downward dog

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A yoga pose in which the body forms an inverted V, with hands and feet on the floor and hips lifted high.

   Grammar: Countable; use "a downward dog" or "the downward dog" when referring to a specific pose, and "downward dogs" for more than one.

   Patterns

   • in downward dog
   • into downward dog
   • do a downward dog

   She held downward dog for a full minute, breathing slowly.

   The teacher told us to move from plank into downward dog.

   My shoulders feel tight whenever I do downward dog.

2. 2nouncountable

   A yoga position used as a resting or transition pose between other poses.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with "take" or "return to" to describe moving into the pose.

   Patterns

   • take downward dog
   • return to downward dog
   • use downward dog as a rest

   After the backbend, take downward dog to rest.

   We returned to downward dog before the next sequence.

   Downward dog works well as a transition between standing poses.

Word forms

Common combinations

hold downward dog

Try to hold downward dog for five breaths.

step into downward dog

From standing, step into downward dog.

come into downward dog

Come into downward dog on your next exhale.

downward dog pose

The downward dog pose stretches the hamstrings.

Synonyms and how they differ

Downward-Facing Dog

The full, formal name of the same pose; use it in written instructions or when you want to be precise.

Commonly confused: downward dog or upward dog?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “downward dog”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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