Alternative Health Blog

Maybe your 2009 resolutions include beginning or restarting a yoga practice. Good idea. The ideal strategy for yoga novices is a one-on-one session with an instructor. It will cost about the same as an appointment with your massage therapist.

Or you can certainly get an energy boost from a beginner’s class at your local yoga studio (look for one in which the teacher offers different versions of the same posture depending upon experience and fitness level).

Better yet, start your resolution today with the “downward-facing dog” pose, which is one of the “inversion” postures in yoga that pretty much instantly can energize the body.

The downward dog is a more accessible version of the handstand or headstand, which likely most American adults have not done since, oh, fifth grade. Yet maybe there is more to those childhood handstands than just playing or showing off.

“I have teacher who calls headstands and handstand the ‘yogi’s coffee,’ ” said one yoga instructor based in the Seattle area.

The downward dog pose looks, not surprisingly, a lot like a dog stretching its paws in front and the rear high in the air. For us humans, it starts with putting your hands in alignment with your shoulders and hips as you move to hands and feet on the floor. Novices often spread the hands too far apart and the feet too close together.

Next, as you come into all fours, place your knees under your hips and gently extend your spine. As you put your hands on the mats, spread the fingers a bit with the middle finger straight ahead.

Lift your pelvis toward the ceiling and pull the hips back. Your eyes look to the feet. The feet are even with the hips and resist moving them closer to the hands just put the heels down. If your heels don’t touch, they will if you do the downward dog regularly.

A good practice is to hold the downward dog posture for five slow, purposeful breaths.

What keeps yoga regulars coming back is, to be sure, a combination of results. But one of the most satisfying is increased energy, not just after class but the rest of the day or week. You feel more clear-headed. You stand more upright. There is less tiredness midday. Who can resist that in today’s world, especially during what can be stressful holidays. 

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.