Cat cow pose is sometimes referred to as simply the Cat pose. It’s another of the most effective yoga stomach exercises. It’s easily performed by beginners and leaves you feeling open and stretched. This is one of the few yoga stomach exercises that is safe for pregnant women. Move your body with your breath while performing this exercise for the best results.
Technique:
- Begin on hands and knees, with wrists underneath the shoulders and knees underneath the hips. Keep the spine straight and the neck a natural extension of the spine.
- Inhale, curl the toes under, drop the belly, and lift your gaze to the ceiling. The movement in the spine should start from the tailbone, so the neck is the last part to move.
- Exhale, rest the tops of the feet on the floor, round the spine, drop the head, and drop the gaze to your navel.
- Repeat the cat/cow stretch on each inhale and exhale, moving the body with the breath. Continue for five breaths, moving the whole spine. After the final breath, return to the starting position.
Benefits:
- Cat cow pose is one of the best yoga stomach exercises for conditioning the abdominal muscles and increasing the flexibility of the spine. It tones the abdominal wall and massages the internal organs. The exercise also helps clear out emotional baggage.
- Stretches and lubricates spine