Melting Heart

Also called Puppy Pose and Half Dog Pose, Melting Heart is a nice pose to do after a series of lower back bends. It is also an excellent warm-up pose to get your body ready for deeper back bends.

Hold Time

3-5 minutes

Benefits

• Gentle cervical compression and thoracic back bend
• Shoulder opener

Entering and Exiting

Enter: From Tabletop (hands and knees), keep your hips above knees as you walk your hands forward. Allow your chest to drop toward the floor. Keep your hands shoulder-width apart.

Exit: Slide forward onto belly or sit back into Child's Pose.

Modifications

• Move arms further part in case of shoulder pain
• If comfortable, bring chin to floor and look ahead
• Place blanket under sensitive knees
• Tuck toes
• Relax chest over a bolster
• Rest head on one forearm as the other reaches forward; switch

Contraindications

• Can strain an injured neck
• Adjust your arms or discontinue if you feel tingling in your hands or fingers, as this is often a sign that a nerve is being compressed

Counter Poses

• Child's Pose
• Lay on your stomach