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.
