Downward-Facing Dog
Adho Mukha Svanasana
AH-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAH-sah-nah
Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) is a beginner inversion. Full-body stretch and strength, mild inversion.
How to cue it
- Hands shoulder-width, hips high
- Spread fingers, press the floor
- Heels reach down
At a glance
- Drishti
- Toward navel / feetWhere the eyes rest.
- Family
- Inversion / neutral
- Level
- Beginner
- Chakra
- Third Eye (Ajna)
Take care
Wrists, shoulders.
Counter poses
What to offer after Downward-Facing Dog to let the body settle.
Good to know
Truly a mild inversion.
Build your class with Downward-Facing Dog in Cue
Drop Downward-Facing Dog into a sequence, keep these cues beside it, set the timing, then teach the whole class off one screen you can read from across the room. Free to start.
Also from Cue
Printable pose cards
68 cards. 60 poses, 6 breath practices, 2 sun salutations.
- Front is the pose. Back is three cues, drishti, benefits and counter poses.
- Made to test yourself on, for teacher training or your own study.
- Lay them out to build a class, then keep it in Cue.
Instant download. Print at home on cardstock, cut and go.