Pose Breakdown: Camel Pose
Camel Pose (Ustrasana) is a powerful and energizing backbend that works your whole body and balances your chakras. It’s a great counterbalance to forward bends, although it’s best to not approach it exactly like a backbend — it’s more about stretching your hips forward, lifting up your heart, and your drawing shoulders back.
Learn how to do Camel Pose with this step-by-step tutorial from Alo Moves instructor Dylan Werner. This free beginner video tutorial will teach you the proper alignment and technique to help you safely move into Camel Pose.
Benefits of Camel Pose
Stretches your front body
Helps relieve neck and
back painStrengthens your back muscles
Improves posture and flexibility
Improves respiration and digestion
How to do Camel Pose
1.
Start in a kneeling position with your knees hip-distance apart. Sit back on your heels and squeeze your inner thighs together. For a beginner variation, you can start with your toes curled under.
2.
Bring your hands to your lower back. Lift your chest, move your hips forward over your knees, and tuck your tailbone. Press your thighs forward.
3.
Draw your shoulder blades back and bring your gaze slightly up.
4.
If you want more of a stretch, uncurl your toes and come down to the tops of your feet. For a more advanced variation, bring your hands down to your heels with your toes curled under.
Want to put Camel Pose into practice? We recommend trying it out in Dylan Werner’s Back and Shoulder Flexibility for Beginners class. Practice this class for free with a two-week trial to Alo Moves.