Lie on your belly, legs side by side. Firm your tailbone toward your pubis and lengthen it toward your heels. Then, rotate your thighs inwardly by rolling your outer thighs toward the floor. This helps broaden and lengthen your lower back and sacrum (the downward-facing triangular bone at the back of your pelvis) to protect it in a back bend.
Reach actively through your toes to the wall behind you. As you move into the pose, be sure to continue lengthening your tail toward your heels to protect your lower back. Your buttocks should be firm but not clenched. While your legs are active, your tongue, eyes and brain should be quiet.
Now set your elbows under your shoulders and your forearms on the floor parallel to each other. Inhale and lift your upper torso and head away from the floor into a mild backbend.
The final step to building a solid foundation in Sphinx Pose is to bring awareness to your lower belly, the
area just above the pubic bone and below the navel. Lightly draw it away from the floor to create a dome
that rounds up toward your lower back. This is very subtle—no sucking in, hardening, or rigidity required.
This belly lift supports and distributes the curvature of your backbend more evenly along the length of the
spine, soothing your lower back and awakening your upper back.
Stay for five to 10 breaths, then exhale and slowly release your belly and lower your torso and head to
the floor. Turn your head to one side. Lie quietly for a while, broadening your back with each inhale, and
releasing any tension with each exhale. Repeat once or twice more if you like.
Beginner's Tip
Roll up a towel and arrange it in a U-shape on the floor. Lie with the bottom of the U just above your
pubic bone and the legs of the U under the sides of your belly to help support the belly lift.
Benefits
- Strengthens the spine
- Stretches chest and lungs, shoulders, and abdomen
- Firms the buttocks
- Stimulates abdominal organs
- Helps relieve stress