Beginners are always afraid of back-bending. Make sure to stress that the hips, stomach, legs everything must come forward.

Bikram Choudhury

[26yogapostures-blog]

Drop the head back as far as it goes. The head and arms do not need to stay together.

Bikram Choudhury

[26yogapostures-blog]

The standing back-bend is regulated by locked knees.

Craig Villani

[26yogapostures-blog]

Do not contract the gluteal muscles until you reach your maximum expression then tighten.

Rajishree Choudhury

[26yogapostures-blog]

Lift your breastbone up as you go down into it, instead of jamming only the lower waistband spine. You HAVE to have your elbows pressing IN, not bowing out before you go down. Also, LIFT the front of the neck and shoulders and armpits before you drop down. Then you lift UP, OUT and OVER your waistband spine so you do not get that crimping feeling.

Mary Jarvis for All Back-bending Heals the Spine

[26yogapostures-blog]

Allow your exhale to lower you into your maximum depth, allow your inhale to lift you up and forward. Reverse this pattern on purpose by pulling backward more vigorously into the posture during the inhalation (taking you more fulling into the posture) and then relaxing and easing off the posture during the exhale (thereby reducing tension).

Anatomy of Hatha Yoga, Dr. H. David Coulter 

[26yogapostures-blog]

Emotional Benefits

Helps to break through insecurity and fear.

Relieves stress and tedium.

Opening the lower back helps to free you from insecurity and taking yourself too seriously.

Helps to build confidence and self-esteem in children.

[26yogapostures-blog]

Energetic Benefits

Stimulates all the chackras, primarily creating opening in the fourth (heart) chackra.