I’ve practiced yoga for the last fifteen years or so and downward facing dog (down dog) was one of the first poses I learned from my amazing yogi, Olga Campora.  Even when I have only a few minutes for practice, I always include this pose.  It is a great way to stretch nearly every muscle in your body and align the vertebrae of your spine. I feel strong and centered as I focus on my alignment and my muscles from head to toe.  After 15 years, it is still a very conscious pose for me, as I seek to benefit fully.

Imagine my surprise and delight to see my new puppy, Pete, instinctually do a perfect downward facing dog upon rising each morning.  I don’t think he is concentrating on the alignment of his vertebrae as he extends to his full length – just doing what feels good in the moment.

I’d love to share with you a photo of us each in the pose, side by side, but so far, I haven’t figured out how to train him to do the pose on command.  Stay tuned for a later post featuring us together. Meanwhile, all you yogis out there, enjoy a pristine pose by a true natural!