Backbends with Arms Overhead: Double the Challenge, Double the Fun! | Lois Nesbitt

Backbends in which the arms are overhead require flexibility in the spine AND shoulders. Very few of us have both—it's usually one or the other, or neither! But using Anusara's shoulder loop and arm spirals enables us to access poses like wheel (urdhva danurasana), full bow (danurasana), and vipariti dandasana. Attempting these poses requires the Samavesha qualities of courage and patience, as well as the practices of viveka and sanyasa: the wisdom to avoid pushing or forcing our bodies and instead diligently applying intelligent, life-affirming alignment.