Listen to the Pronunciation of Urdhva Mukha Svanasana. Courtesy of the Online Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide.

For any yogi who has a favorite friend of the canine variety, you cannot help but smile when they practice upward or downward dog. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, or upward facing dog, is another in our series of backward bending poses which is also clearly an arm and wrist strengthening pose. Poses such as Bhujangasana, Cobra Pose or Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, Bridge Pose, are excellent preparatory poses for Upward Facing Dog pose.

Jessie Franklin, Founder of Yoga Health and Healing demonstrates how to practice this pose.

Patrick of the Yoga Garden Studio in Japan helps explain what is the difference between Bhujangasana, Cobra Pose and Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Upward Facing Dog.

Backbending poses have a wonderful way of invigorating the body and mind. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana is an excellent pose to practice after long hours of sitting at a desk because it takes the hip flexors in the opposite direction and brings energy into the legs as well as the arms and upper body. Pressing firmly into the tops of the feet will help keep the pose out of the lower back and will help those with sciatic pain.

Our friends at Tranquil Space Yoga Studio in Washington, DC has made this their pose of the month for March. Woof!

Tagged as: arm strengthening, backbending, japan, tranquil space yoga studio, wrist strengthening, yoga garden, yoga health and healing