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Understanding Yoga through Knowledge and Practice




ASANA: BACKBENDS:

Backbends open the heart and can be a tonic for the spine when done gently. They also help you to build trust in yourself and can leave you feeling joyous and refreshed.


BHEKASANA (Frog Pose)

  • Lie on the belly and bring the forearms onto the floor
  • Press pubic bone into floor and lengthen legs behind you
  • Bend right knee and either hold top of foot with right hand or use strap to hold foot
  • Lift heart and relax shoulders
  • Hold 5-10 breaths then release and change sides
  • Therapeutics: Stretches quadriceps and Psoas
  • Preparation: Bhujangasana
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BHUJANGASANA (Cobra Pose)

  • Lie on the belly with the hands under the shoulders
  • Press pubic bone into floor and lengthen legs behind you
  • Inhale and press upper body away from floor keeping shoulders back and chest broad
  • Hold 5-10 breaths and release chest to floor
  • Restorative: Can support lower abdomen with rolled blanket
  • Therapeutics: Opens front body, stretches lower back, strengthens arms
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DHANURASANA (Bow Pose)

  • Lie on belly with arms to sides
  • Bend both knees and grasp ankles with hands
  • Inhale and raise head, chest and knees away from floor
  • Hold up to 5 breaths and release
  • Therapeutics: Strengthens lower back and spinal muscles, stretches quadriceps and opens chest
  • Preparation: Bhekasana
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EKA PADA RAJAKAPOTASANA (One-Legged King Pigeon Pose)

  • Begin in Adho Mukha Svanasana
  • Bring right knee onto floor behind right wrist, place shin across mat so that the right foot is on the left side of the mat
  • Stretch left leg behind you and try to square hips using a folded blanket under right hip if needed
  • Inhale press hands into floor as you lift the heart - hold 5-10 breaths
  • Exhale and fold over bent leg - hold up to 2 minutes
  • Release by pressing back to Adho Mukha Svanasana
  • Therapeutics: Stretches outer hip of front leg, and lower back
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MATSYASANA (Fish Pose)

  • Lie on back with arms to sides
  • Inhale and lift head and chest away from floor, support with forearms under back
  • Rest back of head lightly on floor
  • Hold 5-10 breaths and release
  • Therapeutics: Opens throat and chest,  counterpose for Salamba Sarvangasana
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SALABHASANA (Locust Pose)

  • Lie on belly with arms to sides
  • Press pubic bone into floor and lengthen legs behind you
  • Inhale and press palms towards ceiling as you lift legs away from floor
  • Hold 5 breaths and release
  • Therapeutics: Strengthens lower back and spinal muscles
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SETU BANDHA (Bridge Pose)

  • Lie on back with knees bent and feet hips with apart
  • Inhale and lift hips away from floor, rolling onto upper back
  • Clasp hands underneath body or press palms into floor
  • Hold 5-15 breaths and release
  • Restorative: Place folded blanket under shoulders and sacrum on block
  • Therapeutics: Opens chest and activates thyroid
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URDHVA DHANURASANA (Upward Facing Bow Pose)

  • Lie on back with knees bent hips width apart, hands under shoulders
  • Inhale and press body away from floor so that head and hips are lifted
  • Draw elbows together and keep knees from splaying apart
  • Hold up to 10 breaths and release
  • Therapeutics: Energizing, opens entire front body
  • Preparation: Adho Mukha Svanasana, Active Setu Bandha, Dhanurasana
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URDHVA MUKHA SVANASANA (Upward Facing Dog Pose)

  • Lie on belly with hands under shoulders
  • Lengthen legs behind you
  • Press plams into floor and inhale the upper body and thighs away from the floor
  • Keep shoulders back and chest broad
  • Hold 5-10 breaths and release
  • Therapeutics: Strengthens arms, stretches front body
  • Preparation: Bhujangasana
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USTRASANA (Camel Pose)

  • Kneel with toes pointed and blocks places outside of ankles
  • Bring hands together at the heart
  • Inhale lift heart and lean back keeping thighs perpendicular to floor and pressing pubic bone forward
  • Bring hands onto blocks or onto heels
  • Hold 5-10 breaths and release
  • Therapeutics: Opens front body and stretches quadriceps, psoas and chest.
  • Preparation: Dhanurasana
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Asana Index:  Warm-Ups - Seated Poses - Standing Poses
Forward Bends
- Back Bends - Twists - Inversions - Restoratives