learn how to do a backbend from a standing position

After landing several times on my head (weak arms :(), I can now drop back and come up. YAY! Never thought someone as uncoordinated as me could do that – just goes to show – if you put your mind to it you can do anything! Now I just need to work on my handstands…

i gave up because the day i made my goal i sprand my ankle really bad

Currently, I’m working towards a goal of doing yoga every day in 2009. As part of this, I’m trying to do at least one backbend as part of my daily yoga practice.

This week, I worked on Ustrasana, camel pose, and did some supine backbends as part of my restorative yoga practice.

This dosn’t really take long to learn.
Although you do need to have quite a flexxy back.
Practice going down into the backbend on a bed or sofa.
When you achieve this, walk your hands off the sofa and onto the floor.

You can also walk down the wall to the floor.
practice daily thats how i got mine.
xxx

I’ve backed off from dropbacks and instead, I’m working on deepening my backbend. I took a photograph in October, took another one recently and there’s a huge difference in my backbend – my shoulders and chest are much more open.

i will get this! along with a one-handed cartwheel and the splits. i wish everyone good luck!

This is my ‘yoga goal’ for the year. By the end of the year, I would like to be able to drop back into Urdhva Dhanurasana gracefully, without assitance. I’m also hoping to find greater ease in backbends in general.

If you’re just trying to do it from the start and not getting results, STOP. It’s much easier to teach your muscles to do this when you have support, so stand about three feet or so from a wall and lean back with your hands up until your palms touch the wall. Then walk your hands toward the floor. Hold this as long as you can. Do this a few times before trying it on your own.

I had someone there to spot me JUST IN CASE…but I wound up doing it on my own. Now that I’ve done this I’ll keep up the practice so I don’t lose my ability. It’s a good feeling. Last time I did this I was about 20. I’ll be 33 in a couple weeks. Besides doing this for physical reasons and curiosity, the other layer of this was an exercise in confidence.

Today I landed on a 4 inch thick sofa pillow.