When you say that someone you most probably mean their ability to do the forward bending positions. They have many benefits and you cannot omit them in practice!

Besides developing general flexibility, forward bending postures are great for:

• strengthening your back and (sometimes) core muscles
• massaging internal organs in the abdominal area
• keeping your spine healthy
• releasing the tension and relaxing

I would like to talk more about the last benefit a bit more – despite it looks like releasing the tension is hardly possible while you are bent, these postures are meant for this! Forward bending asanas are supposed to be done in vairagya bhava – the feeling of dispassion, detachment, and humility (more on Bhavas here). There are two great ways to get that attitude – you can imagine that you are entering the temple, church or any other sacred place – it can be even the sky full of stars depending on how you feel it – just feel that while you’re bending your body in asana you also bend your ego in front of something much bigger than you, letting it go and forgetting about it.

Another great way is just to surrender your body (mostly its upper part) to gravity – just feel its weight and don’t do anything against the power, which will naturally push you down. The more relaxed you are, the more you can bend in forward bending asanas. They are done while exhaling, so you will have the help of your breath on the relaxation journey.