26/11/2025
Om. Kapotāsana is a kneeling, drop-back backbend on the shins with an intense chest and quadricep opening. But here’s the truth we don’t say often enough…
Asana like these overload the lumbar spine, sacrum, hip flexors, and shoulder joints. When done occasionally, mindfully with Breathwork, Kapotasana (and such) strengthen and invigorate. However — when done frequently — or pursued relentlessly for the sake of achievement — they can lead to repeated end-range loading, joint shearing, and over-reliance on passive structures (ligaments, joint capsules, labrum) instead of active muscular support.
For those who are naturally flexible, this becomes even more deceptive. Hypermobility makes shapes and forms accessible, but not necessarily safe. Every time we hang in our joints rather than support ourselves through muscular activation, we reinforce patterns that the body eventually has to pay for — someday.
That’s why the true functional strength of yoga lies not in the dramatic shapes… but in the quieter activations — the mindful engagement of the scapula, the rooting of the feet, maintaining the integrity of the pelvic floor and core, the steady flow of breath travelling through the body…
Kapotasana is a beautiful asana — but not an everyday one. Not because it’s “advanced,” but because the spine deserves moderation, and the nervous system thrives on balance, not ambition.
We often think the deeper the bend, the better the practice. But do remember: The asana is a doorway, not the destination. What matters most is how responsibly you practice…
Yoga has never asked the body to perform; it has only ever asked the mind to be present.
Love & Light ☀️💛☀️
❤️
