In Upward Facing Dog, after opening the chest, what should you do with your arms?

In Upward Facing Dog, after opening the chest, what should you do with your arms?

• A. Bend your arms.
• B. Arms relaxed.
• C. Hands on hips.
• D. Straighten your arms.

Answer: (D)

The arms should stay straight to support a long, open chest and a safe, extended spine. In Upward Facing Dog, you actively press through the palms, rotate the shoulders outward, and lift the chest while the thighs hover off the floor. Keeping the arms straight helps you maintain that vertical line from wrists to shoulders, distribute effort evenly, and prevent the lower back from compressing or collapsing. Bending the arms, relaxing them, or placing hands on the hips would soften the line, reduce chest openness, and compromise alignment, making it harder to lift the chest and keep the spine long. Straight arms keep you in the proper shape of the pose and allow you to engage the back and shoulder muscles effectively.

The arms should stay straight to support a long, open chest and a safe, extended spine. In Upward Facing Dog, you actively press through the palms, rotate the shoulders outward, and lift the chest while the thighs hover off the floor. Keeping the arms straight helps you maintain that vertical line from wrists to shoulders, distribute effort evenly, and prevent the lower back from compressing or collapsing.

Bending the arms, relaxing them, or placing hands on the hips would soften the line, reduce chest openness, and compromise alignment, making it harder to lift the chest and keep the spine long. Straight arms keep you in the proper shape of the pose and allow you to engage the back and shoulder muscles effectively.