Backbends

These yoga poses or asanas stretch the front of the body, from the shoulders and chest, to the thighs, hips and abdomen. They can stimulate and energize internal organs, including the thymus, heart, lungs, and kidneys, benefiting the immune, digestive, breathing, circulatory, reproductive, and nervous systems.

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Jenny in Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) on the summit of Paget Peak in Yoho National Park, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny in Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) at the Natural Bridge in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny in full “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) at the Natural Bridge in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny in a modified version (heels up) of “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) on Abbot Ridge, Glacier National Park, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny in full “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) on Abbot Ridge, Glacier National Park, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny in full “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) on Royal Ridge above Talus Lodge, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny in full “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) above the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Domaine Madeleine Bed and Breakfast in Sequim, Washington State, USA (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny in full “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) along the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny in full “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) below the Hickman Natural Bridge in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA (Photo by Ian Hatter)

A closer view of Jenny in full “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) below the Hickman Natural Bridge in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny in full “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) on the ridge above the Hickman Natural Bridge in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA (Photo by Ian Hatter)

If you look very carefully, you can see Jenny in full “Upward Bow” or “Wheel” Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) atop Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny doing “Wild Thing” (Camatkarasana) on the Public Dock, Ucluelet, B.C. (Photo by Kate Ediger)

Jenny in a modified version (heels up) of Camel Pose (Ustrasana) on Abbot Ridge, Glacier National Park, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter)

Jenny doing Bow Pose (Dhanurasana) on Abbot Ridge, Glacier National Park, B.C. (Photo by Ian Hatter)