Open Up And Feel Good

If you’ve taken class lately, you’ve probably noticed we’ve been spending a little extra time in spinal extension — chest openers, swans, backbends, and all those movements that leave you feeling a little taller when you walk out.

There’s a reason for that.

Think about your average day. Most of us spend a lot of time sitting — at breakfast, in the car, at a desk, or looking down at a phone. All of that places the spine in flexion, or a rounded-forward position.

Over time, this can tighten the chest and hip flexors, while the muscles along the back of the body don’t get as much love. That’s when posture starts to shift and things can feel stiff or achy.

Extension (back bends) helps restore that balance.

When we move into seated backbends, we open the front of the body — the chest, abdominals, and hips. When we do bridges, we strengthen the back, glutes, and the deeper muscles that support the spine. These movements play a huge role in keeping the spine healthy. The discs between our vertebrae rely on movement to stay hydrated and resilient, so a spine that moves well in all different shapes is one that tends to feel good and healthy.

And there’s a bonus: opening the chest and lifting the heart often creates an immediate sense of energy. For many people, these “heart-opening” positions can also feel like a bit of an emotional release. We don’t always realize how much tension we carry in the front of the body — through the chest, shoulders, and even our breath. When that area opens, it can bring a sense of lightness, ease, and sometimes even a subtle shift in mood.

Heart openers are one of those movements that can change how you feel walking out the studio door — not just physically, but mentally too.

In class, we’re always working toward balance — strength and flexibility, effort and ease, flexion and extension. So when we spend time in those heart-opening movements, know it’s intentional and one of the best things we can do for our bodies (and sometimes our emotions).