Bhujangasana

Breathing

Although the standard instruction is to inhale while entering into a back bend, it can be very helpful to enter into this basic back bend on an exhalation. For many people who are locked into a belly breathing pattern, their inhalation actually restricts thoracic extension and rib cage expansion (this is because a belly breath is accomplished by restricting rib movement while the diaphragm contracts).

Images from the book Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews displayed on this website are used under license.