Sphinx Pose | Salamba Bhujangasana

SPHINX POSE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Lie on your belly with your legs extended back and your forearms flat on the floor.
2. Inhale, press your forearms down, and lift your head and chest off the floor.
3. Hold the pose for a few breaths and then exhale as you slowly lower the chest and head back to the floor.

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE

Keep your neck in line with your spine, maintain your elbows close to your torso and under your shoulders, and keep your forearms on the floor and parallel to each other. Open the chest, drop the shoulders down and back, firm the glutes, lengthen your tailbone toward the heels, and press the pubic bone down into the floor.

SALAMBA BHUJANGASANA BENEFITS

The sphinx pose aligns the spine, opens the chest, stretches the shoulders, and strengthens the core and glutes. This pose also stimulates the abdominal organs and relieves stress and tension.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Pregnancy or back injury.

PREPARATORY, COMPLEMENTARY AND FOLLOW-UP POSES

Start with plank pose and then progress to sphinx pose. Follow-up with cobra pose or bridge pose.

RELATED YOGA POSES

Try these other yoga poses to relax and relieve stress and tension:
Supine spinal twist pose
Happy baby pose
Seated forward bend pose
Wind release pose

YOGA ESSENTIAL FLOWS