How to use your body to soothe your mind.

Calm Practice

Cat Cow

This beautiful movement deepens our connection to our body, syncing with our breath for emotional balance. 

Here’s how!

1. Come to an all fours or table-top position, with your hands and knees on the floor. Align your hands under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.
2. Inhale as you arch your spine, allowing your belly to dip towards the floor and your chest to open and your head to gaze towards the ceiling. This is the “cow” position.
3. Exhale as you scoop you belly button towards your spine and curve through your spine, tucking your chin towards your chest. This is the “cat” position.
4. Continue, syncing your movements with your slow and steady breath.

A variation to the Cat Cow practice is from a seated position with your hands on your knees. Gaze at the ceiling and arch your back as you inhale; round through your shoulders, chin to chest, belly to spin as you exhale.

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Cat Cow is part of my morning mobility practice each day. I often perform this movement throughout the day (before or after workouts and when I need a stretch break) and as part of my evening mobility practice. It is an effective movement to reconnect our mind and body, when we wake up in the morning or release stress and tension from the day.

Adrian’s 20-minute Morning Mobility class on the Peloton App begins with Cat Cow. You’re welcome to join me for a class one morning! Follow me at LuthiR!

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Ballagh, R. (2024). Cat Cow. 101 Ways to Find Calm: How to Use Your Body to Soothe Your Mind. P. 50-51.