Gluteus Maximus
In the practice of yoga, I often hear well meaning teachers use the cue “relax the butt” positions that require hip extension, like backbends. While I get the intention is to decrease the risk of lumbar spine compression in back bends, my question is, Does it really do that, or is it simply reinforcing a weak back body chain
After many years struggling with pain in my lower back and an avoidance of any kind of back bends, I have begun to realize, it is the mechanics themselves that were causing me problems. See the video above to gain a better understanding of the movements caused by engagement of the Gluteus Maximus, and see how firing up these muscles can decrease pain and improve your strength and range of motion.