backbend

If you're looking for a gentler inversion alternative than Wheel Pose, Bridge (Sanskrit name: Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) should be your go-to. While my favorite — and least favorite! — poses are constantly evolving, I have always been partial to this beautiful heart-opening pose. The reason? Although it's very active and energizing, there's also something relaxing and calming about Bridge. Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of this fantastic pose and take your Bridge to the next level.

1. Set up strong: When you're setting up the pose, lay a strong foundation. Lie supine (lying down with face upward) on the floor. Take a few deep breaths to get grounded and relaxed. Bend your knees, plant your feet flat on the floor, and make sure the knees are hips-distance apart.
2. Align it right: As you push your pelvis up and forward, your knees should be directly over your heels. If you want to make sure you have the right distance between your shoulders and your feet, here's a great rule of thumb: when you reach for your heels, your fingertips should just graze the back of your feet. Keep your arms extended on either side of your body with palms facing down. If you want to take it up a notch, clasp your hands under your pelvis, and as you come into the full expression of the pose, roll your shoulders in toward one another.

Learn more tips on doing Bridge after the break!

Doing Full Backbend, also known as Wheel pose, isn't exactly on the list of beginner moves. It's demanding both from a flexibility as well as a strength standpoint, so it's best to stick to Half Wheel, Camel, and other easier variations before trying your hand at Full Backbend. When you are ready, here are some things to keep in mind to ensure you're doing this heart-opening pose safely and comfortably.

• Clenching your tush: It takes lower body strength to hold yourself up in Wheel, but that doesn't mean you need to clench your glutes. Focus on engaging your quads and calves to release tension in your bum, allowing your lower spine to relax and fully extend.

Keep reading to find out other mistakes you might be making in Full Backbend.

This stretch may look familiar if you've taken a yoga class. It's the prep pose you learn before doing Wheel pose. Also called Half Wheel, this stretch will increase flexibility in your spine and also stretch out your shoulders and the back of your neck. Because it doesn't require a lot of energy, it has both a calming and energetic effect on the body and mind.

• Begin lying flat on your back with your arms along the sides of your body, with your palms facing down.
• Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor. Walk your heels as close as you can to your bum, keeping them hip-width apart. Make sure both feet are parallel.
• With your palms and feet pressing firmly into the ground, lift your hips off the floor.
• Stay here, or clasp your hands together below your pelvis, extending through your arms. I like to rock my weight from side to side so that I can bring my shoulder blades closer together.
• Stay here for 30 seconds. Try to keep lifting the hips up as high as you can, and gaze toward your belly.
• To release this stretch, gently lower your booty back to the ground. Then stretch through your lower back by hugging your knees into your chest.

This position feels great if you have been slumped over a steering wheel or a keyboard for hours. Try it and tell me how you feel.

If you want to open your heart, both figuratively and literally, backbends are the way to go. There's no need to spring yourself into a challenging variation like Full Wheel when you can do a much more gentle variation like this one. Not only does it increase flexibility in your spine, but holding on to your ankles also allows you to deeply stretch your chest, shoulders, and the back of your neck. Because it doesn't require a lot of energy, this pose has both a calming and energetic effect on the body and mind.

Sanskrit Name: Bada Setu Bandha Sarvangasana English Translation: Bound Bridge Pose Also Called: Bound Half Wheel

For details on how to do this deliciously juicy-feeling stretch, read more

After hunching forward blogging all day my body craves backbends. Luckily for me, Camel pose is a staple in a yoga practice. Do this pose regularly to increase flexibility in your lower back, shoulders, and hip flexors but to also strengthen your quads and abs.

Sanskrit Name: Ustrasasana English Translation: Camel Pose

Curious to know how to get into this pose? Then read more

We've talked about some extremely challenging variations of Locust pose such as Inverted Locust where you're balancing on your shoulders and chin, and Locust Scorpion where your feet are touching your head. Now let's take it down a notch and do plain old Locust pose. It's a great way to tone the muscles in the back of your body. It may look relaxing, but you'll definitely feel this one working, and it's a great complement to ab exercises.

Sanskrit Name: Salabhasana A English Translation: Locust Pose

Keep reading to learn how to do this pose.

If Wheel is one of your favorite poses, here's a variation that takes the weight from your hands to your head. It's similar to Bow pose, but it's upside down.

Sanskrit Name: Sirsa Dhanurasana English Translation: Headstand Bow Pose

To learn the prep pose to get into this keep reading

Stretching in bed relaxes your body before going to sleep, and it can also be a great way to gently wake up in the morning. This gentle stretch will lengthen the muscles in your abs, chest, and neck, and it'll also increase flexibility in your spine.

To find out how to do this stretch, hop in bed and read more