What is Puppy Pose in Yoga? Procedure, Benefits and Contradictions

Before answering the question “How to do Puppy Pose?”, we will know more about puppy pose yoga. It is also known as Uttana Shishosana in Sanskrit, and it is known for its extended stretch yoga pose. It is a pose that looks like a mixture of child’s pose and downward-facing dog. It is performed with lifted hips and gives a deep stretch to the abdominal muscles.

The ancient yogic texts don’t specifically mention this pose, but its name in Sanskrit is idealised as a mix of the two poses. It is known from the modern version modification of the two poses, but it is an extremely beneficial pose. It shows a resemblance to a young dog stretch, and that’s why it is named in the same way.

How to Perform Puppy Dog Pose Yoga?

Puppy pose is a bridge to the more stretching pose from resting one, its inspiration came from puppy stretch after sleep or a nap. In this position hips remain high while the upper half stretches. Here are some simple steps to follow the yoga puppy dog pose.

• You have to start puppy dog pose in Tabletop position: hips over knees and shoulder over knees.
• Keep your hips in one line with your knees and expand your hands on the forward side.
• Now keep your elbow on the mat and your chest towards the floor.
• Your arms should stay in an active position.
• Down your head on the mat and allow your chest to expand as a whole.
• The spine should be straight in this position. Take a deep breath while keeping your chest in a resting position.
•  While releasing comes to the tabletop position again.

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Benefits of Puppy Pose Yoga

Puppy pose is known for increasing the flexibility of the whole body. There are least contraindications of this pose. It is modified from two different poses, which makes it more interactive for the body. Here are some benefits that are mentioned in the yogic books:

1. Enhance the lung capacity and open up the whole chest.
2. Helpful in increasing prana urja in the body as it clears the channel of the energy in the body.
3. Increase the flexibility of the body and correct spine posture.
4. Make a proper alignment of the body and relieve stiffness in the body.
5. It is also a preparatory pose for various back-bending poses.
6. Slow breathing in this pose helps in reducing the anxiety and stress of the whole body.
7. It calms down the nervous system.
8. Encourage confidence and determination while practising regularly.

Are Puppy Pose and Dog Pose the Same?

The names of these two poses are nearly the same, which causes great confusion to many practitioners. They are not the same in practice, benefits, or even in origin. The proper name of the dog pose is downward-facing dog, which is also known as Adho Mukha Svanasana. On the other hand, puppy pose is known as Uttana Shishosana, which means extensive stretch in child pose.

Puppy pose is modified by modern yoga practitioners, and dog pose originated from the Hatha Yoga Sutra. So there are many differences but related names, they don’t even look like same in position.

Contraindications of the Puppy Pose

There are different problems in old age, and most of them are associated with pain in the bones and joints of people. Puppy pose has contraindications, too:

• In case of severe pain, don’t try to perform the puppy pose.
• In case of arthritis, avoid this pose or take the help of the soft cushions under the knees.
• With pain or injury in the wrist or arms, don’t force yourself and do not perform this pose.
• A person with migraine, headache, spondylitis or other similar conditions may get confused or more pain from this pose.
• Extending the spine without any prior guidance from the doctors or a yoga instructor may prove a harmful step.
• In case of vertigo, dizziness and other conditions, a person may be imbalanced in poses so as not to perform this pose.

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Conclusion

Puppy pose is simple with some regulations, but a person should follow every step carefully while performing it. Many recommendations don’t allow patients with cervical spondyloarthritis, vertigo, dizziness, and severe pain to perform most of the poses. At Pratham Yoga, we are giving the best guidance to our students regarding yoga. Here you may join for both short-term and long-term courses. Despite having so many benefits, beginners should perform this pose without guidance.