Urdhva Dhanurasana (or Upward-Facing Bow Pose), benefits the body, mind, energetic and emotional systems by increasing the “vital force around the heart (pran)”, as well as the “distributive force (vyana) throughout the body” through the stimulation of the postures deep backbend (Stryker, 2015). For this asana, I chose to move from the counterpose of Uttanasana to lie flat on the back. The preparatory position is assumed by bending the knees, placing the feet parallel and close to the hips, hip width apart, and through bending the arms placing the palms near the ears, shoulder-width apart, with the fingers pointing towards the feet. Inhaling and pressing the palms into the floor and lifting the torso you come to the top of your head, pausing
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The best teaching approach, therefore, will be an approach that is positive, encouraging, and hands on. A deep pose may be beautiful, but I want to emphasize, that the depth of each student’s Urdhva Dhanurasana is not the most important thing and because of the importance of the students understanding this it will have to be directly stated to the students during class. What's most important is that each student develops a method that “forgoes ego and force in favor of exploration and awareness” (Crandell, 2009). Having their own time to develop proper techniques, in the posture through the variations “finding their own balance within the posture, build[ing] a backbend that works for [each student]—one that exhilarates, stretches, strengthens, and soothes you all at once” (Crandell, 2009). I also believe in personal reflection and self-journey for each student to reflect on the mental benefits of backbends as uplifting, energetic poses, shifting the energy in an empowering direction supported by variations. The key to enjoying all of these benefits is to seek a pose that suits your body, not discourage your mind which in turn influences the body negatively—” you’ll know you've succeeded if you feel clear, open, grounded, and pain free after practice” (Crandell, 2009). These are all key points emphasized throughout my teaching methods and verbal communications in Urdhva
The best teaching approach, therefore, will be an approach that is positive, encouraging, and hands on. A deep pose may be beautiful, but I want to emphasize, that the depth of each student’s Urdhva Dhanurasana is not the most important thing and because of the importance of the students understanding this it will have to be directly stated to the students during class. What's most important is that each student develops a method that “forgoes ego and force in favor of exploration and awareness” (Crandell, 2009). Having their own time to develop proper techniques, in the posture through the variations “finding their own balance within the posture, build[ing] a backbend that works for [each student]—one that exhilarates, stretches, strengthens, and soothes you all at once” (Crandell, 2009). I also believe in personal reflection and self-journey for each student to reflect on the mental benefits of backbends as uplifting, energetic poses, shifting the energy in an empowering direction supported by variations. The key to enjoying all of these benefits is to seek a pose that suits your body, not discourage your mind which in turn influences the body negatively—” you’ll know you've succeeded if you feel clear, open, grounded, and pain free after practice” (Crandell, 2009). These are all key points emphasized throughout my teaching methods and verbal communications in Urdhva