Presenting Festival Classes and Teachers

The Journey into Backbends with Michaela

Physically backbends open the hips, strengthen and stretch the legs as well as the lower back muscles. Other benefits include increasing the flow of blood, massaging the vital organs and glands as well as loosening the joints. 

Backbends boost energy levels, relieve tensions stored in the muscles and release natural pain-killers

After reading a great article on backbends from the yogaway.com, its great to hear that backbending is not just about bending back.  It is an equal practice of lengthening the front of the body and moving sideways. There are also several inversions that come along with backbends so the practice includes turning upside-down. Iyengar said that backbends massage and exercise the heart in much the same way that running does. The upper thigh muscles are used to push the pelvis forward while the feet and hamstrings muscles support the lift of the hips, legs and lower back. By moving the spine both forward and backward, the heart is stretched in many directions increasing the flow of blood. Unlike running where the knees receive a full impact from each step taken, backbends realigns and reinforce the ligaments of the knees and ankles. 

Aside from the tremendous physical benefits there is a large psychological aspect to backbending. Our minds are challenged through our bodies and our fears are brought to the surface. Backbends have the power to teach us to become more patient with ourselves and to persevere with the task. The mind moves faster than the body which needs time to catch up. Backbends offer important life skills like will, discipline and care. For a good life and a happier one, life needs these. And being true to life, backbending is no exception in that there are set-backs and pitfalls. As baffling that may sound the goal was never about getting your feet to reach your buttocks but in making the path your goal. 

This class is suitable for students, who are not entirely new to practicing yoga. Alternative options of how to take the poses will be given to those who are not experienced.

Michaela is originally from Germany and has lived in Malaysia since 1999. Having been a yoga practitioner for many years she enriched her knowledge and practice further when she arrived in Asia. 

Michaela studied under several well-known Senior Iyengar Yoga Gurus from Australia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the USA. She became a qualified Iyengar Yoga Teacher and started teaching in 2004. Besides running her own yoga studio in Country Heights, Kajang, she is also conducting classes at Yogashala in Taman Desa.

Yoga Spirit Festival Malaysia, 26th & 27th October 2013
https://www.facebook.com/events/524411940959250/