backbends

Dance with cosmic energy in this challenging yet graceful balancing pose that relies on equal parts effort and ease.

A classic backbend, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana builds strength in your shoulders, core, and legs.

Salabhasana effectively preps you for deeper backbends by strengthening the back of your torso, legs, and arms.

While this backbend may seem a little scary at first, Urdhva Dhanurasana can open your hips and chest—and your practice.

Yes, you can challenge yourself with some heart-opening postures during pitta season. Try these variations of four block-assisted bends.

Move into backbends more safely, knowing you can consciously engage the muscles needed to protect the lumbar spine.

Masumi Goldman reveals the trick to mastering the overhand grip in Dancer and One-Legged King Pigeon Poses is often in (surprise!) the psoas.

Warm up well, then let Budig walk you through the steps to work your way into this big backbend.

This sequence unwinds everyday stress and all of the upper-body tightness created by our digital devices.

In part II of her series on dropbacks, Kathryn Budig has us practice dropping back and getting back up at the wall.

Kathryn Budig teaches us how to begin to prepare for dropping back into Urdhva Dhanurasana.

Kathryn Budig demonstrates a spin on Scorpion that opens the shoulders while leading you on a backbending journey.

Try One-Legged Inverted Staff Pose, plus a range of backbends to open your heart along the way.

Eka Pada Kapotasana is a backbend variation that will open your psoas and your heart.

We know her for arm balances, but here Kathryn Budig shows us how she learned to backbend into Padangustha Dhanurasana, Big Toe Bow Pose.

There's no doubt about it: Backbending can bring up all your "stuff." Embrace it, and you'll improve both your poses and your life.

Gently open the chest-opening and backbending sequence.

Sphinx Pose is the infant of backbends. It can be practiced with either an active or passive approach.