ASANA
Standing Backbend · Anuvittasana
Standing Spinal Extension

Standing backbend is while in a sense an accessible movement, done with too much intention on range of movement can often cause problems for people manifesting in lower back pain, neck pain, or headache from joint and nerve compression along the spine. With emphasis on breath and fundamental technique with a non-committal flowing approach though this is a very liberating practice with a lot of options for various levels of flexibility. Good foundational technique is to have strong legs and bandha to create a more supportive integration of the stretching body. In many similar "standing" types of backbends it is not necessary to move the head back as it doesn't happen in a bio-mechanically beneficial way until the degree of lumbar and thoracic extension is sufficient. More simply put, don't take the head back until you'd be basically looking more down than up or backwards.