Downward dog is a stretch that I love to do whenever I'm short on time and need to ease tension in my lower-back. However, doing it repeatedly has made it less challenging for me. That's why when I came across a video on Instagram by yoga instructor Mandy Froehlich, I was intrigued by her three small tweaks to make downward dog even more effective.
After sitting at my desk for most of the day, I was feeling some tightness in my shoulders and lower-back, so I was hoping these tweaks would provide some relief. Froehlich's suggestions target the shoulders, spine, and legs, and each of them helped me in a different way.
For the shoulders, Froehlich suggests pushing your hands down into the mat and forward slightly to let your shoulders get close to your ears. This simple tweak released tension in my upper-back and shoulders.
To lengthen your spine, Froehlich suggests lifting up your sit bones, moving your armpits away from your hips, or lengthening along your side waist. I found lifting up my sit bones and pushing my feet into the floor to be the easiest way to lengthen my spine and distribute my weight evenly.
Finally, Froehlich suggests squeezing the front of your thighs while also engaging your core. These tweaks made downward dog feel like a new challenge and provided much-needed relief for my body.
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