How to do the cat stretch yoga pose

Health & Fitness:

Exercise


How to do the cat stretch yoga pose
Cat stretch increases the flexibility of your spine and is a great pose for practicing moving with your breath. It is an easy pose for beginners, yet one that only benefits more advanced practitioners. When done properly, cat stretch should gently lengthen your entire spine. Relax your shoulders while holding this stretch and curve your neck softly, feeling the length of your spine from the base of your skull to the tip of your tailbone. Cat stretch is a great pose to use as part of a warm-up routine or as a way of stretching your shoulders, back, and hips after a strenuous workout.
Instructions
Step 1 Begin on your hands and knees with your hands lined up under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Spread your fingers and press your palms to the mat. Keep your back flat like a tabletop. Step 2 Exhale as you tuck your tailbone under, pull in your abdomen, and round and lift your upper back toward the ceiling. Gently tuck your chin toward your collarbone. Step 3 Inhale while you lower your abdomen toward the floor, tip your tailbone to the ceiling, and lift your head so your face is looking forward. You spine will be arched in the opposite direction as in the previous step. Step 4 Slowly repeat steps 2 and 3 five to ten times. Pay attention to your breathing, coordinating your movements with your breath. Yoga poses: Cat pose by Radha Yudhavir The Cat pose of yoga helps you to nourish your spine and the muscles of your back. This pose takes inspiration from the instinctive actions of cats, as do many other yoga poses which are named after animals, birds, plants and inanimate objects. The ... More> Cat cow yoga pose for lower back pain by Radha Yudhavir Yoga has many simple exercises that give you relief from transitory and chronic aches and pains. To overcome even transitory aches, we normally take pain killer medicines and pay innumerable visits to the physician for prescription medicines. But if... More> Partner yoga: Cat plank and dancing dog poses by Radha Yudhavir The Partner yoga Cat plank and dancing dog pose is a sequence where you transition from the Cat pose to the Plank pose and then on to the Dancing down dog pose. This transition can be done along with a partner who does the corresponding moves. As th... More>	You will Need Comfortable Clothes Yoga Mat Rolled-up Towel (optional) Folded Towel (optional) Tips & Warnings Never push beyond your limit. Stretch gently to avoid injury. Do not lock your elbows. If your wrists are strained, modify the pose by putting a rolled up towel under your wrists and your fingers on the floor. If the pose is hard on your knees, kneel on a folded towel for padding. Always check with a doctor before beginning any new exercise routine.

Enter your comment below: If you are a registered Helium member, you may login and then leave your own comment. Flag Inappropriate Content