Yin Yoga – Sphinx Pose

Backbends are so important to the health and longevity of our spine. We start to lose our lumbar (lower back) curve naturally as we age, and this is even more likely to happen in those who sit at a desk all day. When we lose that lower back curve, it can cause all kinds of back issues and eventually even the stooped over posture or hunch back of which we often see in elderly people.

Sphinx Pose

Sphinx Pose is one of the most accessible back bends and especially powerful if done Yin Yoga style (held for 3-5 min)

This can be prevented if we pay some attention to maintaining this curve on a regular basis. The Yin Yoga Pose known as Sphinx pose is a great pose to start with. If you sit at a desk for hours at a time, you can practice it every day.

And it’s often a great pose for those who have bulging disks.

Sometimes, when people are new to backbends, there can be some fear around feeling sensation in the lower back, especially if we have had a back injury in the past. But gentle, mindful compression is actually good for our spine and helps us keep our discs stay spongey and young.

However, you want to be sure what you’re feeling is gentle, mindful compression, which will feel like a dull ache. We do not want any sharp or stabbing sensations. If that happens, please do not do this pose and seek medical attention.

In the video below, I’ll walk you through how to practice Sphinx pose including props, variations and modifications.

Enjoy!

nyk

P.S This is just one of many awesome poses we practice in my weekly Yin Yoga Zoom Classes you can learn more about those and sign up here