One of my students asked me if it was okay to engage the abdominals in cat pose, so I thought it would be fun to play around with both cat and cow since they are such a popular combination in most yoga classes. 

To answer the question, yes you can and will engage the abdominals in cat pose.  And in thinking about this question and researching a bit, I came across a wonderful series from Lizzie Lasater, Judith Lasater and Mary Richards  – which I would highly recommend you checking out – you can do so here.

I love cat and cow , and I think they are great poses for so many reasons – here are just  a few:

• They improve spinal mobility, providing hydration to the spinal discs
• They strengthen the muscles of the spine (cow pose particularly)
• They stretch the muscles of the spine (cat pose particularly)
• They stretch the belly and chest (cow particularly)
• They activate the abdominal muscles (cat pose particularly)
• They can have a positive effect on the abdominal organs, which get gently compressed (in a good way in cat) and opened (in cow)
• They also mobilize the hip joints
• They mobilize the shoulder blades as they move over the spine and ribs below them
• Plus they invite us to move with the rhythm of the breath – connecting body, mind, and breath  - soooo good

So, here’s a little cat-cow exploration. I hope you have fun exploring new ways to play with tried and true, familiar shapes, and that you experience a new awareness of the poses in your body.  And, I hope you enjoy how nourishing it is for your back and your whole body as well as your mind and your heart!

You can check out and rent more recorded practices here!