Downward Dog

Downward Dog through the SomaFlow Lens

Downward Dog is often described as a posture that stretches the back of the body while strengthening the shoulders and arms.

The SomaFlow Lens observes something different first.

How is the body organising itself under load?

As the posture is held, many people gradually begin collapsing into their hands.

Pressure accumulates through the wrists.

The shoulders become heavier.

Breathing becomes more restricted.

Rather than asking the arms to work harder, SomaFlow asks a different question.

Can the hands become quieter?

Not by taking support away from them.

But by allowing the body to organise support through its primary organising centre - what SomaFlow calls the Pelvic Triangle: the relationship between the glutes, hamstrings and inner thighs.

As the Pelvic Triangle begins organising the work of support, the posture often changes without trying to change it.

The hands don’t lose contact with the ground.

They simply stop carrying more than their share.

The shoulders become lighter.

Breathing becomes easier.

The whole posture becomes quieter.

Soft knees aren’t simply a modification.

For many bodies, they’re an opportunity to discover organisation before asking for more range.

Because in SomaFlow, the goal isn’t to create the deepest Downward Dog.

It’s to create the most organised relationship between your body and the ground.

The posture is simply the environment.

Organisation is the practice.