The name Cow Face is a literal translation of the Sanskrit name Gomukhasana (“go” meaning “cow” and “mukha” meaning “face”.
How to come into the pose
Sit on your knees, with your hips resting on your heels.
Extend your right arm to the side, bend your elbow, and place your hand in between your shoulder blades, palm facing away.
Lift your left arm over your head and bend your elbow to place your left palm in between your shoulder blades (palm touching the back).
Clasp your hands behind your back, in between your shoulder blades.
Benefits
Regular practice in a steady and comfortable manner within a balanced yoga asana program
stimulates the Heart Chakra and therefore stimulates the heart, lungs, thymus, and lymph glands—therefore boosting the immune system;
encourages abdominal and diaphragmatic breathing;
stretches intercostal muscles and therefore increases lung capacity, which results in higher athletic performance and better coping with respiratory conditions such as asthma;
helps to straighten your spine and improve overall body posture;
improves the condition of Kyphosis (chronically hunched upper back or rounded shoulders); and
removes tension in your shoulders as well as in your upper and middle back.
