"You didn't hear this from me, but there are some poses yoga teachers secretly dislike. I can't speak for anyone else, but sometimes they're the ones I tell my class to do but don't demonstrate myself. Like forward folds. These allegedly relaxing poses feel intense in my body as I confront tightness in my lower back. I also find it almost impossible to quiet my thoughts in any forward fold."
"And I'm not the only one. The back is a common site of tension, whether that's due to prolonged sitting, standing, or stressing. Even working toward better posture or practicing a lot of backbends in yoga can cause tightness in the erector spinae group, the long muscles that run along the spine to help stabilize and extend it. The mental resistance can be as challenging as the physical for those of us whose minds won't settle during these poses."
Forward folds can feel unexpectedly intense both physically and mentally, often revealing lower-back tightness and restless thoughts. The erector spinae muscles commonly tighten from prolonged sitting, standing, stress, posture work, or frequent backbends, contributing to discomfort in folding poses. Mental resistance can be as limiting as physical tightness, causing practitioners to abandon the pose. Using simple props such as a chair for support and blankets for cushioning can reduce intensity and maintain spinal stretch. Practicing modified forward-fold variations for 30 seconds to one minute helps build tolerance. Identifying sources of resistance allows attention to return to the breath and body.
Read at Yoga Journal
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