Loosen up with a classic

This traditional yoga posture resembles the stretch that a dog performs when it reaches the front legs forward, lowers the shoulders and raises the pelvis. Called downward facing dog, this pose is excellent for improving flexibility throughout your body. Practice it on a regular basis and you’ll feel a terrific stretch in your hamstrings, calves, Achilles tendons, shoulders and chest.

-- Karen Voight

1 Kneel on all fours on a yoga sticky mat. Place your hands shoulder-width apart and your knees directly under your hips. Curl your toes under and move your shoulders down away from your ears. On an exhalation, press into your hands and lift your buttock bones up toward the ceiling. Stay high on your toes with your heels lifting off the mat and your knees bent. Continue to raise your buttocks up and away from your breastbone. Elongate your spine from the tip of the tailbone to the crown of your head.

2 Keep lengthening your spine as you slowly lower your heels to the floor and straighten your legs. Hold for 15 seconds, breathing evenly. To come out of the pose, bend your knees and return to all fours. Repeat two to three times and gradually increase the length of time you stay in the posture.

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Karen Voight can be reached at kvoightla@aol.com.