Day 11 of #HeartOpeningSeptember is Flip Dog / Wild Thing Pose ?
This is one of my favourite yoga poses and I have found a variety of different ways to get into this pose and also different variations once in it, here I have reached back with my free arm to grab my ankle which requires a deeper backbend than other variations where the free arm is left extended. Here’s a few of the ways I get into this pose:
1 – Start in a side plank with the upper leg raised in a bent position, then lean backwards slightly placing your foot on the floor behind you and lifting your chest – probably the easiest option.
2 – Start in downward dog, shift your weight to one side and step your foot back, lift up through your hips and chest and curl into the backbend extending your arm forwards and towards the floor.
3 – Start sitting with one leg straight in front of you and the other leg bent placing your foot as close to your body as you can. Place your opposite hand to the bent leg on the floor slightly behind yourself, fingers facing back and slightly inwards. From here lift your hips and chest, arching your back as though you were pushing up into a wheel pose and extend your free arm towards the floor. From here you can reach back and grab your ankle, the closer you can get the foot of your bent leg and hand when you push up, the deeper the backbend – advanced variation.
Hope that all makes sense, it's a rather complicated manoeuvre to describe.
Benefits - Opens up chest, lung, and shoulder areas. - Opens the front of the legs and hip flexors. - Builds strength in shoulders and upper back.
Make sure to check in with my co hosts @laurenleeyoga @auri_yoga and @healthyfitsam for their variations ?
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