4 Different Ways to try Downward Dog

Downward-facing dog is a foundational pose in the practice of yoga. But did you know there’s many different ways to do it?

  1. Traditional Down Dog!

  2. Lower your forearms! 

  3. Use a chair!

  4. Use a chair and blocks!

Woman practicing downward facing dog yoga pose on black mat.

1. Traditional Down Dog! From hands and knees, tuck your toes, hips go up and back. Press down into your fingertips. Hands are shoulder-width distance apart and feet are hip-width apart.

Woman practicing dolphin pose on black mat.

2. Lower your forearms! From hands and knees, let your forearms come down to the floor. Press down into the palms and the forearms, then tuck your toes and send your hips up and back. Sometimes we call this one Dolphin pose!

Woman practicing downward facing dog yoga pose on black mat assisted by a chair.

3.  Use a chair! Place your hands onto the seat (or back!) of a chair as you walk your feet back and push your hips up. Give slight pressure to the seat of the chair to engage shoulders and shift your weight back into your feet.

Woman practicing yoga pose sitting in a chair with her arms extended onto blocks for a variation on a traditional downward-facing dog yoga pose.

4. Use a chair and blocks! Sitting in a chair, bring 2 blocks on the floor in front of you on your preferred setting. Reach forward as you bring one hand to each block and press down slightly. 

Try out each one and see how they feel! Tag us @openuppgh to share your favorite variation!

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