Gettin down with Downward Facing Dog

Downward facing dog is one of the most commonly recognized yoga poses by most people.  And for good reasons...  Downward facing dog can offer some fantastic health 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

Tips:

Engage all the muscles in your legs pushing through the backs of your knees

Relax your shoulders and engage your core

Ground all the fingers into the mat, not just using your palms but your whole hand instead

Release your neck letting go of tension

** A good way to check your alignment is to move into plank pose- with out moving your hands or your feet pull back into downward dog.  Don't worry if your heals don't touch the ground.