Asana Breakdown | Upward Facing Dog

~ Asana Breakdown ~ Upward Facing Dog | Ūrdhva mukha śvānāsana

As we get lost in the flow of yoga, upward facing dog is a posture that we transition into and out of a number of times. It's a beautiful heart opener / back-bending posture that helps improve our posture, opening our lungs an chest, and rejuvenates our spine. Here is a quick breakdown of how to get the most out of your Upward Facing Dog:

• Hands shoulder width apart, stacked under shoulders

• Fingers spread and firmly rooted into the ground

• Feet hip width, toes pointed with the tops of the feet on the floor

• Straighten arms so that they are perpendicular to the floor, lifting torso and hips

• Lift sternum (chest), broaden through collarbones, and soften shoulder blades down back, coiling your upper spine forward and up

• Actively press 10 toenails evenly into the floor while engaging legs to keep thighs off the floor