Delicious Downward-Facing Dog

Downward-Facing Dog (Sanskrit: Adho Mukha Svanasana) (AH-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAHS-anna) adho = downward mukha = face svana = dog

Benefits:

• Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression

• Energizes the body

• Stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands

• Strengthens the arms and legs

• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause

• Relieves menstrual discomfort when done with head supported

• Helps prevent osteoporosis

• Improves digestion

• Relieves headache, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue

• Therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, sinusitis

Beginners' Tips: If you have difficulty releasing and opening your shoulders in this pose, raise your hands off the floor on a pair of blocks or the seat of a metal folding chair.

Contraindications: Do not do this pose in late-term pregnancy; carpel tunnel syndrome; high blood pressure or headache: Support your head on a bolster or block, ears level between the arms.

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