"Balance is the right mix of awareness and unity of action.".
"There are no boundaries as long as there is stability".
Almost every pose done on the floor can be done on the BodyBridge. Many of these poses are accomplished with less strain and tension on the body. For example, the shoulder stand on the BodyBridge creates no compression of the upper spine and neck area. This is possible because the BodyBridge is a curved topped table rather than a horizontal surface. Up Facing Dog is another pose which takes pressure off the low back and is relatively simple to do.
Key to all poses, whether on the floor or the BodyBridge, is the breath. The difference with the BodyBridge is breathing is more effective for the release of tension and stress in the body. In fact, breath is the heart of every pose. Let breath be the focus to receive the benefits of each pose. For example, during a twisting pose, students often forget to open the spine while breathing. In this pose you need to strengthen the belly so you don't twist the spine too far. At the same time the crown of the head is lifted to elongate the spine. Maintaining your form in this pose is much easier to do on the BodyBridge than working on the floor.
When the BodyBridge is used with breathing and body awareness, the Yoga practitioner can achieve a deep, relaxing state of meditation while having the body supported in the upward-facing bow pose. We have had Yoga practitioners call the BodyBridge a "meditation bridge". Take the time to pause and meditate on the BodyBridge, or as Pema Chodron states, "It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately filling up the space, by waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as well as fundamental spaciousness".
Namaste,
The BodyBridge has been used for over a decade to alleviate back pain and strengthen the back for spinal mobility. For the past year, Darren Rhodes, Yoga practitioner and owner of the Yoga Oasis on Tucson, has been practicing with a BodyBridge. From conversations with Darren, we have learned the advantage of a BodyBridge is in the stability it provides for the completion of difficult poses. Positions often considered impossible for a student are now doable because of the BodyBridge. The BodyBridge when utilized in a Yoga practice assists in developing a clearer inner awareness of balance.
The BodyBridge Staff