Cow Face Pose, demonstrated by Karen Watson Reeves, is beneficial when held for several breaths.
By Karen Watson Reeves
Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana, in Sanskrit) can be a challenging seated yoga posture. It focuses primarily on the two pairs of ball and socket joints in the body, the hips and shoulders. And it is no secret that many of us have tight hips (because of so much sitting) and shoulders (due to the amount of stress we carry there). A primary benefit of this posture is stretching in these two areas, including the piriformis, gluteals, quads, outer legs, triceps, and rotator cuffs.
This pose helps to correct posture, teaching us to sit up and elongate the spine, and demonstrates how different the two sides of the body are in most people. When the dominant elbow is lifted toward the sky, the hands are typically much closer to touching than on the non-dominant side. (Try it.) Because these poses are most beneficial when held for several breaths, even minutes, we learn perseverance to stay in tough situations.
Why is it called Cow Face Pose? The crossed knees create the cow’s mouth, and the arms create the cow’s ears. Seriously? Yeah, it’s a “stretch,” but that’s what “they” say.
Karen Watson Reeves has called Hot Springs home since 2006. She became a registered yoga teacher and a registered children’s yoga teacher in 2011. She has taught children and family yoga in many settings and would welcome an opportunity to help your family stay physically active during this time of quarantine. She owns The Yoga Place, is on the Hot Springs YMCA teaching staff, is an adjunct instructor at National Park College, and teaches in several other fabulous venues. www.TheYogaPlaceHS.com.
