Why do Downdog? Here are five benefits

Have you been seeing loads of photos of people recently looking something like a right angle? Well, that could be the Martha's Dancing Heart Downward Dog challenge (as well as loads of other yogis who just love posting photos of the pose!). How can downdog help you?

Downdog or Downward Dog, or Adho Mukha Svanasana (to give it its Sanskrit name), is the name of an inverted yoga pose. This blog will tell you why you might like to get down with some downdogs too.  Here are five benefits:

• Self-awareness - like all yoga poses, downdog gives you knowledge about your body. For example, when attempting a yoga pose, you may notice parts of your body feel tight. For downdog, this is typically your hamstrings. You can help tight hamstrings by keeping your knees bent when you first get into the pose, which protects your lower back and allows your spine to lengthen, as well as 'walking' your legs (bending each one in turn) before trying to straighten them. When we understand what's going on in our body, we can do what our body needs it to do to be at its best.

 

• A different perspective – downdog helps you see the world upside down, which can help you see things differently. Different versions may have different effects.  For example, I often call the downdog that you do at the wall ‘bad-day-asana’ as people can find this version soothing. This pose can help calm busy thoughts when things get hectic.

• Strength - on a physical level, downdog is a whole body pose which strengthens the arms and legs. In Office Om, I often say that I’m not the sort of yogi that you’ll see doing headstands on the beach, but I’m really excited by how we can incorporate yoga into everyday life. If, however, you do dream of doing inverted poses, down dog is great preparation for handstand and other impressive poses. Either way, feeling physically stronger can help us feel mentally stronger.

• Changing how you feel - have you noticed how having your body in different positions can help you feel differently? Yoga can often change how you are feeling.  Notice how things feel when you’re in down dog. Downdog is an inversion, and many people find inversions energising. 

 

• Counterbalancing sitting - downdogs are brilliant after you have done lots of sitting in chairs. People say that 'sitting is the new smoking' and being sedentary can cause various health issues. Moving your body into down dog can help counterpose too much sitting and helps stretch out the hamstrings, which can be tight after lots of time in a chair. You might like to try one after you've been sitting a lot one day and feel the advantages for yourself. 

Other benefits have been written about, for example, relieving the symptoms of depression, (see here). 
 
Can you join in the challenge too? If so, you just need to post a picture of yourself doing downdog for 30 days and post your pictures online using the hashtag #mdhdownwarddog. To squeeze in some health and safety, really you should only attempt this if you have already got yoga experience. You should also avoid it if you have wrist problems or high blood pressure and a yoga teacher can give you modifications if these are the case. Ideally you’d prepare by warming up your ankles, legs and stretch your shoulders first too.

Thanks to Michelle Graham for nominating me for the pose, it's been a great incentive to post photos every day, and thanks to everyone else who's got involved too, you rock.
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If you'd like to donate to Martha’s Dancing Heart appeal, please text MDHT99 £1 to 70070 to donate £1 (Or change it to any other amount too).

 
What benefits have you found from practicing downdog? Please post comments below and follow Office Om on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for more Office Om inspiration and offers.