Step by step
- Lie on your stomach, with your hands next to the ribs, fingers pointing forwards, elbows tucked into your sides.
- Press the tops of your feet into the floor and engage the thighs and knees, and keep the tailbone pointing towards the heels.
- On an inhalation press into your hands and feet, straighten your arms and lift your chest and legs off the floor.
- Engage your lower belly and knit your lower ribs.
- Draw the shoulder blades onto your back and lift your breastbone.
- You can look straight ahead or up towards the ceiling.
- Stay for 1 to 5 breaths.
- To come out, as you exhale, lower yourself down to the floor or lift yourself into Downward Facing Dog pose.
Beginners’ tips
- Press up actively from the palms, drawing the shoulders away from the ears to keep yourself from hanging in the pose.
- Draw the chest forward through the arms, moving the shoulder blades towards the tailbone.
- Keep your legs active, ensuring that the knees stay off the ground.
- Start with Cobra pose and move into Upward Facing Dog once you’re ready.
- Look upwards only if you can do so while keeping length in your neck.
Benefits
- Opens the chest and lungs
- Stretches the front of your body, chest, and intercostal muscles between the ribs.
- Strengthens your wrists, arms, shoulders, upper back, and legs.
- Helps to counteract daily forward flexion activities such as sitting, texting or driving.
Watch out for
- Keep your legs and lower belly engaged to protect your lower back.
- Avoid tilting the head back too much if you are looking up in the pose. Keep your gaze at eye level if you have any neck injuries.
Variations
- Experiment with a variation of the pose by keeping your toes tucked.
- Try gently swaying your upper body from side to side once you’re in the pose.
