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Grounded Backbend
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Partner Yoga Pose: Grounded Backbend
Backbends are some of my favorite yoga poses. Since our bodies rarely have the opportunity to bend this way, not only is arching the spine a treat but it stretches the front part of your body quite nicely. Not only that, but increasing flexibility in your spine is a great way to stay healthy and avoid lower back pain.
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Strike a Yoga Pose: King Pigeon
It's so important to include backbends in your stretching routine. Not only do they increase flexibility in your spine and neck, but they also stretch your abs, hip flexors, shoulders, and chest. This pose is a combination of Bow and Cobra and it's one of my favorites.
Strike a Yoga Pose: One-Legged Inverted Staff Pose
So many people I know are always complaining of lower back pain and tight shoulders from sitting all day. We're either standing or hunched over a desk and we hardly ever bend our backs in the opposite direction. So give this One-Legged Inverted Staff Pose a try.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Inverted Staff Pose
If you love backbends, it's because you are probably emotional with an open heart and tender nature, and hold excitement about the future. Here's a variation to the backbend called Inverted Staff. The base of this pose is actually a headstand, so it's a very grounding.
Stretch It: Seated Heart Opener
In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought we could all benefit from a little heart-opening stretch. This simple and relaxing backbend will open your chest, neck, shoulders, and abs. It will also increase flexibility in your spine, and make you feel centered and full of energy.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Wheel
In Ashtanga yoga, right before you go into the closing sequence, you do the Wheel, aka backbend. This is one of my favorite poses because not only does it increase flexibility in your spine, but it also opens up your shoulders and strengthens your upper back and thighs.
Sanskrit Name: Urdhva Dhanurasana
English Translation: Upward Bow Pose
Also Called: Wheel or Full Backbend
Want to know a great trick for getting into this pose?
Get on the Ball: Advanced Camel
I love backbending poses. Stretching through the front of my body makes me feel so open and alive. I always feel so energized afterwards.
Minutes to a Healthier You . . .
You may feel like if you don't have enough time to do a full workout, that it's not worth doing anything, but every minute that you move adds up. If you're not sure what to do, try this five exercise circuit and repeat it twice.
To find what the five exercises are read more
Strike a Yoga Pose: Half Wheel
Backbending poses are great for opening your heart and chest, both figuratively and literally. I love this particular backbend because not only does it increase flexibility in your spine, but it also stretches 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.
Couch Time: Scorpion
Since I run a lot, my hip flexors and lower back get really tight, so I love stretches that focus on opening these areas, such as Scorpion. This is actually a yoga pose that's a balancing backbend. It feels amazing on the front of your body and your spine, but it's a really difficult pose to get into, let alone hold long enough to get a good stretch.
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