Why forward bends?
Forward bends are great for people with lower back problems which cause the hamstrings to get tight and weak. Sitting at a desk all day or driving long hours is one of the culprits. Forward bends give a stretch to the posterior part of the body and massages your digestive organs. The hamstrings start to really open up whilst folding forwards, giving liberation and mobility to your lower back.

Why backward bends?
Backward bends work with all the muscles which support the spine, giving greater flexibility and elasticity. Backward bends also expand your chest and create space in your heart centre. It’s a great posture for those who protect their heart as they don’t feel safe feeling vulnerable. All yoga postures have physical and physiological benefits as well as emotional and energetic. In my classes, I like to work through all the layers in a traditional metaphysical way. When we internalise stress into our energetic body and avoid facing our issues by pushing them away, this will eventually manifest into physical form such as backache, tension, discomfort or disease.

Low back pain — a debilitating, sometimes excruciating problem affecting most people at some point in their lives. This can be prevented by exercises that promote well-balanced, resilient core muscles. When back pain strikes, a regimen of core exercises is often prescribed to relieve it. I’ll be showing you how to do these exercises correctly and effectively to get the best possible results. Examples like bending to put on shoes, scooping up a package, turning to look behind you, sitting in a chair or simply standing still are just a few of the many mundane actions that rely on your core which you might not notice until the movement becomes difficult or painful. Even basic activities of daily living, such as bathing or dressing, for example — call on your core.In general, forward and backward bending work opposing muscle groups. When folding forward, it’s a flexion action and when going backward it’s an extension action. One movement lengthens ( eccentric ) and the other shortens (concentric). These opposing muscle movements create muscular strength in your abdomen and suppleness in your back.