Blindfolded Guided Camel Pose
Quick Intro
Blindfolded Guided Camel Pose has the guided partner kneeling, eyes closed or blindfolded, the sighted partner kneeling or standing close in front. The sighted partner places both hands at the waist before any movement begins, and the guided partner arches back slowly, relying entirely on the waist contact and verbal cues for depth, before switching roles entirely once upright again.
Ustrasana breaks down the backbend’s full technique on its own.
What You’ll Need
No equipment, a blindfold if you want one, though closed eyes work just as well.
How to Do It Together
- Place the hands first. Sighted partner places both hands at the waist before any movement begins.
- Arch slowly. Guided partner begins to arch back slowly, relying entirely on the waist contact and verbal cues for depth.
- Guide the return. Guide the return to upright slowly, the same way.
- Switch entirely. The partner who guided now puts on the blindfold or closes their eyes, and the partner who arched becomes the sighted guide.
Exhale going back, inhale returning to upright, breath as the main cue once sight isn’t available.
Why This Asks for Real Confidence in the Guide
Waist Hold Camel Pose Assist already uses the same continuous waist hold through a camel pose backbend, but the receiving partner can see exactly how far back they’ve gone the whole time. This exercise removes that entirely. The guided partner has no visual reference at all for their own position, which means the waist contact and the sighted partner’s voice become the only information they have about how deep the arch has actually gone.
That total reliance on touch and voice is why a backbend without sight asks for real confidence in the guide. Arching backward already puts the floor out of view, and with the blindfold on the guided partner has only the hands and the voice to go on.
Given that, this isn’t a reasonable first blindfolded exercise for a couple to try. A couple should already feel confident with gentler blindfolded exercises, the standing or seated guides that don’t involve a backbend, before attempting this version. Rushing into it skips the calibration those easier exercises are there to build.
Verbal cues carry a lot here, since the guided partner has no visual reference at all while arching backward. A short, specific phrase repeated at each stage, confirming the hands are in place, confirming the arch is beginning, confirming it’s time to stop deepening, gives the guided partner something concrete to listen for rather than a running commentary to follow.
Deciding on a stop word before the arch begins fits the advice in Working Out Together on speaking up mid-effort.
If You’re at Different Fitness Levels
A couple who are both newer to backbends can use bridge pose in place of camel pose. Lying down removes the balance demand of kneeling upright, the trust-guide structure stays the same and Blindfolded Bridge Pose Trust Lift covers that lying-down version. Because you swap roles, each of you guides once and arches once, so a fitness gap between you doesn’t create extra asymmetry.
Safety and Consent
Never let a blindfolded partner arch back without hand contact already established at the waist. Anyone with back or neck concerns should use the bridge pose variant. Agree beforehand that the guide’s hands may rest at your waist. The hands steady and guide the arch, so keep the depth modest and come up at once if anything feels wrong.
Every connection moment in these exercises is something either partner can skip or scale back at any point, including this one, no explanation needed. A sighted assist with no blindfold keeps the whole pose in view and is always open to you.
FAQ
Why does this one ask for so much confidence in the guide? Arching back puts the floor out of view even with eyes open, and the blindfold takes away the rest. The waist contact and the voice are the only references the guided partner has.
What changes compared with the sighted waist-hold version? Waist Hold Camel Pose Assist uses the same continuous waist hold, but the receiving partner can see their own position the whole time. This one removes sight entirely.
Should a couple try this before any other blindfolded exercise? No. Build confidence with gentler blindfolded exercises first, ones that don’t involve a backbend, before attempting this version.
What if either of us has back or neck concerns? Use bridge pose in place of camel pose. Lying down removes the balance demand of kneeling upright, and Blindfolded Bridge Pose Trust Lift covers that version.
Does the guided partner get a turn being the guide too? Yes. Switching roles entirely right afterward is part of the exercise, so both of you experience the backbend both with and without sight.
What should the sighted partner actually say during the arch? Keep it short and direct. A few words naming what’s about to happen next cover far more than a detailed, ongoing narration would, and they’re easier to actually hear while focused on the backbend itself.
Can we do camel pose with sight and support, but no blindfold? Yes. Waist Hold Camel Pose Assist covers that sighted version.
Built on Ustrasana. Waist Hold Camel Pose Assist keeps the same waist hold with sight intact instead of removing it entirely.