Cat Pose

Cat Pose rounds the spine from a hands-and-knees table position. The back lifts toward the ceiling, the head and tailbone release toward the floor, and the belly draws gently in. It's named for the way a cat arches its back when it stretches. It's a gentle way to wake up the spine and the muscles of the back, and it's usually done on an exhale. Like many kneeling poses, it comes from modern yoga, not the older hatha texts.