Cat Cow to the Rescue

Today I am not feeling well. My daughter came down with a cold last week and she kindly shared it with me. I don’t get sick that often but when I do I surrender. Yesterday I slept almost the entire day. Today my body aches, probably from the cold but also from lying in bed for so many hours.

The practice of yoga is not like other exercises. I could not even imagine going to the gym today to lift weights or even talking much of a walk. I can crawl onto the floor and do cat cow. Why would I do that?

The body needs gentle care, and movement, in every condition. I know I need rest so this cold will take its natural path but I also need to move a bit so the rest and time staying still does not have a negative impact.

Cat cow is my choice because I can stay low to the ground, and it moves my spine in a gentle ripple motion to keep it healthy.

So often when we get sick or injured we throw in the towel on all activity. But the body IS an amazing healing machine and supporting its ability to heal is a fine art. Cat cow is movement with full compassion. It is slow and gentle and feels so good.

Whether you are in tip top shape or struggling with something, I invite you to try cat cow this week. It is a fantastic post to do when you first wake up (you can even do it in your bed!) or at the end of the day. You don’t need a mat or any special equipment, just a soft blanket.

Enjoy!