Confessions of an Unbendy Wendy

Some people are blessed with super flexible spines, and let's face it, I'm just not one of them. I used to oooh and aaah over the Flexi Lexy's and Bendy Wendy's who'd just seem to fold effortlessly into the deepest of backbends in a yoga class, without even breaking into sweat, while I huff, puff and wriggle in discomfort, without the success of getting anywhere close to a decent resemblance of the pose. I have pictures on my vision board, of graceful yogis looking serene in Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana (One Legged King Pigeon Pose is my dream pose!), while I struggled for a year (and counting), with a strap, trying to find ease in rotating my oh-so tight shoulders without the feeling of yanking the shoulder out of its socket.

Backbends can be terrifying yet intriguing at the same time... well, at least to me. For the past couple of years, backbends have been a 'frenemy' to me. We have a love-hate relationship, Backbends and I. On the days that I feel flexible, I'd do them, but mostly, I'd just sprinkle backbends in my daily self practice.... well, kinda like a light dusting, really.

Something changed this year. Instead of letting myself whine about tight shoulders and not being bendy, and self-imposing myself into the vortex of backbend despair, I decided to dedicate this year to backbends. As I stared at my Sankalpa for 2013, I wondered if I was writing a suicide note! 

I was so tempted to chicken out several times in my backbend practice this year. It wasn't fast progress that I was after, but I wasn't sure if I could handle the strong, emotional journey that backbends led me on. 

Deep backbends require flexibility, strength, awareness and the willingness to surrender, as a counter-balance. As I ventured into unfamiliar territory and sliced into the subtle sheaths of the energetic body, I encountered disorientation, headaches, the urge to vomit, and extreme shallow breathing while my chest feels like it's been cracked open by a sledgehammer! 

Urdhva Dhanurasana
An Upward Bow a day keeps the
backbend blues away.

Much has been written about how the practice of backbends balances the nervous system, clears blockages in our minds and heart chakra, and flushes out the emotional s**t that we all carry, either consciously or subconsciously. 

As I ride through this (uncomfortable) wave of new discovery, I've also come to embrace the art of surrendering to a yoga practice that never ceases to amaze me each time I step onto the mat. It's not at all about taking the shape of the pose and letting it define my practice.... but about the transformation on an internal level each time I step off the mat. Over these past months, I have come to love backbends and the comfort of finding Anahata joy in the practice. A special thank you goes out to my teacher, Bharath Shetty of Aananda Yoga Indea for his ongoing support and encouragement.

Kapotasana (King Pigeon Pose)
So near yet so far.

In the meantime, as I work towards earning more air miles in these King Pigeon poses, I raise my glass to celebrate the ability to bend, and not break. Cheers!!

Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana
(Single Legged King Pigeon Pose)
Gone strapless!! Woot!

Challenge Pose : Bird of Paradise

To be honest, when I was first introduced to Bird of Paradise in a Flow class years ago, this pose quickly earned a spot on the "Least Favourite Asana" list. As if balancing on one leg isn't already hard enough, but to add in the bind and the extended leg??

That being said, I've made peace with this pose over the years, and found the sthira (steadiness) and sukham (ease) through the practice. Bird of Paradise (Svarga Dvijasana) is a beautiful asana, just like the exotic South African plant that it was inspired by. This intermediate asana requires a deep hamstring stretch, big range of motion in the hip flexors and rotators, open shoulders, a strong balance and an active core. Pretty demanding for a pose named after a tropical flower, don't you think?

Before practising Bird of Paradise, please warm up sufficiently with Sun Salutations. Do include lunges, Parsvakonasana (Side Angle Pose with bind) and Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide Legged Forward Bend with clasped hands) to open those hamstrings and shoulders, and hip openers like Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose). Feel free to use a strap if you have tight shoulders or recovering from a shoulder or elbow injury.

Step 1

From Downward Facing Dog, step your right leg forward into a lunge. Nestle and wrap your right arm under the front leg, and hold your left wrist. Please use a strap or towel if the bind is inaccessible.

Step 2

Step your back leg forward.

Step 3

Shift your weight to the left leg, and lift the right heel off, keeping the right leg hugging into the arm. Stay here for a few breaths as you explore new turf. Don't rush.

Step 4

Flower power time! Establish a firm base, keep the clasp tight, then slowly start to lift the right leg up and stand tall. Fix your gazing point to maintain balance and keep your core fired up. Extend the right leg, pull the shoulders back and down, keep breathing and smile!

Lower the right leg slowly, release the bind and step back into Downward Facing Dog before practising the second side.

If you have tight hamstrings, it's absolutely fine to bend the right knee in the final pose. Work within your limitations, and express the asana in your own terms! With practice, you'll bloom with poise and grace in no time.

Enjoy!