Layers of Forward Bends 

February 8, 2013 -– Layers of Forward Bends

Forward bends help undo stiffness that comes from repetitious movements of hiking, running, swimming, etc. There are many such poses, from intense poses (touching your toes), to turtle pose (above). What is different from one forward bend to another? Among their differences we can list degree of hip flexion, presence of pronation or supination, and whether the knees are straight or bent during the forward bend. Another way to distinguish all forward bends is to ascribe to them depth—they each reach a different layer of the body and, by connection to the body, a different layer of the mind. In this workshop, we identify at least three such layers, with the aim of connecting with progressively deeper resources of the body that are otherwise bound up in stiff muscles and other tissues.