Hands Clasped Behind Back Front Bend

[jamesters]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0C_HE3ZHSI

Any advice for achieving this pose?

[nickvb]

I have always had a loose lower back in flexion. 6 months ago I could have probably done this easily. I no longer stretch my body through the legs anymore and I do a lot of lower back conditioning so my frontbends have decreased slightly (not that it bothers me too much, it is still very good).

As it is I gave it a shot, could get my fingers overlapping but not enough to close my hands.

[jl5555]

You're a determined guy.

Anyway, in one of your other posted videos there you were doing foot behind the head move, I noticed when you do this your hips are raised quite a bit off the ground and your other leg is also raised quite a bit. The proper alignment for that move would be back flat on the ground and the opposing leg also, preferably, touching the floor. This require a bit of hip flexibility. I think this is currently your limiting factor in being able to do this hands behind the hips deal. I would suggest you practice a bit on your hip openers and when you do foot behind head if you can flatten your back to the ground some as well as lower the opposite leg then move on to this move to see how it goes.

[jl5555]

I was thinking about your attempt and remembered that in yoga they do a pose called Sleeping Tortoise Yoga Pose – Supta Kurmasana. You can see a video here that gives a pretty good progression for getting to where you want to be:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/odie1049/2403491213/

Or just Google Supta Kurmasana and you should get plenty of guidance...