3 Ways To Amp Up Down Dog For Insane Abs
If you’ve gone to a yoga class or flowed along with a DVD at home, chances are you’ve tried the Down Dog pose. In this pose you’re holding your body in an upside down “v” position, which helps to stretch the backs of your legs and build upper-body strength. While doing Down Dog is beneficial for your posture and can help reduce fatigue, there are a few ways to fine-tune the move to make it extra effective at working the muscles of your abs, too. Give these three core-focused Down Dog variations a try the next time you unroll your yoga mat.
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Whitney Thielman1Down Dog Abs
- Start in Down Dog and lift your right leg into the air, this is your Down Dog split position (also known as three-legged Down Dog).
- Bring your right knee under your torso. Pause then extend right leg back to down dog split.
- Now bring your right knee to meet your right elbow. Pause then extend right leg back to Down Dog split.
- Finally bring your right knee to meet your left elbow. Pause then extend right leg back to Down Dog split.
- Do 5 reps on each side
Whitney Thielman2Down Dog Taps
- Start in down dog.
- Lift your right hand off the floor and reach toward your left ankle (gently tapping the front of your foot or ankle if possible).
- Return right hand to the floor and repeat with the opposite arm.
- Do 10 reps on each side, staying in Down Dog throughout the entire exercise.
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Whitney Thielman3Plank To Down Dog
- Start in a high plank.
- Push through your palms and lift your hips into a Down Dog.
- Return to high plank. Do 10 reps.
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