Often taught as a beginner’s backbend, Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose) can be overlooked by long-time yoga students. But this pose—a forward bend and inversion wrapped up in a backbend—offers a host of benefits, not to mention numerous possibilities for advanced explorations. That makes Setu Bandhasana an ideal pose to practice daily. Here’s why:
First, Setu Bandhasana is an excellent antidote to common everyday activities: sitting at a desk or computer, hunching the shoulders and reaching the arms forward. It’s especially helpful for training the shoulder’s rotator cuff muscles. Not so obvious is that Bridge Pose is a good backbend for counteracting stress. While most backbends are stimulating, Setu Bandhasana helps balance—or “bridge”—the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) divisions of the nervous system.
