Downward Dog instruction

[Guest guest]

I need a verbal cue to give to students during D-dog. In particular,

I want to say something that will help a student arrive at a proper

distance from hands to feet. I say the usual things...palms flat,

heels working toward the floor, hips rising...but a student can do all

of these things and still be way off. I can go around to each one

advising on an appropriate distance between hands & feet (it varies

greatly from person to person of course), but I can't think of a

helpful verbal cue. Any suggestions?

[Guest guest]

ashtanga yoga, crucesyogi <no_reply> wrote:

> I need a verbal cue to give to students during D-dog. In

particular,

> I want to say something that will help a student arrive at a proper

> distance from hands to feet. I say the usual things...palms flat,

> heels working toward the floor, hips rising...but a student can do

all

> of these things and still be way off. I can go around to each one

> advising on an appropriate distance between hands & feet (it varies

> greatly from person to person of course), but I can't think of a

> helpful verbal cue. Any suggestions?

 

I went to a workshop once where we were told to get on all fours

keeping the arms and thighs straight up and down and parallel to each

other . Once we'd achieved this we were then told to rise into down

dog. This is supposed to be how everyone can figure out the amount

of distance there should be between feet and hands. Ever since that

I've developed a sort of body memory of what my own personal down dog

should feel like. If I ever forget I simply get on all fours and get

my limbs parallel. Perhaps this exercise will help your students.