Ode to Downward Facing Dog...

Oh downward facing dog, how can I convey to thee how much I appreciate all that you have to offer? I just don't know where to start... my mama used to always tell me, "when you don't know where to start, just make a list." So, I guess that is exactly where I'll start----with a list.

THE MANY REASONS YOU ARE THE BEES KNEES D DOG:

1. you stretch
2. you firm
3. you strengthen
4. you lengthen
5. you massage
6. you engage
7. you internalize
8. you cycle
9. you invert
10. you bend
11. you widen
12. you press
13. you stablize
14. you align
15. you free up my gas pipes
16. you girdle my shoulders
17. you ilio my tibial bands
18. you pada my bandha
19. you mula my bandha
20. you float my lower ribs in, after years of me trying to understand what the hell that meant
21. you relax
22. you ujjayi my breath
23. you rotate
24. you hyper extend...you naughty boy ;)
25. and finally, you beckon to my every call. 

I figured 25 reasons why I love downward facing is enough.  Seeing how my age is 25 I thought it quite poetic.



But for real, downward facing pose (adho mukha svanasana), is one of the most spenlidiforous asana that I return to constantly, and often at the most inappropriate times. For those who may not be familiar, here is a picture of the pose:

Quite the looker isn't it?

Not only is Downward Facing Dog one of the most notorious poses when one thinks of Yoga, but it is also one of those deceptively complicated poses. All at the same time, there is a multitude of energetic actions taking place, while your nervous system and endocrine system are being manipulated. Its a whole body stretch, but the definition of whole body evolves as your practice with downward facing dog progresses. Also, its considered to be one of the more "basic" poses, so people who come to yoga for the first time are likely to be introduced to downward facing dog right off the bat, so one could say that downward facing dog is a pose that sticks with a yogi almost entirely throughout their hatha yogic journey (obviously this may not apply to all, but for most..yes I would argue this). As one's yogic journey progress, so does this pose.  Adho Mukha Svanasana is a prime example of the dynamism of yoga and the self refinements that your inner teacher expresses.  Overall, its an experience that slowly grows and transforms into a more mature expression of itself, just like ourselves down the long road of our lives.

If you have a chance, really any downtime that is usually occupied with maybe going on facebook or habitually checking your fantasy football team when you know really nothing has changed, go into downward facing dog and really feel all that this asana has to offer. All that other stuff can wait, and after you fully experience downward facing dog, all that other stuff will seem more gratifying by at least 2X's. Yoga has that kind of affect.

Here are some cues on how to get into downward facing dog, if you are unfamiliar.
These cues are taken from YogaJournal.com. There are a variety of opinions about how to get into to the pose, but I found yogajournal to be simple and concise.


Step by Step
Come onto the floor on your hands and knees. Set your knees directly below your hips and your hands slightly forward of your shoulders. Spread your palms, index fingers parallel or slightly turned out, and turn your toes under.
Exhale and lift your knees away from the floor. At first keep the knees slightly bent and the heels lifted away from the floor. Lengthen your tailbone away from the back of your pelvis and press it lightly toward the pubis. Against this resistance, lift the sitting bones toward the ceiling, and from your inner ankles draw the inner legs up into the groins.
Then with an exhalation, push your top thighs back and stretch your heels onto or down toward the floor. Straighten your knees but be sure not to lock them. Firm the outer thighs and roll the upper thighs inward slightly. Narrow the front of the pelvis.
Firm the outer arms and press the bases of the index fingers actively into the floor. From these two points lift along your inner arms from the wrists to the tops of the shoulders. Firm your shoulder blades against your back, then widen them and draw them toward the tailbone. Keep the head between the upper arms; don't let it hang.
Adho Mukha Svanasana is one of the poses in the traditional Sun Salutation sequence. It's also an excellent yoga asana all on its own. Stay in this pose anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. Then bend your knees to the floor with an exhalation and rest in child's pose.

That's all for now. I hope this entry has helped shed some light on the totally extreme righteousness that is Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog).  Thanks for checking in, and leave any comments if you so feel inclined!
Cheers and Namaste,
Roxy