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poses: Intermediate

Low Pushup

(Chaturanga)

Benefits:
Physical: Tones entire body
Emotional: Confidence
Rx For: Weak arms

1. From Plank begin to bend the elbows, drawing them in tight against the body (this is what differentiates yoga push-ups from those military presses) and lower your body like an alligator toward the floor until your heels, butt, spine, shoulders, elbows, and neck are in one long line, hovering inches from the floor.
2. If you can’t lower down slowly with good alignment, modify. Put your knees down and then lower your chest toward the floor.

Hint: Think of going forward with the sternum rather than down. Pull the belly in and do not let your butt drop down below your shoulders (that’s called cheating).

Comments

t
20 Mar 2008, 21:52

I don't get how it's different from the traditional pushup

t
20 Mar 2008, 22:05

nevermind I get it now. Either way it's difficult for me to do.

I must be doing something wrong because there is alot of tension in the left side of my neck.

Any pointers?

Barb
01 Jul 2008, 12:49

I would like to be able to push myself back up after hovering in chaturanga. How do I go about doing this? It's hard. Thanks

wish
04 Jul 2008, 07:33

If it's hard to push yourself up out of chaturanga, try engaging the muscles around your navel to help pull you up and into a downward dog. It's more natural than pushing yourself back up as you would in a traditional push-up. Imagine a string tied around your waist at the navel and let it gently, slowly pull your hips up into downward dog.