Cervical spine in Bhujangasana

Most often students extend the cervical spine in Bhujagasana by lifting the chin, this is not true extension of cervical spine. To understand this, while sitting, flex your neck so you're looking down. Place your fingers on upper and lower cervical spine. Now backbend your neck from the top of your cervical spine only by lifting your chin a few inches. You will ntocie your lower cervical are in flexion while upper is in extension.

To practice Bhujangasana, ensure you lift using your back muscles (can keep your hands off the floor to bring awareness to your back muscles). To practice even extension, make sure the top of the head is facing the opposite wall instead of jutting the chin forward.

Cervical spine in backbends

The cervical curve and the lumbar curve are secondary curves, they develop after birth. The cervical curve develops when the baby begins to hold her head up and the lumbar curve develops when the baby while she is learning to stand. Both these curves are less stable. These curves are called sympathetic curves i.e. when you flex your neck there is a tendency to flex your lumbar spine and when you extend your lumbar spine you will often extend your neck. You can try this either laying on the mat or standing with one hand on your neck and the other on your lower back. Try flexing and extending your lower back and notice the effect on your cervical spine.

It is very important to remember this while practicing forward folds and back bends.

Based on YogaBody by Judith Hanson Lasater