tips & prep poses for one of yoga’s most practiced postures
I think it’s fair to say that downward facing dog (adho mukha svanasana) is a staple yoga asana pose, and is – as a result – one of the most known poses (probably also because of social media yoga posts with beautiful backdrops… can’t help it).
As such, one of the most commonly asked questions many yoga teachers receive from students is if we can observe their downward facing dog pose (I have also been the asker of this question before) and to advise if they are doing it “right.”
“Right” is relative in this case, because it really depends on the physical and physiological needs and circumstances of each student.
For example – if someone has wrist or shoulder pain, is pregnant, has vertigo, etc, then modifications can be made to find another similar, more suitable version of this pose to suit their bodies and minds at that time. I’ve had bilateral bicep tendonitis – which I don’t wish on anyone – and have had to make adjustments here myself.
There are certainly general points that can be taken into consideration in order to receive the benefits from dog pose (a few perks being: strengthening and lengthening the arms / legs / spine, calming the nervous system with the head down, creating stability in the hands and wrists / feet and ankles, and more)…
That being said, although there are components to downdog that can be universal, it’s going to vary depending on your current circumstances.
It also doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing it “wrong” if you’re not perfectly aligned, but more so that there are always ways for you to feel more embodied in body and mind no matter what pose you’re in – whether you’re standing upright or in downdog.
If you fancy a downdog assessment, contact me to set up a session 🙂
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