Backbends Flashcards
What is Anuvitasana?
Standing Spinal Extension
What are the potential complications with alignment for a standing spinal extension?
Sinking in the low back either due to lack of engagement and awareness or bilaterally, hypertonic psoas.
What is strengthened in a standing spinal extension?
Rectus Abdominus
Hip Flexors
Quads
What is lengthened in a standing spinal extension?
Rectus Abdominus
Hip Flexors
Shoulders (LATS)
What are some other benefits for a standing spinal extension?
Uplifts and awakens the body via adrenaline boost
Opens the chest
Helps fight depression
Keeps the spine flexible
What are some cautions and contrainindications for a standing spinal extension?
QL Spasms
Posteriorly Bulging Disks or Spinal Injury
Hip Injury
Vertigo
What are some preparatory postures for a Standing Spinal Extension?
Tadasana
Urdhva Hasta Tadasana
What is Marichyasana I?
Sage Pose
What is Sage Pose?
Seated Bind
What are some potential complications with alignment for Sage Pose?
Tightness in the shoulders and chest can reduce the ability to wrap the arms completely so a strap may be used to catch the hands.
Tightness in the hips will make it difficult to get the heels close enough to the sitting bone also making it difficult to bind as the shin is further away.
What does Sage Pose strengthen?
Hamstrings
Rhomboids and Mid Traps
What does Sage Pose lengthen?
Shoulders Glutes Inner Thighs Outer Hips Low Back Muscles
What are some other benefits of Sage Pose?
Therapeutic for flatulence
Therapeutic for constipation
What are some cautions and contraindications for Sage Pose?
Diarrhea
Hip or Shoulder Injury
What are some preparatory poses for Sage Pose?
Triangamukha Ekapada Paschimottanasana
Janu Sirasana
What is Bharadvajasana?
Seated Twist of the Sage
What are some potential complications for alignment with seated twist of the sage?
If both sitting bones are not on the ground the twist can feel compressed so many students may prefer a blanket under the hips to level off the pelvis.
What does seated twist of the sage strengthen?
Obliques
QL
Spinal Rotators
What does seated twist of the sage lengthen?
Obliques
Outer Hips
What are some other benefits of seated twist of the sage?
Relieves Stress
Compresses the Internal Organs (Squeeze and Soak Method)
Opens the Chest
Keeps the spine flexible
What are some cautions and contrainindications for Seated Twist of the Sage?
Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure
Insomnia
What are some preparatory poses?
Baddha Konasana
Virasana
What is Ashtangasana?
Eights Points Pose
What are some potential complications with alignment for Eights Points Pose?
Tightness in the chest and the anterior deltoids will make it difficult to release the chest to the floor. Lack of engagement in the rhomboids can also limit the chest movement.
Tightness in the platysma muscle and anterior throat muscles can limit the ability to look forward and bring the chin to the floor. Students with a compromised neck may choose to bring the forehead to the ground instead of the chin.
What is strengthened in Eights Points Pose?
Neck
Shoulder
Upper Back
What is lengthened in Eights Points Pose?
Abdominals
Chest Muscles
Anterior Aspect of the Shoulders
What are some other benefits of Eights Points Pose?
Uplifts and awakens the body
Opens the Chest
Helps fight the Depression
Keeps the spine flexible
What are some cautions and contrainindications for Eights Points Pose?
Posteriorly Bulging Discs or Spinal Injury
Wrist, Elbow, or Shoulder Injury
What are some preparatory postures for Eights Points Pose?
Cat/Cow
Adho Mukha Svanasana
What is Salabhasana?
Locust Pose
What are the potential complications with Locust Pose?
Students may wish to pad underneath the hips if the surface is harder
Weakness in the spinal erectors will make it difficult to lift the chest off the ground
Students may often try to lift the legs by bending at the knees rather than engaging the hamstring/gluteal connection, this can be due to lack of strength or lack of awareness
What is strengthened with Locust Pose?
Hamstrings Glutes Spinal Erectors LATS Posterior Deltoids Rhomboids, Mid and Low Traps
What is lengthened with Locust Pose?
Rectus Abdominus
Hip Flexors
Anterior Shoulders and Chest Muscles
What are some other benefits of Locust Pose?
Uplifts and awakens the body via adrenline boost
Opens the chest
Helps fight depression
Keeps the spine strong and flexible
What are some cautions and contrainidications for Locust Pose?
Headache
Significant Back Injury
What are some preparatory poses for Locust Pose?
Cat/Cow
Virbhadrasana 1