An Easy Guide to Cow Face Pose
In Cow Face Pose, yogis twist and bend their legs to make the shape of the cow’s mouth, whilst their arms make the floppy cow ears. The name makes sense now, right? For that reason, this is an advanced yoga pose, built for flexible yogis, but it’s worth putting in the practice to master – you’ll feel stretched, rejuvenated and relaxed afterwards.
Ever played that game Twister? Train in Cow Face Pose and your rubber band legs and arms will win out every time. On top of that, this yoga pose will stretch out your shoulders, chest and back.
Watch a clip for this yoga pose
How to do Cow Face Pose, in easy steps
Step 1:
Sit on the floor with legs stretched in front of you.
Step 2:
Sit on a blanket for extra lift in the spine if required.
Step 3:
Bend the left knee and cross the left thigh over the right, wrap the heels toward opposite outer hips.
Step 4:
The knees are stacked in front of you, both point straight ahead.
Step 5:
Reach the right arm overhead, bend it and take the hand between the shoulder blades.
Step 6:
Lengthen the left arm to the left side and then sweep the hand behind the back and wriggle the left fingertips toward the right hand.
Step 7:
Clasp the hands if you can. If the hands don't reach, use a strap or your t-shirt.
Step 8:
Root evenly through both sit bones and lift out and up, lengthening the spine.
Step 5:
Try not to puff the chest out but do keep the heart lifting and the abdominals strong.
Step 6:
Stay for 5 to 10 breaths, keeping the head upright and looking forwards.
Step 7:
To come out of the pose, unclasp the hands and release the legs.
Step 8:
Change the cross of the legs and repeat on the other side.
Yoga pose category: Seated and twists
Level: 2
Many yogis will find that this yoga pose will be uncomfortable to sit in, due to the pressure on the sitting bones. Try sitting on a cushion, or a blanket, to soften the pressure. This will help you feel more comfortable and relaxed, so that you can better concentrate on bending and twisting in the right way.
Yoga pose health benefits:
Like all yoga poses, Cow Face Pose has many health benefits. Use it to help with the following health conditions:
Stress
Anxiety
Leg cramp
Breathing issues
Rounded shoulders
Yoga pose contraindications:
Don’t practice Cow Face Pose if you have any of the following health conditions:
Neck injury
Shoulder injury
Elbow injury
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Lucy Edge
is a yoga advocate and writer with three yoga books to her name, including the beloved travel memoir Yoga School Dropout. She writes regularly for the national press, has authored over 150 guides to types of yoga and yoga poses, discovered nearly 250 proven health benefits of yoga through her painstaking classification of 300 clinical studies, and collected more than 500 personal testimonials to the real life benefits of yoga. She is also the creator of our yoga shop – YogaClicks.Store – handpicking yoga brands that are beautifully made by yogis committed to environmental and social sustainability.
