# Bent like an old farmer — healed with the cobra

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-concrete-wall-cobra-yoga-back
- Themes: injury, healing, monastery work, body care, yoga
- Life situations: back pain, overwork, recovering from injury

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Laying concrete for a Bodhinyana wall that was going off fast, he kept bending to smooth it and afterwards could not straighten — bent for two or three months like an old farmer. He healed it with the yoga cobra pose (first says 'corpse' then corrects) and has had no back trouble since. Dennis in the audience may remember.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

i was busy just laying concrete for the wall that body down the monastery the concrete was going off really fast i had to keep bending over to smooth out the concrete and afterwards i couldn't straighten my back i really injured it about two or three months i was bent over like an old person like an old farmer's it took me a long time to heal that but i healed it just you know through the yoga position the the the the corpse no that crops the cobra yeah and it was brilliant and i could really feel my back and stretch it just the right amount i never had any problem with my back ever since

## Teaching point

Look after the body; injury is a warning, and the right stretch can undo months of pain.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Racing to smooth quick-setting concrete for a monastery wall, Ajahn Brahm hurt his back and walked bent like an old farmer for months. Mindful stretching helped him recover; get your own back checked properly. Even the Buddha meditated comfortably, on a cushion in the shade. Pain is a warning. Be kind to your body.

## Source

- [Kindness, Generosity and Forgiveness | Ajahn Brahm | 8 July 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:12:17 to 1:13:04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM&t=4337s