Dogs
by Carrie Boyko, CEB
Forward Fold is not one of my favorite poses, but it IS very important to moving forward in your yoga workouts. Rather than making a complete fold your goal, I recommend using some of last week's #doga tips, adding a chair or the help of a larger dog, to ease yourself down over many days or weeks of practice. You may even try placing your hands on your knees after step 3 shown above.
Since Forward Fold is one of those poses that may take a longer period of time for many to attain (me included), it's great to have a cheerleader. Encouraging your dog to join you can aid you in staying with your practice, while serving as a motivator. Tanner seemed quite excited about my progress when the photo above (number 2) was taken. No one was as happy as I was when I finally was able to release into the fold, shown at the top. I like the arms folded in the position you see there, as the weight aids in stretching me downward.
Another thing that has amazed me is how much my outward breath helps. Sounds crazy, huh? I read about this in my studies and have heard yoga instructors speak of it. It wasn't until I actually tried releasing myself into the stretch with the exhale that I finally noticed the correlation. What a revelation!
The most important thing to remember is that your back should remain straight until you are actually able to pivot at your hips, bringing your stomach to your quadriceps (thighs). By keeping your knees slightly bent, you may have a tweak more success, while protecting this very important joint.
Spreading your legs to hip width in the beginning is another strategy that many find helpful. You can begin bringing them closer together as you progress closer to the actual fold.
With the encouraging companionship of your dog, this pose can be in your future. I'm still working to reach this pose as completely as I hope. It seems that there is always room to improve my yoga and having a goal is great. So is having a furry companion to join me.
Namaste, 
If you're new to Doga or Yoga, please be sure to do these three things: (1) Get your doctor's permission to start this or any other workout, (2) Check with your vet to make sure your dog is able to participate in simple Doga exercises safely, and (3) visit our introductory post where I've outlined a few tips that will help your experience go more smoothly and enjoyable. Keep in mind that you can always stop if a pose is uncomfortable, returning to a relaxing pose.
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Dogs
Fido Helps With Forward Fold
by Carrie Boyko, CEB
Spreading your legs to hip width in the beginning is another strategy that many find helpful. You can begin bringing them closer together as you progress closer to the actual fold. - Doga Variations: Side Angle Yoga Pose
by Carrie Boyko, CEB Are you tagging along on this Doga journey with us? Earlier we posted a series of short instructional doga videos, created especially for All Things Dog Blog Readers. Now we're circling back to share some variations on ways...
- #doga Fun With Warrior I And Ii
by Carrie Boyko, CEB Warrior I and II are great poses that work many muscles, while also challenging your balance. As you get comfortable with the balance, adding your toy-sized dog to your front leg increases the challenge, helping you get more out...
- Easing Your Downward Facing Dog
by Carrie Boyko, CEB Ya gotta love the name of this pose--Downward Facing Dog. For most of that love dogs, it often reminds us of the play bow our pups often offer us or a playmate when they wish to engage in a romp. Here's a little insight into...
- Side Angle Pose With Fetching Fido: Doga Pose Number 9
by Carrie Boyko, CEB BufferTanner Finally Joins In!Although I've continued to have him at the corner of my mat, my Golden boy, Tanner, has not played much of a part in my practice until recently. This pose is such a perfect one for him, giving him...
- Doga Pose 6: Forward Fold With Fido
by Carrie Boyko, CEB Doga Time with the DogsThis week's Doga pose is definitely not for everyone. It feels great when you begin to progress, but at first you may need to take it slowly, using a chair to ease yourself lower with each exhale. I've...