Are You Practicing Chaturanga Correctly? These 5 Tips Will Keep you Safe

How many times have you heard your yoga instructor say, “Move through your flow,” or “Take a vinyasa,” or “Chaturanga, up dog, down dog”?

You know the basic movement, but Chaturanga is a foundational yoga pose that can certainly use some breaking down.

Chaturanga is often part of a “vinyasa” or “flow” that yogis do on the way back to Downward Dog. It can also make a cameo in advanced sun salutations. It is a transitional pose and one with the most common mistakes seen by teachers – often, students tend to skip the low pushup and move right through to Upward Facing Dog. But this pose is not an ordinary push-up . . .
 
Benefits of Chaturanga:

• Increases arm and wrist strength
• Tones the abdominal region
• Corrects the body’s overall posture
• Improves sense of balance

 
Remember! Chaturanga is not a push-up and requires different alignment and muscle group focus. It is so important to maintain proper alignment to avoid wrist pain and shoulder injuries.
 

Practice Chaturanga And Then Take Flight!

Arm balances are the playful side of our yoga practice! Learn a variety of the most common arm balances in this 8-video series from YA Classes. You’ll learn the proper warm-up, stretches and techniques to safely prepare for your arm balance practice. Not yet a YA Classes member? Try it out for free for 14 days.
 
 

Here Are 5 Tips + A Comprehensive Breakdown On How to Properly Practice Chaturanga:

1. Start from High Plank:

• Shoulders stacked above wrists
• Core is engaged
• Legs are straight and strong

2. Engage All Your Muscles:

• Draw your muscles into the midline of your body
• Keep your elbows hugged into your sides
• Shift forward onto your toes
• Pull your torso forward so your shoulders are now beyond your wrists

3. Slowly Lower:

• Keep hugging your elbows into your sidebody
• Lower down with control as slow as you can
• Stop when your shoulders are in line with your elbows

 
Looking for more yoga tutorials and yoga tips? Check out our full library of Yoga articles here
 

4. Pause and Hold:

• Once your shoulders are in line with your elbows, pause here and hold
• Fill into your low back by drawing your navel up and in towards your spine
• Engage your core to build strength and stamina
   

5. Options for After:

• You can lower all the way to your mat and rest
• Press back up into High Plank – this is a great core and upper body workout
• Sun Salutations: flow into Cobra or Upward Dog and then press back into Downward Dog

Chaturanga DO’s:

• 90 degree angle in the upper arms and forearms
• Elbows and forearms are perpendicular to the floor
• Tuck your tailbone to lengthen your low back
• Utilize the back muscles of your body (back torso, shoulder blades, triceps, hamstrings, and calves) with equal effort as the front
• Keep your elbows stacked directly above your wrists

Chaturanga DON’Ts:

• Do not try to use brute strength to muscle your way into the pose
• Do not let your shoulders drop below the height of your elbows
• Do not let your elbows splay out to the sides (remember: this is NOT a push-up!)

Practicing Chaturanga correctly requires an understanding of the proper alignment. Although the pose demands strength, you can’t simply conquer it through sheer force and muscular effort.
 
Let go of the desire for outcomes and focus on the present moment instead. The essence of Chaturanga is demonstrated in your ability to flow with all of life’s challenges, both on and off the mat. Once you are in the flow, you will find true power in the pose.
 
Questions or comments? Talk to us in the comments below! We love hearing from you! Ready to show off your Chaturanga? Instagram us @YouAligned and tag your photos #yogiapproved.
 
 

New to Yoga? Check Out Our 6-Class Series, Intro to Vinyasa Yoga

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