Cow Pose: How-to, Tips, Benefits

In our beginner yoga pose series, Michael Taylor from Strala Yoga in New York City, demonstrates and gives us the scoop on Cow pose.

How-to: From hands and knees, arch your back so your belly drops toward the floor and chest opens in front of you.

Tips: To maximize the release in your lower back muscles, exhale as you let your back curve downward, and release any holding in your abdomen. To maximize the opening in your chest and upper spine, inhale and pull your shoulders gently back as you arch. Good to practice in succession with cat pose.

Benefits: Releases muscles along the whole spine.

Michael Taylor is a yoga guide at Strala Yoga in New York City. (Michael prefers "guide" to "instructor"). He's practiced Eastern movement and healing techniques for more than two decades. He holds a degree in mind-body medicine from Harvard, and studied alternative medicine and psychology at Oxford. Mike is also the CEO of social media company Odyl, climbs a few mountains in his spare time, and is the husband of yoga master Tara Stiles.