Crack your heart open

Oh am I happy to invite you to this one… Not only are we diving into the world of backbends, but we are also returning to our journals.

Backbends in yoga – aka heart openers – is a broad category of postures that open the multidimensional heart space in the body, and that many yogis have a complicated relationship with. We tend to either feel fearful and challenged, or overly confident. Fear, challenges and confidence are feelings and attributes which can all be great in the right situation and when originating in knowledge. When it’s the ego talking, it’s a different story…

I have said it before and I’ll say it again – knowledge is power. This is so true in yoga, and definitely when it comes to bending backwards. With the right preparation and skill, we move into backbends to feel equanimity (balance) rather than attainment, cultivating freedom rather than perfection.

Getting comfortable with backbends is about lots more than having a super flexible spine. The whole body needs to be working together, and depending on which category of backbends you are working with different parts of the body need to be strong or open. The ultimate goal is not to nail the deepest arch possible, but instead to aim towards creating an even extension through the spine whilst opening to full movement of breath.

In this workshop, we’ll explore the three main categories of backbends and how we need to prepare the body for each kind including extension and flexion of the shoulders. If you feel fearful and challenged by backbends this is your chance to learn how to work your unique body to move into backbends with more ease and confidence. If you instead find backbends a bit too easy, this is your opportunity to work towards equanimity. Often, a very flexible spine tends to result in an overarching and compressed lower back.

Working with backbends is a lot about surfing one’s edge, and no better way to do that than by practicing compassion toward oneself and cultivating a sense of inner harmony – something that heart opening asanas (postures) are very good at. Through the journaling prompts we’ll lean into love as “the glue that holds everything together in the unending process of change” [Mark Stevens].

The workshop is open to all levels of practitioner, with some physical ability required. We’ll start with a warming flow to prepare the body, followed by deeper backbending holds and paired journaling promts. The session will end with a guided meditation and relaxation. We’ll be using prompts of all kinds, and the studio has everything you need. 

 Book before May 6 for the Early bird price.