Our spine is the strongest support for our physical structure. It connects and interconnects different nerves, muscles, bones, and tissues and a minor problem in the spine creates a chaotic situation to the entire system. Moreover, it won\u2019t be an exaggeration to say that our spine plays a prominent role in most of our mental and physical functions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Backbends can be challenging, most of us run away from as they could be really taxing emotionally as they activate the sympathetic nervous system which controls our flight-fight stress response. We are sure with the compassionate guidance of Chandana Bhowmick one can edge backbends.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandana Bhowmick is Level II authorized Ashtanga yoga icon with a forte in backbends. A corporate person in her previous life Chandana quitted her job to acquire yogic wisdom. She completed her yoga and philosophy course from Yoga Institute, Mumbai and later acquired Ashtanga yoga training under the aegis of Shri Sharath Jois. Presently she guides people through her Mysore yoga programs in Pune and across the world. Let\u2019s get an insight on the backbends with Chandana Bhowmick :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandana:<\/strong> Backbends is not only about being flexible. It needs strength – core, back, and legs. So when we work on backbends we have to focus on building the suppleness in the back, shoulders and hip joints, strength in our core, back and legs and stability to hold the posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not to forget that we also work on our mind and will power. We work to overcome our fear, limitations, and doubts. We build a lot of perseverance and focus. Thereby working on our emotional stability too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandana:<\/strong> Here I can talk about Ashtanga Yoga. Urdhvadhanurasana is the 1st asana in the closing series. So one starts practicing this asana from the very beginning ( exceptional cases if a student has an injury or physical limitation ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandana:<\/strong> Backbends are powerful even if its a subtle movement. One has to gradually progress and also understand the limitation of the body. I would suggest that such study has to be done under a teacher, one who knows your body and can gradually lead you to deepen your asanas. If you practice alone, patience and observance should be the principle. Listen to your body, understand, observe and study yourself. Take one step at a time. Every individual body responds in its own time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandana:<\/strong> Again I can speak about my school of study, Ashtanga. A sequence in all the series paves the path for progression. Every previous asana plays a role in the next or upcoming asana\/asanas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandana:<\/strong> Flexibility has to be supported by strength to achieve stability in an asana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandana:<\/strong> As a teacher, every day it’s a study day for me. I study, observe and mindfully keep a track of a student’s progression. One has to know when to push, support and sometimes even detach ( let them work on themselves ) from a student. It’s a constant learning process, thinking of ways of helping an individual student in his\/her path. That’s why we encourage to study under one teacher. You build up trust and understanding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandana:<\/strong> Make them do it again \ud83d\ude42 With years of study, practice, and teaching, you develop an understanding as to when one should push, support or even stop a student. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandana:<\/strong> Backbends is just not about being flexible. One has to work on<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nhmy:<\/strong> How backbends strengthen and benefit our physical and emotional well-being? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nhmy:<\/strong> What are the poses one should start their journey in backbends? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nhmy: <\/strong>Backbends provide a huge range of motion, how closely we should use body intelligence while performing backbends? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nhmy:<\/strong> How important is the sequence in backbends? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nhmy:<\/strong> The art of back bending comes with a lot of practice & alignment, what role breathing plays in building strength?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nhmy: <\/strong>Yoga backbends are emotionally & physically challenging. As a teacher, how do you help your students in dealing with such challenges? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nhmy:<\/strong> Many practitioners have an urge to leave backbend quickly in order to calm down, how do you encourage them? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nhmy: <\/strong>What are the myths associated with backbends and what is that Chandana\u2019s principle one must follow in back bending? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n