Sneaky Yoga Tips & Tricks: How To Move A Backbend Further Up Your Back

A lot of yogis will dump into their lower back in a back bend.

You really want to move more of the bend up, into your upper back (thoracic) and your shoulders.

This can be hard to do if your lower back is used to doing all the bending. Try this.

You'll need a yoga strap (or a belt), which goes around your arms above your elbows.

This keeps your elbows from flaring, and forces your shoulders to open more in backbends.

Ok, here's the kicker. To prevent your lower back from bending, hence forcing the bend further up your back, use a weight belt.

A weight belt is normally used by body builders to help support their lower back, when lifting heavy loads.
 

You can buy them from any sports store. Make sure you can do it up real tight.

All you do, is put on the belt and then do your normal back bend routine.

The belt stops your lower back from bending, forcing your upper back and shoulders to bend more.

After a while, using the belt, you'll start to get control of your stomach during backbends. Weird, I know. But it works.

Bend it like Beckham, J.