help with beginer backbends

[lora]

im a frountbender through and through, but would like to work on backbends and ballance things out a bit.

i cant seem to get into the standard beginers backbends at all (or the contortionists handbook ones either) as my lower back bends alot but my upper back doesnt move at all, so far the only way ive managed an upper back stretch is by sitting backwards on a dining chair with my hips at the edge and hanging off the end (and getting my nose licked by a curious pooch) but my arms are behind me as opposed to against my ears and over (if that makes sense)


is this a good tecnique to use? i can do a cobra but my lower back bends pretty much the full 90 degrees and my upper back stays straight and i cant reach my feet legs to pull in no matter what position i end up in :-)

help?

[George]

the upper back bends not much, what is doing the bendy part are the shoulders. so take the arms over the head and backwards, there you have the upper backbend.
The handbook is quite advanced for beginners. You should start with some easy stuff. I think the bridge would do fine. Use a mirror so you can see how your posture is. try to get the hip as high up as possible. The aim is not necessarly to get the hands to the feet immediately.

[Jenji Dea]

Good suggestions below, also, bridge with elbows down push the chest forward lift the head push hips high with a soft bottom keep the knees together and straighten the legs. Also use a strap to make the over head stretches eventually you will not need it. splits and pigeon with a strap are good.