Do Backbends Open Your Front or Your Back Body?
When I started yoga, as an inflexible 43-year-old, I couldn't even ...
When I started yoga, as an inflexible 43-year-old, I couldn't even hold the sphinx pose without feeling it in my lower back. I spent a few months holding backends like ...the sphinx, cobra, and camel pose for about one minute each (holding stretches long enough is one of the guiding principles behind my Full-Body Flexibility Transformation Program).
Over time, as my back flexibility increased, I started feeling my backends in my front body.
While it is true that backbends primarily open the front body, specifically the chest, shoulders, and hip flexors, if your spine lacks flexibility, attempting backbends may feel challenging, uncomfortable, or even cause strain.
When you perform a backbend, you extend your spine backward, creating a deep stretch on both sides of your body. This can help improve flexibility in the chest and shoulders, counteracting the effects of hunching over or sitting for extended periods.
While opening the front body, backbends also engage and strengthen the muscles along the spine, including the erector spinae.
Regular practice of backbends can contribute to better posture, increased spinal flexibility, and improved overall mobility.
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