Yoga Teacher's Companion, #2: How should you tilt your pelvis when you do backbends in yoga?

Should you tilt your pelvis toward your thighs or away from your thighs when you backbend in yoga? The answer depends on the body-type of the student.
Learn how tilting your pelvis can change your backbend -- and which option is best for you and your students.
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0:00 Introduction
2:25 The short answer: It depends
4:04 What does internally rotating the femurs or thighs look like?
4:25 What does externally rotating the femurs or thighs look like?
5:17 Why both might options might be good options
10:54 What anterior and posterior pelvis tilt looks like in Bridge Pose
12:16 The bottom line
ABOUT JASON:
Jason Crandell is a natural teacher and author with more than 20 years of experience. Named “one of the teachers shaping the future of yoga,” by Yoga Journal, Jason has been an in-demand teacher at conferences around the world for more than a decade.
For the past 10 years, Jason has honed his approach by looking to peers outside of the yoga community, in the fields of physical therapy, orthopedics, traumatology, and sports medicine. These collaborative partnerships have enabled Jason to offer the most up-to-date to asana technique, cueing, injury management, and hands-on adjustments. Jason’s goal is to blend the timeless wisdom of yoga philosophy with evidence-based information to create yoga curriculum that helps modern practitioners grow and evolve.

[@yogawithvanessa1973]

This was invaluable to me, thank you

[@YogiBethC]

Jason, this was so helpful! I'm someone with a natural bit of lumbar lordosis, and so in backbends (and some other postures as well), a bit of a pelvic tuck (posterior tilt) is so much more comfortable for me. I really appreciated how you demonstrated this (and I also appreciated that you wore your glasses for teaching like I do). 🙏🏽

[@JasonCrandellYoga]

You're welcome, Beth! I also have contacts underneath my glasses......

[@RWB_Yoga]

Thank you! I appreciate this clear and nuanced explanation. Very helpful.

[@JasonCrandellYoga]

You're welcome!

[@lamaloze]

Thank you! Beautiful! As an Iyengar teacher it is frustrating how often technique is confused with end goal in my community

[@debraleong5519]

Thank you again, Jason and Andrea for making this video. This was so helpful and I really appreciate the careful thought and consideration that goes into it. Namaste.

[@sueasher9924]

Posterior pelvic tilt all the way for me 🙌. Thanks for another concise explanation and demo on demystifying anatomy cues for widely different bodies.

[@theholisticinitiative]

so helpful ! I can't wait to go home and experiment

[@JasonCrandellYoga]

Let me know how the experimentation goes!

[@wendywyvill5009]

Well said Jason!

[@laraclementucci6507]

Very helpful Jason…. An interesting analysis of a very common question. Thank you very much from Italy🇮🇹🙏

[@ahujakishori5618]

Thanks a lot sir. This is really helpful for me. 🙏

[@1dpotengy]

Practicing the rotation just laying down my pelvis moved naturally. & YES...I try, well even if I knew "all" about yoga poses & CORRECTING POSES + POSTURES..., I wouldn't ever know enough...So...I usually try movements of rotations of the bones to allow my physical body to be part of the YOGA PRACTICE without losing my INTEGRITY. Thank you, NAMASTE.

[@evayoga9500]

So so helpful! Now I understand why in sethu bandasana internally rotating the thighs did not work for me or in bujanghasana! I started to rotate externally in extensions as It was confortable for me till I heard the opossite in cueing to some teachers and I felt disconfort. Now I know It depends on your body! Thanks Jason & Merry Christmas!

[@JasonCrandellYoga]

I'm really glad this video helped you sort through your options!

[@angelakirsch-hassemeryoga]

Thinking of the goal, not the technique is so helpful. What will I achive? I've got a lot of student with back pain and feelings of compression in their lower back and to have an opportunity will help. Thank you Jason

[@JasonCrandellYoga]

I hope this helps, Angela!