Building Strength: Inversions, Balances & Backbends
Yoga is not just about the final pose, but the patience and breath you build along the way. Join me in exploring advanced asanas, from grounding arm balances to heart-opening backbends, designed to reconnect you with your inner power.
This flow from Ashtavakrasana (eight-angle pose) into a handstand is a testament to showing up, even on tired days. Building this kind of strength is a gradual process of linking breath with movement, which is a key focus in our personalized therapy plans.
A handstand is a journey of finding your center of gravity, both physically and mentally. This tuck handstand variation requires immense core control and focus. It's a powerful way to build upper body strength and confidence.
Practice includes both the good and the not-so-good days. Here, I'm working on my handstand split, a pose that demands a combination of strength, flexibility, and balance. Each attempt, successful or not, is a step forward.
The wheel pose, or Urdhva Dhanurasana, is a deep backbend that opens the entire front of the body. It's a powerful heart-opener that can feel incredibly liberating. We build up to poses like this with careful preparation to ensure your spine is ready.
The firefly pose, or Tittibhasana, is a challenging arm balance that requires open hips and strong wrists. It teaches you to find lightness and lift, proving that strength is as much about technique and breath as it is about muscle.
Your breath and your practice are your real teachers. This is me working on Pincha Mayurasana, or forearm stand. Listening to my breath helps me find stability and calm, even when I'm upside down.
Celebrating the progress in my floating camel pose (Ustrasana). This variation adds a balance challenge to a deep backbend, requiring core engagement and trust. It's a reminder to appreciate how far you've come.
About this collection
These poses are not about showing off, but about mapping your own physical boundaries and potential. In my 1-on-1 sessions, we treat advanced asanas as therapeutic milestones, using props like the yoga wheel or blocks to safely build the core stability, shoulder mobility, and spinal strength required for inversions and deep backbends.
Building Strength Safely
My approach to advanced asana is rooted in the philosophy of 'Kaizen'—getting 1% better every day. We don't jump into complex handstands or backbends; we build a foundation first. Whether you are working on your first handstand or refining your forearm stand, the focus remains on breath awareness and core alignment.
Why Props Are Essential
Many students fear they aren't 'flexible' or 'strong' enough for advanced poses. I view props as essential tools for progress, not crutches. Using a yoga wheel to open the chest before Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel pose) or using blocks to find lift in an arm balance ensures you are working within your body's safe range of motion. This prevents injury and helps you understand the mechanics of the pose, rather than just forcing your body into a shape.
A Personalized Approach
Because I work 1-on-1, your session is tailored to your specific anatomy and goals. We look at your current range of motion, identify any imbalances in your shoulder or hip mobility, and build a practice that honors where you are today. This isn't a generic sequence; it is a collaborative process to help you find your center, break through mental barriers, and ultimately, find stillness in the strength you've cultivated.
Suhani Singh
I’m Suhani. My mat has been my anchor through motherhood and travels, and I teach from that same place of real, lived experience. I help you build functional, lasting strength, moving past the aesthetic of a pose to focus on the breath and intention that make it truly yours.
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