Do this Downward Dog Variation for Hip and Back Pain

The downward dog can be intimidating when we see images of advanced yogis doing them. Most western adults can’t do a “perfect” downward dog with a completely straight back and heels on the ground.

If you pay attention in the downward dog, you can learn a lot about your body. Like where you hold tension and where you are weak.

Common limitations in Downward Dog Pose

It’s rare for a movement to target so many different areas of the body. From the feet to the head, nearly every joint and muscle is involved.

One simple thing you can do to start working on this is incorporating calf strengthening. As we always say, strong muscles stretch better than weak muscles.

The inability to get the heels on the ground doesn't always mean the limitation is in the calves. It can be due to weak and tight muscles around the hips.

Tight hamstrings are also weak hamstrings. For most people, strength is more of the limiting factor than flexibility. That is where exercises like good mornings become essential for improving your downward dog.