Backbending can be very energising. You’ll be amazed at how well it opens the body to let in the breath when you get it right.

There are several versions of Camel Pose you can try. The one I’m going to show you in this piece is appropriate for the majority of people attending my classes. Here’s what you do:
So far so good?

Place the hands onto the lower back, with the fingers pointing down. Use the hands to lengthen the tailbone (coccyx) down, then tuck the tailbone under. Be careful not to puff the ribs out when you do this. Inhale and lift the heart, drawing the shoulders up, back and down, and keeping the chin tucked into the chest.

How does it feel? This may be enough to begin with and if you are new to practising yoga you may like to keep doing this version for a few weeks until the upper back starts to open.

To deepen the pose, lean back — you can keep the chin tucked in or start to gently look up when you do so. See if you can simultaneously drop straight back, touching the hands to the heels while keeping the thighs perpendicular to the floor.

Stay in this pose for 30 seconds initially, building up to a minute. To come out of the pose, take your hands back onto the lower back, inhale and lift the head, gently tucking the chin back into the chest.

Rest in child's pose (balasana) for a few breaths. And that’s a Camel Pose!
Backbending can be very energising. You’ll be amazed at how well it opens the body to let in the breath when you get it right.

There are several versions of Camel Pose you can try. The one I’m going to show you in this piece is appropriate for the majority of people attending my classes. Here’s what you do:

Start kneeling, making sure that you are not putting too much pressure on your knees. Use a cushion or blanket if necessary. Have your knees hip-width distance apart, with the thighs perpendicular to the floor.

Engage the muscles in your legs, but try not to squeeze your buttocks too much. Press your shins firmly into the floor and tuck your toes under. Then, lengthen through the spine with the crown of the head extending towards the ceiling.