Fit: Puppy Pose

This month has been a whirlwind. With a to-do list down to the floor, plus the current cultural and political climate we're currently in (major WTF, right?), making time to be on my yoga mat is proving to be more important than ever before.

On Monday afternoon, I took my boss Stephen's C2 class. I had so much to do, and my brain was telling me to skip class and knock out a few more items on my list. I'm so thankful I didn't listen. Moving and breathing with our CorePower community was exactly what I needed. I've never once regretted taking class, and always feel rejuvenated after a good sweat. And that's exactly how I felt on Monday (looming cold aside...)

He taught puppy pose in his class (I've been doing the same in my C2), and it's such a great posture. Puppy pose can be taught at any point in class, but it tends to feel good early on as your body is warming up and your muscles are lengthening. If you haven't tried puppy pose, I recommend giving it a shot! It can feel especially good first thing in the morning, during the day after sitting at a desk, or at night before bed. 

Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana)

1.) Start in tabletop pose. To do this, stack your shoulders over your wrists and bring your hips over your knees. Engage your core and pull your shoulders away from your ears.

2.) Walk your hands out toward the top of your mat. Let your chest melt toward your met. Press your forehead into your mat.

3.) Stack your hips over your knees (hips naturally come further forward, so keep them pushed back). Try practicing in a mirror to ensure your hips are over your knees).

4.) Pull your shoulders down your back, and press your palms into your mat. You should feel a nice stretch in your upper back and shoulders. 

5.) Breathe and enjoy.

 || Photo is property of Mountain Shadow Morning. Must give credit. ||