Even pet cats can teach us lessons in yoga! With a keen eye, the yogi absorbs ideas from the world around. Marjari asana, or the cat stretch, incorporates the excellent feline stretch in the yoga workout.
Marjari = Cat; Asana = Posture or Pose
How To Do Marjariasana (Cat Stretch)
- Come onto your fours. Form a table such that your back forms the table top and your hands and feet form the legs of the table.
- Keep your arms perpendicular to the floor, with the hands directly under the shoulders and flat on the ground; your knees are hip-width apart.
- Look straight ahead.
- As you inhale, raise your chin and tilt your head back, push your navel downwards and raise your tailbone. Compress your buttocks. Do you feel a slight tingle here?
- Hold the Cat pose and take long, deep breaths.
- Follow this by a countermovement: As you exhale, drop your chin to your chest and arch your back up as much as you can; relax the buttocks.
- Hold this pose for a few seconds before you return to the initial table-like stage.
- Continue five or six rounds before you come out of this yoga posture.
- Tip from the Sri Sri Yoga expert: When you do the movement slowly and gracefully, its effect is more powerful and meditative.
Benefits Of Marjariasana (Cat Stretch)
- Brings flexibility to the spine
- Strengthens wrists and shoulders
- Massages the digestive organs and improves digestion
- Tones the abdomen
- Improves digestion
- Relaxes the mind
- Improves blood circulation
Contraindication of the Cat Stretch (Marjariasana)
Consult your doctor if you have back or neck-related problems and practice Cat Stretch (Marjariasana) under the guidance of an Sri Sri Yoga teacher.
All Yoga Poses Previous yoga pose: Padmasana Next yoga pose: Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana
