Backbends.
You love them, “dislike” them or just want to get over with them … and justifiably
so. If you take a look at our daily patterns, the majority of our movement is
forward: we sit, we walk, we lie down, we stand — so doing the opposite can be discouraging
and not to mention awkward and uncomfortable.
There are so many variations of scorpion pose likeLocust Scorpion and Forearm Stand Scorpion,
but Handstand Scorpion is my favorite. It's one of the most challenging
poses you can try because it requires the three zingers — balance,
strength, and flexibility.
Back-bending is an unusual position for the spine, and should be
approached very gently by people with back problems, pain or injury,
with the guidance of a yoga teacher. It is also not recommended
to practice Urdhva Danurasana - Bow Pose (pics above) when menstruating, pregnant, very tired,
suffering from high or low blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome,
headache or heart problems. A gentler back-bend, such as Sethu
Bandhasana - Bridge Pose, or a supported back bend may
be more suitable.
With a
little practice, back bending can be one of the most therapeutic parts of yoga.
Quite a few studies show how backbends can stimulate the central nervous
system, boost the immune system, helps counteract damage of bad posture by realigning
the spine, relieves back pain, bronchial distress, scoliotic deformities,
tennis elbow and frozen shoulder, to name a few. Apart from the wonderful
physical benefits, there are also psychological and emotional benefits of back
bending. They can help shift energy leaving the mind more clear and focused and
they can help open the heart chakra and emotional center. B.K.S. Iyengar
even recommended back bending to cure depression.
Having practiced backbends for many years now I understand the images
and the idea of it seem pretty far out. However, I also believe that the
bud or the flower of yoga appears very differently from one
practitioner to the next. In other words, it is not about looking like
this picture or forcing your body into a tight position that feels
totally uncomfortable. Sometimes we have to work through pains and
problems as well as work with our limitations. But a cobra with the feet
near or far from the head is never a sign of a trained or untraind
mind. If a garden is like the mind then it needs weeding, watering and
the soil turned over from time to time.
