Dog Days of Summer

Well as summer is winding down, the heat is still pushing on. August always feels like the Sunday of Summer You're soaking in the las bit of sunshine, beach and BBQs, while simuntanioulsy looking forward to what lies ahead. I know I have been dreaming of crisper air, changing leaves, and LAYERS! Fall tends to be a season that brings a lot of anxiety and a lack of focus. We'll dive more into that later in coming posts and how this effects our practice. In preparation for what's coming, we can begin to integrate more grounding poses into our practice. Downward facing dog, or Adho Mukha Svanasana, is a great example. While also being one of the foundation poses for our practice, down dog has incredible benefits in our body as well. This pose calms the mind, relieving stress, and energizes the body while also grounding you through your hands and feet. Not to meantion it's a COOLING POSE (which we can all use in this heat!).

3 Legged Downward Facing Dog, or Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana, Variation

Some tips to get that Down Dog in it's best form to get you all the best benefits possible, look below.

Ground firmly through your palms, fingers spread wide.
Get your distance between your feet and hands LONG. Come forward to a PLANK POSE with hands directly under shoulders, balls of feet under your ankles, then push back to DOWN DOG. This is the correct length. Even though this might feel very long to some that are used to a shorter stance, this will allow for the length in your back and side body.
Bend your knees slightly, lift your sit bones higher to the sky and then start to push your thigh bones back and heels reach to the floor.
Shoulders away from your ears, WIDEN through the back body by rotating your biceps forward and widening your shoulder blades.
Most imprtantly BREATHE!