Sphinx Pose FAQs For Yoga Teachers
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What's the main benefit of the Sphinx pose?
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It's a gentle stretch for the chest, shoulders, and abdominals. It also helps to firm the buttocks, but I think the main benefit is that it helps keep your spine mobile and supple like a bendy Willow tree.
It also makes the ideal preparation pose for deeper backbends such as cobra pose, locust pose, and upward facing dog pose.
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How do I teach the Sanskrit of the pose to my students so that they remember it?
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Sphine pose in Sanskrit is "Salamba Bhujangasana" which is pronounced Sah-LOM-bah Boo-jahn-GAHS-un-nuh. It is derived from these four Sanskrit words:
"Sa" = with
"Alamba" = support
"Bhujanga" = cobra or serpent
"Asana" = pose
If the pose is the "peak pose" for your yoga lesson plan, simply ask your students to sing the name of the pose several times during the class (as a mantra). That will help them remember the Sanskrit name, and also has the added benefit of bringing smiles to your students (who love collective mantras).
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What are your top 7 teaching tips for Sphinx pose?
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Tip 1: Elbows Under
Position the elbows directly under the shoulders.
Tip 2: Elbows Forward
Bring the elbows further forward to ease up on the backbend.
Tip 3: Elbows Backwards
Point the elbows backwards rather than out to the sides.
Tip 4: Hands
Walk the hands closer to you while straightening the arms (provides a deeper backend).
Tip 5: Glue
Glue your hips to the floor.
Tip 6: Neck
Relax the neck.
Tip 7: Extend & Lift
Don't force yourself deeper into the pose. Go only as far as your body allows. During the pose silently say to yourself "Extend and lift", instead of "Bend."
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What modifications can I give for Sphinx pose?
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Modification I: Wall
Stand facing a wall then place forearms and palms against it.
Modification II: Plank
Plank To Sphinx (start in Plank pose and lower to Sphinx).
Modification III: Raised Leg
One leg raised.
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What are some good preparation poses for Sphinx pose?
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Sphinx pose is a gentle backbend, but below are a couple of even more gentle backends which act as perfect preparation poses for the Sphinx pose...
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https://georgewatts.org/lesson-planner/yoga_pilates_poses/crocodile-2/
https://georgewatts.org/lesson-planner/yoga_pilates_poses/crocodile-side-turn/
