Yoga Series: Cat/Cow Pose
The Glen Ivy Monthly Challenge is celebrating National Yoga Month in September. Check back every Tuesday and Thursday for a new Yoga Pose and tips.
CAT/COW POSE
This is a wonderful posture for waking up the spine by gently articulating the spine through both flexion and extension.
- Kneel on the floor with your hands underneath your shoulders, and your knees underneath your hips.
- Engage your abdominals lightly and look down at the floor so that the back of your neck is long.
- As you inhale roll your chin and tailbone up to arch or extend your spine. Gently slide your shoulder blades down your back.
- As you exhale, gently tuck your tail bone and your chin simultaneously and round your back up to the ceiling. Separate your shoulder blades and let your head relax down.
- Repeat this wave like action 3-5 times moving in unison with the breath.
- Finish by sitting your hips back toward your heals and resting your forehead on the floor, arms down by your sides.
Download this Yoga Pose and tips as a printable PDF.
Meg Root Glen Ivy Fitness Expert says…
DID YOU KNOW? Perhaps the most profound benefit of Yoga that most Westerners notice is stress reduction. The next benefit that physicians support is circulation. And while Hatha Yoga does improve your flexibility, most people are not aware that Yoga asanas are also good for strength. The whole idea is a balance of strength and flexibility. Once the system comes closer to balance, most practitioners notice an increase in vitality and an overall sense of well-being. The benefits of Yoga do not occur overnight but the results are lasting.
