Instructions for the Best, Easiest (and My Favorite) Yoga Pose: The Cat-Cow

I'd be the first to admit that I'm neither a yoga fanatic nor an exercise aficionado. Even though I recently participated in a 5K run/walk-which isn't a bad accomplishment for a women in her forties (ahem ... I mean, fifties)-I spend most of my days sitting in front of the computer. During working hours, my exercise routine consists of dashing up the stairs to let the dog out ... but only when I break my concentration from writing long enough to realize he's doing that little dance that says he needs to go out immediately!

Since I do so much sitting, it's easy to stiffen up and feel like I'm put together with too-tightly-wound springs that are about to go boing! For that reason, my favorite yoga pose is the Cat-Cow. It's easy to do and doesn't require any previous yoga training, a mat, or any other equipment besides a floor. Although, I must add a caveat and mention that a carpeted floor is easier on the knees.

Doing the cat-cow yoga pose only requires a few seconds and a minimum of space. The best part is that the deep breathing gets oxygen to the brain, releases tension, and makes you feel human again, instead of feeling like a rat in a maze. It stretches the muscles in your back, shoulders, and neck, as well as elongating the spine. It's not only great as an every day yoga exercise, but provides help for a sore lower back, as well as helping to ease gas pains following a colonoscopy or after over-eating

Here's how to do it:

Cat-Cow Yoga Pose: Get onto the floor on your hands and knees. Make sure your knees are directly in line with your hips and your hands are in line with your shoulders. Exhale while tilting your head down between your arms and rounding your back and shoulders (like a cat that's arched its back). Then, inhale, and slowly move into a reverse arch (cow) rounding your stomach toward the floor while bringing your head up through your arms into a backward tilt that pulls your chest upward. Repeat several times.

As with all exercise, never attempt to do more than you're comfortably able, and don't continue to hold a yoga pose if it causes pain. Remember to breathe slowly and deeply, and repeat the cat-cow yoga pose several times through out the day.

There you have it-an easy, fun yoga position. Give the cat-cow yoga pose a try and see if you don't find it makes a big difference in your sense of well-being.

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Sources:
BNet: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_6_31/ai_80088295/
Help For IBS.com: http://www.helpforibs.com/yoga/pictures.asp#wind
Move It to Lose It Fitness.com:
http://www.moveit2loseitfitness.com/UserFiles/File/M2LF%20YOGA%20POSITIONS.pdf
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/