{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-28T14:38:57+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-28T14:38:57+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-09T18:15:43+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34038"},"slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Physical Health & Well-Being","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34095"},"slug":"physical-health-well-being","categoryId":34095},{"name":"Exercise & Movement","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34166"},"slug":"exercise-movement","categoryId":34166},{"name":"Yoga","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34175"},"slug":"yoga","categoryId":34175}],"title":"How to Do the Cat and Cow Poses in Yoga","strippedTitle":"how to do the cat and cow poses in yoga","slug":"how-to-do-the-cat-and-cow-poses-in-yoga","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Relieve back pain by posing in the Cat and Cow asanas. Two of the ten core yoga poses, these positions stretch your back and increase flexibility. Exercise your","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<div class='x2 x2-top'><div class=\"video-player-organism\"></div></div>Relieve back pain by posing in the Cat and Cow asanas. Two of the ten core yoga poses, these positions stretch your back and increase flexibility. Exercise your body and relax your mind with yoga.","description":"<div class='x2 x2-top'><div class=\"video-player-organism\"></div></div>Relieve back pain by posing in the Cat and Cow asanas. Two of the ten core yoga poses, these positions stretch your back and increase flexibility. 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For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"9246\">Larry Payne</b>, PhD,</b> is the founding president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and was named one of America’s most respected yoga teachers by the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>. <b>Georg Feuerstein, PhD,</b> was internationally respected for his contribution to Yoga research and the history of consciousness.</p> <p><b>Larry Payne, PhD,</b> is the founding president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and was named one of America’s most respected yoga teachers by the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>. <b><b data-author-id=\"9247\">Georg Feuerstein</b>, PhD,</b> was internationally respected for his contribution to Yoga research and the history of consciousness.</p></p>","authors":[{"authorId":9246,"name":"Larry Payne","slug":"larry-payne","description":" <p><b>Larry Payne, PhD,</b> is the founding president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and was named one of America’s most respected yoga teachers by the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>. <b>Georg Feuerstein, PhD,</b> was internationally respected for his contribution to Yoga research and the history of consciousness.</p>","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9246"}},{"authorId":9247,"name":"Georg Feuerstein","slug":"georg-feuerstein","description":" <p><b>Larry Payne, PhD,</b> is the founding president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and was named one of America’s most respected yoga teachers by the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>. <b>Georg Feuerstein, PhD,</b> was internationally respected for his contribution to Yoga research and the history of consciousness.</p>","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9247"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/282686"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" 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Two of the ten core yoga poses, these positions stretch your back and increase flexibility. Exercise your body and relax your mind with yoga.","item_vector":null},"titleHighlight":null,"descriptionHighlights":null,"headers":null},{"objectType":"article","id":153487,"data":{"title":"How to Use Yoga to Relieve Upper Back and Neck Pain","slug":"how-to-use-yoga-to-relieve-upper-back-and-neck-pain","update_time":"2016-03-26T12:47:29+00:00","object_type":"article","image":null,"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Physical Health & Well-Being","slug":"physical-health-well-being","categoryId":34095},{"name":"Exercise & Movement","slug":"exercise-movement","categoryId":34166},{"name":"Yoga","slug":"yoga","categoryId":34175}],"description":"Regular Yoga practice is a perfect antidote for the stresses of everyday life that can strain the upper back and neck. Think about all the activities you do during the course of the day that have you hunched over, with your shoulders tensed and raised up to your ears, and your head jutting forward. Is this you while sitting at your computer or driving in your car? \nYour general Yoga practice may be all you need for garden-variety tightness in the upper back and neck. However, sometimes a little focused attention to these areas can be a godsend and can help you feel like yourself again.\nThe following sections guide you through a Yoga routine that can help you make peace with your upper back and neck when they’re calling out for a little TLC.\nDo’s and don’ts for a healthy upper back and neck\nThe following list gives you some tips on what you can usually do to help your upper back and neck issues:\n\n Aim to perfect your mountain posture, and apply those lessons to your posture off the mat in your daily life. In mountain posture, you stand tall but relaxed, with your feet at hip width (that is, down from your sits bones, not the outer curves), and hang your arms at your sides, with your palms turned toward your legs.\n \n Discover how to let go of your tension with relaxation techniques. Becoming a student of yogic breathing can also help you let go. The most basic yogic breathing technique is to breathe through the nose on both the inhalation and the exhalation. This technique slows the breath and stimulates a relaxation response. Elongating the exhalation is even more calming and relaxing.\n \n Use the routine in the following section.\n \n\nSome actions can exacerbate your problems. Avoid these activities:\n\n Skip the headstand and the full shoulder stand. No matter how much you may want to look like the models in many Yoga magazines, these poses aren’t for you. You can safely explore a world of other postures.\n \n Avoid neck routines that recommend full circles of the neck. This movement can cause serious problems, especially if you have a history of neck trouble.\n \n\nAn upper back and neck routine\nYou can use the postures in this next section in a few ways. If your upper back and neck need focused attention, use the postures therapeutically and do the full routine once or twice daily. When you feel stabilized and in better physical balance, you can integrate the postures into a larger routine to keep your upper back and neck feeling good. You can substitute them for other postures that strain your upper back and neck so that you’re working these areas in a way that’s safe for you. You can also pick out one or two postures to use as needed to work out your kinks at any point during your day.\nThis routine isn’t for anyone who’s in acute pain or who experiences numbness, tingling, or weakness in the neck, shoulders, or arms. If you’re in acute pain, you need to see a medical professional. Yoga therapy is for after you’ve addressed and resolved the acute pain.\nSeated chair posture\nThis posture is the base for the entire upper back routine, so make sure you understand how to sit in a way that feels steady and comfortable.\n\n Sit comfortably in an armless chair with your back up nice and tall; place your palms comfortably on your thighs.\n \n Look straight ahead and bring your head comfortably back until the middle of your ears, your shoulders, and your hip sockets are in alignment (see Figure 1).\n \n With your eyes open or closed, stay for 6 to 8 breaths.\nFigure 1: Seated chair posture.\"/>Figure 1: Seated chair posture.\n \n\nIf your feet don’t touch the floor, place a folded blanket, rolled-up mat, or other prop underneath them.\nSeated alternate arm raise sequence\nMany of the muscles that go to your neck start between your shoulders, so this sequence is a good way to bring circulation to that area. Be sure to use both parts of the sequence — the arm raise and then the arm raise and head turn — to get the proper results.\n\n Start in the seated chair posture.\n \n As you inhale, raise your slightly bent right arm, as in Figure 2a.\n \n As you exhale, return your right palm to your right thigh; repeat Steps 2 and 3, alternating with your right and left arms two to three times each.\n \n Continue raising and alternating your arms and turning your head away from each arm for two to three additional rounds, as in Figure 2b.\nFigure 2: Seated alternate arm raise sequence.\"/>Figure 2: Seated alternate arm raise sequence.\n \n\nSeated shoulder rolls\nThe neck and shoulders are two of the most frequent sites of tension for Westerners. Seated shoulder rolls can bring instant stress relief for stored-up tension.\n\n Start in the seated chair posture.\n \n Hang your arms at your sides, and roll your shoulders up and back as you inhale (see Figure 3).\n \n As you exhale, roll your shoulders down.\n \n Repeat Steps 2 and 3 four to six times, and then reverse the direction of the rolls for four to six repetitions.\nFigure 3: Seated shoulder rolls.\"/>Figure 3: Seated shoulder rolls.\n \n\nWing-and-prayer sequence\nThink of your upper back and neck as your wingspan; this sequence (as well as the ones in the following sections) helps you keep that wingspan in balance.\n\n Start in the seated chair posture.\n \n Join your palms in the prayer position, as in Figure 4a.\n \n As you inhale, raise your arms comfortably above your head, keeping your hands in the prayer position, as Figure 4b demonstrates.\n \n As you exhale, bring your hands and arms back down, still maintaining the prayer position.\n \n As you inhale, separate your hands and move your arms out like wings to the sides, at about shoulder height; lift your chest and look straight ahead (see Figure 4c).\n \n As you exhale, bring your hands and arms to the starting position in Step 2.\n \n Repeat Steps 1 through 6 four to six times.\nFigure 4: Wing-and-prayer sequence.\"/>Figure 4: Wing-and-prayer sequence.\n \n\nMirror-on-the-hand sequence\nThis sequence safely reaches subtle muscles in your neck and shoulders.\n\n Start in the seated chair posture.\n \n As you inhale, raise the back of your right hand to eye level, as in Figure 5a.\n \n As you exhale, bring your right hand inward and place your palm and fingers at the top of your left shoulder, turning your eyes and head down and to the left as you follow your right hand (see Figure 5b).\nIf you have a problem rotating your neck outward to the right or the left, turn only as far as you feel comfortable.\n \n As you inhale, return the back of your right hand to eye level, and keep it moving and opening around to the right as far as is comfortable (see Figure 5).\n \n As you exhale, bring the back of your right hand in front of you, again at eye level.\n \n Continue exhaling as you bring your right hand back down to the seated chair posture.\n \n Repeat Steps 1 through 6, alternating right and left sides three to four times each.\nFigure 5: Mirror-on-the-hand sequence.\"/>Figure 5: Mirror-on-the-hand sequence.\n \n\nNewspaper sequence\nThis sequence is the most challenging to coordinate. Give yourself some time to get used to it, and it may become one of your favorites.\n\n Start in the seated chair posture.\n \n Inhale and then, as you exhale, move both hands up to eye level, with your palms facing you as though you’re looking at a newspaper (Figure 6a demonstrates).\n \n As you inhale, move both hands up, and follow your hands with your eyes and head until your hands are just above your forehead (see Figure 6b).\nTry not to turn your head too far back when you’re looking up at your hands; think of rotating up from the level of your ears instead of your collar.\n \n As you exhale, bring your chin down to your chest without moving your arms, as in Figure 6c.\n \n As you inhale, separate your hands and move your arms out like wings to the sides, at about shoulder height; lift your chest and look straight ahead (see Figure 6d).\n \n As you exhale, extend your bent arms forward like they’re going over a log, and round your back like a camel as you look down (see Figure 6e).\n \n As you inhale, lift your chest; rotate your elbows and palms inward as you raise your hands back to eye level, as in Step 2 (see Figure 6a).\n \n Repeat Steps 1 through 7 four to six times.\nFigure 6: The newspaper sequence.\"/>Figure 6: The newspaper sequence.\n \n\nSeated sage twist\nThis twist rejuvenates the upper back and the entire spine. It also tones the abdomen.\nResist the temptation to crank this twist too hard. Move slowly and carefully. If you experience pain or discomfort, leave the twist out of your routine and check with your health professional before further use. Pregnant yoginis will want to avoid this one altogether.\n\n Start in the seated chair posture, turned sideways, with the back of the chair to your right; hold the sides of the chair back with your hands, as in Figure 7.\n \n As you inhale, lift your spine and head upward.\n \n As you exhale, twist your torso and head farther to the right.\n \n Repeat Steps 2 and 3, gradually twisting to your comfort level; stay in the twist for 4 to 6 breaths.\n \n Repeat Steps 1 through 4 on the left side.\nFigure 7: Seated sage twist.\"/>Figure 7: Seated sage twist.\n \n\nSeated forward bend variation\nA forward bend almost always follows a twist, to rebalance the spine and hips. Here’s one to counter the twist in the preceding section.\n\n Start in the seated chair posture, turned sideways, with the chair back on either your left or your right.\n \n As you exhale, bend forward from your hips and slide your hands down your legs as you comfortably hang your head, chest, and arms (see Figure 8).\n \n Stay in Step 2 for 6 to 8 breaths.\nFigure 8: Seated forward bend variation.\"/>Figure 8: Seated forward bend variation.\n \n\nSeated neck and shoulder massage\nThis simple technique is good for releasing land mines between your neck and shoulders.\n\n Start in the seated chair posture, and bring your right arm up and across toward your left shoulder; place your right palm between the top of your left shoulder and your neck, as in Figure 9.\n \n Slowly and gently massage the surface area between your neck and your left shoulder in a circular motion (starting toward your neck) six to eight times, noticing any tight spots.\n \n Find the tightest spots you identified in Step 2, and grab or squeeze each one firmly for 6 to 8 counts.\n \n Finish the self-massage by repeating Step 2 six to eight times.\n \n Repeat Steps 1 through 4 with your left hand on your right side.\nFigure 9: Seated neck and shoulder massage.\"/>Figure 9: Seated neck and shoulder massage.\n \n\nHolding, squeezing, or compressing tight spots is called ischemic massage. Body workers often use it to release trigger points or sensitive and irritable areas of the body.\nSeated relaxation\nAll the concentration, breath, and movement leads to this moment. You may also replace this breathing exercise with a relaxation technique.\n\n Start in the seated chair posture with your eyes closed, as in Figure 10.\n \n Use belly breathing, and gradually increase the length of your exhalation until you reach your comfortable maximum.\n \n Take 20 to 30 belly breaths at your comfortable maximum, and then gradually come back to your normal resting breath.\nFigure 10: Seated relaxation.\"/>Figure 10: Seated relaxation.\n \n","item_vector":null},"titleHighlight":null,"descriptionHighlights":null,"headers":null},{"objectType":"article","id":151609,"data":{"title":"Yoga Postures that Relieve Lower Back Tension","slug":"yoga-postures-that-relieve-lower-back-tension","update_time":"2016-03-26T11:14:39+00:00","object_type":"article","image":null,"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Physical Health & Well-Being","slug":"physical-health-well-being","categoryId":34095},{"name":"Exercise & Movement","slug":"exercise-movement","categoryId":34166},{"name":"Yoga","slug":"yoga","categoryId":34175}],"description":"All these Yoga postures help you release your lower-back tension, aided by support from either a prop or the floor. The magic is in the execution of these ancient postures to suit your body, as you simply breathe and allow yourself to surrender to the moment and release your stress.\nKnees-to-chest posture\nThe knees-to-chest posture relieves tension in the lumbar spine and calms your nervous system.\n\n\n Lie on your back, and bend your knees in toward your chest.\n \n Hold your shins just below your knees.\n \n As you exhale, bring your knees toward your chest a comfortable distance.\n \n Close your eyes, relax, and simply breathe through your nose; stay in the posture 1 to 3 minutes.\nIf you have any knee problems, hold the backs of your thighs instead. If your head tilts back, place a folded blanket or small pillow under your head.\n \n To come out of this posture (and any of the lying, or supine, postures), roll to one side like a log and push up from there; don’t start the upward motion by lifting your neck forward.\n \n\nBent-leg feet-on-a-chair pose\nIn addition to addressing back pain, the bent-leg feet-on-a-chair pose relaxes the entire nervous system and improves circulation throughout your whole body.\n\n Sit on the floor in a simple cross-legged position, facing a sturdy chair, and lean back on your forearms.\n \n Slide your buttocks along the floor toward the chair until they’re a comfortable distance from the front edge of the chair seat.\n \n While exhaling, lift your feet off the floor and place your heels and calves on the chair seat.\n \n Lie back on the floor, with your arms near your sides and your palms up.\n \n Close your eyes, relax, and simply breathe through your nose; stay in the pose for 3 to 10 minutes.\nIf your head tilts back, place a folded blanket or small pillow under your head.\n\n \n\nSupported corpse variation\nPeople bend forward too much. This supported corpse variation reverses that process and allows you to slowly and safely restore the natural curves in both the lower and upper back and the neck.\n\n\n Sit on the floor and place a bolster or two under your knees so that they’re comfortably bent; your heels can lightly touch the floor or be suspended a few inches — it’s all about how it feels in your lower back.\n \n Position another bolster vertically on the floor behind your hips, and place a rolled blanket on the bolster.\n \n Lie back on top of the vertical bolster, and let your hips come down to the floor. Position the rolled blanket under your head, and move your arms out to a comfortable distance, with your palms up.\n \n Close your eyes, relax, and simply breathe through your nose. Allow your chest to open and your neck to release; stay in the posture for 3 to 5 minutes.\nIf the vertical bolster creates an uncomfortable arch, replace it with two folded blankets.\n \n\nDon’t practice this pose if you experience pain in your lower or upper back, or if you’ve been diagnosed with disc disease.\nSupported cobra\nIf you feel pain when you round your back, the supported cobra can help you heal and take the pain away. It also helps restore the natural curve in your lower back, known as the lumbar curve.\n\n\n Place a bolster on the floor, and lie face down (prone) so that the bolster is positioned underneath you from the bottom of your chest to the top of your head.\n \n Stretch your legs back, spread comfortably apart, with the tops of your feet on the floor.\n \n Fold your arms comfortably underneath you, with your palms down, under the side of your head.\n \n Relax, with your eyes closed; breathe through your nose and stay in the posture for 2 to 5 minutes.\n \n\nDon’t practice this pose if you experience pain in your lower or upper back, or if you’ve been diagnosed with disc disease.","item_vector":null},"titleHighlight":null,"descriptionHighlights":null,"headers":null},{"objectType":"article","id":198553,"data":{"title":"How to Do the Child's Pose in Yoga","slug":"how-to-do-the-childs-pose-in-yoga","update_time":"2016-03-26T22:36:36+00:00","object_type":"article","image":null,"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Physical Health & Well-Being","slug":"physical-health-well-being","categoryId":34095},{"name":"Exercise & Movement","slug":"exercise-movement","categoryId":34166},{"name":"Yoga","slug":"yoga","categoryId":34175}],"description":"In yoga, the child's pose move stretches your lower back and arms and relaxes your entire body. If you have knee problems, lower yourself into this yoga pose with extra care. These step-by-step instructions demonstrate the child's pose.\nHere's what to do:\n\n Start in a kneeling position.\n \n Drop your butt toward your heels as you stretch the rest of your body down and forward.\n \n In the fully stretched position, rest your arms in a relaxed position along the floor, rest your stomach comfortably on top of your thighs, and rest your forehead on the mat.\nYou should feel a mild stretch in your shoulders and buttocks and down the length of your spine and arms.\n \n\nEase into this stretch by keeping your shoulders and neck relaxed. Don’t force your derriere to move any closer to your heels than is comfortable.\nCredit: Photograph by Sunstreak Productions, Inc.The child's pose in yoga.\nTaking a yoga class is another way to master the many yoga poses that make up a yoga workout.","item_vector":null},"titleHighlight":null,"descriptionHighlights":null,"headers":null},{"objectType":"article","id":210280,"data":{"title":"How to Do a Basic Pilates Cat","slug":"how-to-do-a-basic-pilates-cat","update_time":"2016-03-28T14:38:53+00:00","object_type":"article","image":null,"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Physical Health & Well-Being","slug":"physical-health-well-being","categoryId":34095},{"name":"Exercise & Movement","slug":"exercise-movement","categoryId":34166},{"name":"Pilates","slug":"pilates","categoryId":34170}],"description":"The cat position relaxes and stretches your body, specifically your back. The basic Pilates cat stretch, usually done on a mat, is one of the gentlest ways to stretch your back.","item_vector":null},"titleHighlight":null,"descriptionHighlights":null,"headers":null}]},"relatedArticlesStatus":"success"},"routeState":{"name":"Article4","path":"/article/body-mind-spirit/physical-health-well-being/exercise-movement/yoga/how-to-do-the-cat-and-cow-poses-in-yoga-210287/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{"category1":"body-mind-spirit","category2":"physical-health-well-being","category3":"exercise-movement","category4":"yoga","article":"how-to-do-the-cat-and-cow-poses-in-yoga-210287"},"fullPath":"/article/body-mind-spirit/physical-health-well-being/exercise-movement/yoga/how-to-do-the-cat-and-cow-poses-in-yoga-210287/","meta":{"routeType":"article","breadcrumbInfo":{"suffix":"Articles","baseRoute":"/category/articles"},"prerenderWithAsyncData":true},"from":{"name":null,"path":"/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{},"fullPath":"/","meta":{}}},"dropsState":{"submitEmailResponse":false,"status":"initial"},"sfmcState":{"status":"initial"},"profileState":{"auth":{},"userOptions":{},"status":"success"}}

How to Do the Cat and Cow Poses in Yoga

Updated: 03-28-2016

Yoga For Dummies

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Relieve back pain by posing in the Cat and Cow asanas. Two of the ten core yoga poses, these positions stretch your back and increase flexibility. Exercise your body and relax your mind with yoga.

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