Backbends for Stress Management

Another one to come back to. And found the guidance really good - more f...

Another one to come back to. And found the guidance really good - more focused on alignment than philosophies ;)

I'm going through a stressful transition in my life, and was a bit intim...

I'm going through a stressful transition in my life, and was a bit intimidated by the other reviews for this class. It was challenging, but sometimes a good sweat is what is required to bring a deeper sense of calm. Lots of hip, chest and shoulder openers... some longer holds than I'm used to, but Neesha keeps you grounded in the deeper message of this class so that the benefits can be felt off the mat. Thank you so much! Namaste.

I'm going through a stressful transition in my life, and was a bit intim...

I'm going through a stressful transition in my life, and was a bit intimidated by the other reviews for this class. It was challenging, but sometimes a good sweat is what is required to bring a deeper sense of calm. Lots of hip, chest and shoulder openers... some longer holds than I'm used to, but Neesha keeps you grounded in the deeper message of this class so that the benefits can be felt off the mat. Thank you so much! Namaste.

Thank you! Neesha you are my doctor! reminding me everything starts within

Thank you Neesha! It was quite challenging but relaxing at the end of it.

Thank you Neesha! It was quite challenging but relaxing at the end of it.

Thank you Neesha! It was quite challenging but relaxing at the end of it.

..esp chaturanga to dog. Remember props (block and blanket).

Thank you!

thank you

thank you

Talk about stress! :) This hits many of the weakest points in my body an...

Talk about stress! :) This hits many of the weakest points in my body and I definitely caught myself getting stressed. So I made myself half-smile and keep trying, breathing through it. I fell over a lot. I thought, "what am I doing," a lot. The ladies in the video are AMAZING for looking so smooth and relaxed. Wish I felt better at the end, but I did feel good for sticking with it and even repeating the class.

Talk about stress! :) This hits many of the weakest points in my body an...

Talk about stress! :) This hits many of the weakest points in my body and I definitely caught myself getting stressed. So I made myself half-smile and keep trying, breathing through it. I fell over a lot. I thought, "what am I doing," a lot. The ladies in the video are AMAZING for looking so smooth and relaxed. Wish I felt better at the end, but I did feel good for sticking with it and even repeating the class.

Talk about stress! :) This hits many of the weakest points in my body an...

Talk about stress! :) This hits many of the weakest points in my body and I definitely caught myself getting stressed. So I made myself half-smile and keep trying, breathing through it. I fell over a lot. I thought, "what am I doing," a lot. The ladies in the video are AMAZING for looking so smooth and relaxed. Wish I felt better at the end, but I did feel good for sticking with it and even repeating the class.

Talk about stress! :) This hits many of the weakest points in my body an...

Talk about stress! :) This hits many of the weakest points in my body and I definitely caught myself getting stressed. So I made myself half-smile and keep trying, breathing through it. I fell over a lot. I thought, "what am I doing," a lot. The ladies in the video are AMAZING for looking so smooth and relaxed. Wish I felt better at the end, but I did feel good for sticking with it and even repeating the class.

I had a lower left back pain during the previous week (would give it bet...

I had a lower left back pain during the previous week (would give it between 4 and 5 out of 10). Amazingly it went down to 0-1 during the first time I participated in this session. It hasn't went away completely, but it is steel between 0 and 1. Thank you Neesha!

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the bell...

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the belly for bow before. What a great way to expand!!

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the bell...

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the belly for bow before. What a great way to expand!!

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the bell...

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the belly for bow before. What a great way to expand!!

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the bell...

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the belly for bow before. What a great way to expand!!

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the bell...

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the belly for bow before. What a great way to expand!!

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the bell...

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the belly for bow before. What a great way to expand!!

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the bell...

Thank you! That was amazng! I had never done the blanket under the belly for bow before. What a great way to expand!!

Thanks Neesha for a great yoga experience. Your words were so inspiring ...

Thanks Neesha for a great yoga experience. Your words were so inspiring before class and during class. Thanks to all of you at Yoga Today for offering your classes online, and so grateful for the weekly "free" class.

Thanks Neesha for a great yoga experience. Your words were so inspiring ...

Thanks Neesha for a great yoga experience. Your words were so inspiring before class and during class. Thanks to all of you at Yoga Today for offering your classes online, and so grateful for the weekly "free" class.

From the heart of Amsterdam, The Netherlands: thank you Stress can be a ...

From the heart of Amsterdam, The Netherlands: thank you Stress can be a big part of life. This lesson, and especially what Neesha says is eye and heart opening.

From the heart of Amsterdam, The Netherlands: thank you Stress can be a ...

From the heart of Amsterdam, The Netherlands: thank you Stress can be a big part of life. This lesson, and especially what Neesha says is eye and heart opening.

From the heart of Amsterdam, The Netherlands: thank you Stress can be a ...

From the heart of Amsterdam, The Netherlands: thank you Stress can be a big part of life. This lesson, and especially what Neesha says is eye and heart opening.

Beautifully designed class. I feel great! Thank u.

Beautifully designed class. I feel great! Thank u.

Beautifully designed class. I feel great! Thank u.

I am a beginner so that was a challenge but responded calmly. Stress man...

I am a beginner so that was a challenge but responded calmly. Stress management was exactly what I needed Thank you Neesha!

I am a beginner so that was a challenge but responded calmly. Stress man...

I am a beginner so that was a challenge but responded calmly. Stress management was exactly what I needed Thank you Neesha!

What a tough, but wonderful class. You put my energy into motion, litera...

What a tough, but wonderful class. You put my energy into motion, literally!

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that som...

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that someone shot a yoga video out there. I finally came across it and been doing your classes for a few weeks. They are wonderful. Thanks so much. :-) If you stop in for Coffee tell Al & Heather hi from Jess in PA!!

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that som...

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that someone shot a yoga video out there. I finally came across it and been doing your classes for a few weeks. They are wonderful. Thanks so much. :-) If you stop in for Coffee tell Al & Heather hi from Jess in PA!!

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that som...

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that someone shot a yoga video out there. I finally came across it and been doing your classes for a few weeks. They are wonderful. Thanks so much. :-) If you stop in for Coffee tell Al & Heather hi from Jess in PA!!

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that som...

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that someone shot a yoga video out there. I finally came across it and been doing your classes for a few weeks. They are wonderful. Thanks so much. :-) If you stop in for Coffee tell Al & Heather hi from Jess in PA!!

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that som...

I spent about 2 weeks in Kelly last fall & our friends told us that someone shot a yoga video out there. I finally came across it and been doing your classes for a few weeks. They are wonderful. Thanks so much. :-) If you stop in for Coffee tell Al & Heather hi from Jess in PA!!

What a fabulous practice! Awesome backbends! Really enjoyed the one legg...

What a fabulous practice! Awesome backbends! Really enjoyed the one legged cobra with the twist! Sweet sweet pain! I feel so wonderful after this practice! Beautiful practice for a good night's rest! Thanks Neesha!

I love the creativity and challenges given in your class. Thank you :)

I love the creativity and challenges given in your class. Thank you :)

Thank you for this week's free class. I so appreciate Neesha's ability ...

Thank you for this week's free class. I so appreciate Neesha's ability to get all parts engaged and grounded in order to RESPOND to stress, either during the practice or in real life, verses REACTING to stress. What a wonderful way to start the week. Blessings.

Beautiful, the connection between back bending and responding openly ver...

Beautiful, the connection between back bending and responding openly versus reactively. Good one. :-) Thank you.

Beautiful, the connection between back bending and responding openly ver...

Beautiful, the connection between back bending and responding openly versus reactively. Good one. :-) Thank you.

Beautiful, the connection between back bending and responding openly ver...

Beautiful, the connection between back bending and responding openly versus reactively. Good one. :-) Thank you.

great energy

great energy

great energy

after a stressful week, i found this class very hard... am writing this ...

after a stressful week, i found this class very hard... am writing this review for myself, just to make a note how I felt. am sure that objectively, it is a great class, as all the classes by Neesha:)

I liked the flow of this class since it didn’t start with the usual sun ...

I liked the flow of this class since it didn’t start with the usual sun salutation repetitions. I especially liked that the backbend poses also helped open the hips. Neesha provided great guidance for the poses and closed with a nice long savasana.

Especially with the challenging heart opener as above. It's hard to be s...

Especially with the challenging heart opener as above. It's hard to be stressed when opening up in this way!

Relaxing yet invigorating. Perfect way to start my day.

I had some stress and needed something to calm down. So this class was n...

I had some stress and needed something to calm down. So this class was not quite what I needed. I think its more useful before or during stress. However I really enjoyed the full guided Savasana at the end.

I come back to this often. Short, maybe 45 minutes really. The best focu...

I come back to this often. Short, maybe 45 minutes really. The best focus on cobra, great explanation.

I was a little fatigued and scattered at the beginning of this class and...

I was a little fatigued and scattered at the beginning of this class and the pace was a little challenging at times, but by the end of the class I was BEAMING! With Neesha's cues I was able to experience upward bow like I never have before, even after getting discouraged at my failed first attempt. Such a wonderful class! Thank you!

A good backbend focused class. This one has some fun prop variations to ...

A good backbend focused class. This one has some fun prop variations to bow pose to help get deeper in the pose. Nice pace, and a good range of poses. Solid instruction on engaging the lower back properly and pulling into center in the poses. Need a blanket and block for this one.

A good backbend focused class. This one has some fun prop variations to ...

A good backbend focused class. This one has some fun prop variations to bow pose to help get deeper in the pose. Nice pace, and a good range of poses. Solid instruction on engaging the lower back properly and pulling into center in the poses. Need a blanket and block for this one.

A good backbend focused class. This one has some fun prop variations to ...

A good backbend focused class. This one has some fun prop variations to bow pose to help get deeper in the pose. Nice pace, and a good range of poses. Solid instruction on engaging the lower back properly and pulling into center in the poses. Need a blanket and block for this one.

There's a nice pace to the class & all different sorts of backbends. Als...

There's a nice pace to the class & all different sorts of backbends. Also nice restful close to the class.

a true heart opener. delicious.

This is a great workout, definitely a stress buster but quite challengin...

This is a great workout, definitely a stress buster but quite challenging. Just what I needed to start of my day. Thanks!

Neesha provides a very invigorating and empowering series of poses. My ...

Neesha provides a very invigorating and empowering series of poses. My heart is wide open! Sometimes the instruction was a little wordy, a bit too much to take in all at once. I'll have to do this one a few more times to absorb it all.

Yummy treat for body and mind, aswell as a nice workout... Really loved ...

Yummy treat for body and mind, aswell as a nice workout... Really loved the danurasana variations and the uttanasana variation at the end to root the thigh bones. Very very very nice blend of postures as well as good-feeling grounding class :)))

I found this class moved too quickly from one pose to the next and I was...

I found this class moved too quickly from one pose to the next and I was continually rewinding to try and understand the poses and keep up. Maybe this is what makes it for 'yogis' but I found the pace too fast.

THANKS, NEESHA, YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME FEEL SO CENTERED, NAMASTE

Thanks Neesha! Your classes make me feel like a ray of sunshine at the ...

Thanks Neesha! Your classes make me feel like a ray of sunshine at the end!

I loved this class so much that I shared it with my mother and husband! ...

I loved this class so much that I shared it with my mother and husband! Neesha gives great details that make me understand more about each pose and myself. Any suggestions about how to avoid neck tension? I had a minor neck spasm the second time I did this class.

Thank you Neesha that felt great. I love love love the details that Nees...

Thank you Neesha that felt great. I love love love the details that Neesha brings into our awareness and the unique approach that she has. Love love love this practice.

Pretty good, nice back openings.

I have never been able to be a backbend with such freedom and grace. It ...

I have never been able to be a backbend with such freedom and grace. It is normally a struggle but this class really opened me up to it. Thanks so much.

I have never been able to be a backbend with such freedom and grace. It ...

I have never been able to be a backbend with such freedom and grace. It is normally a struggle but this class really opened me up to it. Thanks so much.

thank you

Thanks so much for this class! Cues for backbends were so helpful. I r...

Thanks so much for this class! Cues for backbends were so helpful. I really felt connected to the idea of trusting that which supports me as an approach to facing challenge and stress.

A beautiful class with masterful instructions for urdva danurasan. I rea...

A beautiful class with masterful instructions for urdva danurasan. I really got a lot out of the class . Loved the half frog and the use of the blanket roll for danurasan. More like this :)

Backbends are my weakness but I hung on in there! Thanks Neesha. Great...

Backbends are my weakness but I hung on in there! Thanks Neesha. Great instruction as usual.

Love the tone of this class and the beautiful snow capped mountains in t...

Love the tone of this class and the beautiful snow capped mountains in the distance. Neesha delivers a powerful class with balancing poses. They are challenging but totally doable. Would be a great class to do before bed to stretch out the day's muscles and then relax.

Ive been doing P90X Yoga for over a year and a half, this brings it to a...

Ive been doing P90X Yoga for over a year and a half, this brings it to a whole new level of form.

loved the idea of being grounded and stable in order to have the freedom...

loved the idea of being grounded and stable in order to have the freedom to open your heart. just what I needed on a MOnday- thanks!!

Thank you so much for getting me into Yoga again and feeling that I real...

Thank you so much for getting me into Yoga again and feeling that I really worked my back and also a longing for doing more Yoga practice as a routine when the autumn comes :)

LOVED having Savasana as part of the class. So much better than doing it...

LOVED having Savasana as part of the class. So much better than doing it on my own. (I actually did it!) Also loved how we slowly built up to more challenging backbends, making it possible to feel the empowerment of doing them! Neesha's gentle but detailed instructions are so helpful!

I liked all the asymmetrical backbends, as well as the use of a blanket ...

I liked all the asymmetrical backbends, as well as the use of a blanket in bow pose to feel it more in the front and back of the body.

didnt feel a strech in my back 4 1st 30 min but i had to stop working at...

didnt feel a strech in my back 4 1st 30 min but i had to stop working at it ill try the rest later maybe their will be a good back stretch at the end

The simple move from chatturanga to downward dog was most challenging fo...

The simple move from chatturanga to downward dog was most challenging for me. You will need a block.

I enjoyed the practice and like having the savasana as part of the progr...

I enjoyed the practice and like having the savasana as part of the program. I know it's not right, but when I am told to continue to rest and then hear those sea gulls, I get up and start moving again.

This class is also great when (in a less ideal situation) you only have ...

This class is also great when (in a less ideal situation) you only have time to do half of a class. It is challenging, playful, relaxing and fun, pretty much from the get go. yay!

Truly an intermediate-level practice, in my opinion. I consider myself m...

Truly an intermediate-level practice, in my opinion. I consider myself more novice than intermediate, so this class was quite a challenge for me. Still, if you're relatively strong in the upper body--if you can manage a half-moon pose and/or full backbend--then you should be able to get a lot out of this class. Otherwise, maybe stick to one of Neesha's novice backbending classes for now.

on and off the mat. Thank you for making yoga so much more than juist a...

on and off the mat. Thank you for making yoga so much more than juist a physical practise. And above all its fun too!

Awesome!

Thank you so, so much for this wonderful class. Its a time of great str...

Thank you so, so much for this wonderful class. Its a time of great stress and grief in Christchurch, NZ and your beautiful class and commentary reminded me that we are strong and that we just have to face each day with an open heart

I always love Neesha's backbending classes because she is always very di...

I always love Neesha's backbending classes because she is always very diligent in her cues to allow for safe back bends. I felt challenged and also relaxed and energized at the end.

A meaningful introduction. Hope I can take the practice off my mat as w...

A meaningful introduction. Hope I can take the practice off my mat as well. Thank you Neesha.

Neesha's alignment is always great and feels so good! Nice flow of class...

Neesha's alignment is always great and feels so good! Nice flow of class, wakes you up early in the morning and sets your day right.Thanks

Neesha's instruction and alignment technique are fantastic, I especially...

Neesha's instruction and alignment technique are fantastic, I especially liked how she used a block to ensure that the body was properly aligned in upward bow. Nice intermediate level and of course, lots of fun. Will definitely do this one again!

Thanks

Neesha really did a great job with this one. This was the first time I ...

Neesha really did a great job with this one. This was the first time I was able to grab my top foot in half moon pose. Neesha's instruction to pull my knee to my chest to get into the pose made all the difference. I feel great and will be coming back to this one.

I love heart-opening classes, and this one arrived just when I needed it...

I love heart-opening classes, and this one arrived just when I needed it. Thank you Yoga Today, and Neesha.