Adho Mukha Svanasana, more commonly known as Downward Facing Dog, is one of the most recognized yoga poses, or Asanas and plays a vital part of Surya Namaskara sequences. To do the pose correctly, the spine should be straight, hip flexors engaged, with the weight of your body mostly on the legs. Imagine that someone is pulling up a string attached to your tailbone; the head and neck hang freely.
Although this pose seems quite simple, it provides numerous benefits. It can be viewed as an energizing pose, which is why I love it so much (especially during the last few rounds of Surya Namaskara!) Adho Mukha Svanasana allows for a pause between postures and facilitates a stabilizing connection between mind and body. It also provides a deep stretch in the back, opens the chest and builds upper body strength, as well as strengthening bone density, aiding in the prevention of osteoporosis.
Here are a few more reasons why Adho Mukha Syanasana is such a great Asana!
-Helps the digestive system: the slight compression of navel into spine encourages the digestive function of the spleen, liver and kidneys.
-Good for the circulatory system: with the head positioned below the heart, the circulatory system is encouraged to pump fresh oxygen-rich blood through the body which helps to flush the body of toxins and boost the immune system.
-Strengthens the core, which is never a bad thing!
Icing on the cake? Adho Mukha Svanasana is not a difficult pose. With the correct technique, the benefits of this Asana can be experienced by all 🙂
Lynn
