Poses
Bow Pose
Dhanurasana
Backbend · intermediate
Glossary: Dhanurasana
Listen to instructions
How to
- Lie flat on your stomach with your arms alongside your body and legs hip-width apart.
- On an inhale, bend your knees and bring your heels as close to your buttocks as possible. Reach back with your hands to grasp your ankles.
- Ensure your knees remain hip-width apart and not splaying wider than your hips.
- As you inhale deeply, lift your chest off the ground, simultaneously pulling your legs up and back, bringing your thighs off the floor.
- Engage your core muscles, keep your neck neutral, and gaze forward or slightly upward.
- Hold the pose while taking deep, steady breaths, maintaining the lift and openness of your chest.
- To release, exhale and gently lower your chest and legs back to the floor, releasing your ankles and resting your arms alongside your body.
Benefits
- Stretches and opens the front of the body, including the chest, abdomen, and hip flexors.
- Strengthens the back muscles, improving posture and spinal alignment.
- Enhances flexibility in the spine and shoulders, promoting a greater range of motion.
- Stimulates the abdominal organs, aiding in digestion and improving metabolism.
- Relieves stress and fatigue by opening the heart center and encouraging deep breathing.