Video:Upward Facing Dog Yoga Pose

Transcript:Upward Facing Dog Yoga Pose

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana - Upward Facing Dog

Focus of Upward Facing Dog

Focus: arms straight, chest lifted, shoulders back, legs up off the floor

Coming Into Upward Facing Dog

There are a few ways to come into upward facing dog. I’m going to show coming into it from the floor. Lie on your belly with your palms on the floor back by your low ribs with the fingers facing forward.

Enjoy the Upward Facing Dog Pose

On an inhale begin to straighten your arms and lift the hips up off the floor. Extend the legs back behind you strongly and press into the tops of the feet. Lift the legs all the way off the floor. Press into the hands strongly so that you stretch the entire front of the torso from the belly button to the throat.

If you have low back pain you can let the thighs come to the floor. Be sure to keep extending the arms so that you don’t sink into the shoulders. Your eyes can look up but be careful not to throw the head back.

This is a great pose for opening the chest and working the legs. It’s a back bend so it gets the heart beating strongly.

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