backbending
Sunday, June 7th, 2009
Our normal daily lives mostly center around forward motion and bending. We hunch over our computers, our desks, the sink, the stove, the steering wheel. When life weighs us down, we roll our shoulders forward, closing our heart center. This action causes us to slump into our front body and strains our backbody.
Backbending does not have to mean or include Urdhava Danurasana touching your feet to your head. You can create a safe and simple backbend even seated in a chair. Next time you find yourself feeling the strain of your day present in your spine, take a break to experience the less often visited directions of the spine. Sitting tall in your chair, hold the seat edge with your left hand while reaching the right arm up and over, lengthening right side body. With hips level and feet parallel on the floor take a twist to the left taking the right hand outside the left knee. Now holding the back of your chair with both hands, let your heart open forward as you draw your shoulder blades together and down the back. Open the armpits and widen your collarbones. Take a few easy breaths here and then repeat the process starting with the lateral bend to the right side.
Develop an awareness of your spine.
Give it some love, some attention and then experience the difference of walking through life with an open heart.
-michele