What’s a backbend?

Print anything with Printful



A backbend involves bending the upper body backwards until the top of the head almost touches the ground. It is a basic gymnastics move used for stretching and starting more complex moves, and is also used in yoga. Proper preparation and guidance is necessary to avoid injury.

A backbend is a mild form of body contortion in which the upper half of the body is bent backwards until the top of the head almost hits the ground. It’s a basic gymnastics move, and is done by gymnasts both to stretch their shoulders and to start more dramatic moves like back steps. The backbend is also sometimes used during yoga sessions, but here you usually start from a reclining position rather than standing. It is important to note that attempting a backbend without proper preparation can lead to serious injury.

As the name implies, a backbend involves bending your upper body backward, usually until the top of your head almost touches the ground. To begin the movement, the performer stands with her feet approximately shoulder-width apart. She raises her arms so that her fingers point toward the ceiling, and then begins to bend backwards in one fluid motion until the top of her head begins to near the floor. At this stage, she usually plants her palms on the ground with her fingertips toward her heels. Very flexible contortionists sometimes vary this last step by grasping their ankles or calves so that their bodies appear to be bent in half.

The backbend is a basic gymnastics move. It is sometimes performed by gymnasts simply to stretch the muscles of the upper body. More commonly, however, it is a foundational movement that sets up more complex movements, such as back walks and back hands.

With its emphasis on deep stretching, yoga also frequently incorporates backbends. However, when performed as part of a yoga sequence, backbends are often initiated from a supine position rather than a standing one. To enter a yoga bend, the athlete lies on their back, bends their knees, and places their palms on the ground behind their shoulders, with their fingers pointing in the same direction as their toes. Keeping the palms planted and pushing through the feet, he raises the abdomen and upper body in stages until he has achieved the backbend pose.

Be aware that attempting to perform any type of backbend without proper preparation can result in serious injury. It is best to learn this move under the guidance of an experienced gym instructor or yoga teacher. Also, care must be taken to properly warm up and stretch the muscles before performing this movement.




Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN


Skip to content