In Cobra Pose, what should you do with the tops of your feet?

In Cobra Pose, what should you do with the tops of your feet?

• A. Lift toes off mat
• B. Press the tops of your feet into the mat and engage your legs so your knees lift off your mat
• C. Point toes downward
• D. Relax feet on mat

Answer: (B)

In this pose, the leg and foot position is what keeps the backbend safe and stable. Pressing the tops of the feet into the mat activates the muscles along the front of the legs, which grounds the legs and prevents them from slipping or collapsing. When you engage the leg muscles, you create a subtle lift of the knees off the mat. That lift helps distribute the bend through the upper spine rather than piling it into the lower back, protecting the lumbar area while you lift the chest. If the tops of the feet aren’t pressed down, the legs can relax, ankles can sag, and the back may compress instead of lengthening. So, keep the tops of your feet pressing down and actively engage the legs to lift the knees off the mat for a safer, more supportive Cobra.

In this pose, the leg and foot position is what keeps the backbend safe and stable. Pressing the tops of the feet into the mat activates the muscles along the front of the legs, which grounds the legs and prevents them from slipping or collapsing. When you engage the leg muscles, you create a subtle lift of the knees off the mat. That lift helps distribute the bend through the upper spine rather than piling it into the lower back, protecting the lumbar area while you lift the chest. If the tops of the feet aren’t pressed down, the legs can relax, ankles can sag, and the back may compress instead of lengthening. So, keep the tops of your feet pressing down and actively engage the legs to lift the knees off the mat for a safer, more supportive Cobra.