Yoga Push Ups
A first principles approach to learning to lift your body
These yoga push ups are a multi-part exercises that I developed to teach my students the necessary body awareness for chaturanga dandasana. Turns out that it's a pretty good exercise in its own right.
This approach, of breaking an exercise down into component parts, can be thought of as a first principles approach. The key in this case is that each element is easy to isolate and in turn easy to feel.
I'll explain it the way that I normally teach it.
Yoga Push Ups Part 1, Arm Actions
The arm actions for the yoga push up are usually the first thing that I teach. While laying belly down, position your hands so that they are on the floor slightly ahead of your elbows. The first part of the exercise is to push your hands forwards, then down, then relax. Repeat. Because your hands can't move the action of pushing them forwards causes the elbows and shoulders to move back. If you push forwards enough with your hands you may also cause your body to move back.
And that's usually what I show my students if I can see they aren't getting the forward push.
"Push your body back" then relax.
Part 2, Keep Your Pelvis on the Floor
For the next part of this exercise do the same thing but after pressing your arms down, lift your ribs an inch off of the floor.
If you've read balance basics you know what I mean by making a part of your foundation "empty." In this case, push your hands forwards and down to the point that your connection with the floor via your ribs feels empty. Then it's a relativily simple matter to "peel" your ribs off of the floor with hardly any further arm movement.
After you lift your ribs, (but not your pelvis) slowly lower back down and then relax.
To develop your body awareness make that last part into two distinct steps. First touch your body down, then gradually relax.
Then repeat.
Yoga Push Ups Part Three, Knees and Pelvis
For part 3, you get to rest your arms.
Instead focus on your feet, knees and pelvis.
- With your arms back, beside your body, slowly lift your knees. (Press your feet down to do so.)
- Then lift your pelvis. (Press your feet down a little bit more.
- Then see if you can lift your belly. You'll have to press either your ribcage or your shoulders (or both) into the floor to do so.
Again, develop body awareness by lifting your knees first, then your pelvis, then your belly. And to make these actions even more mindful, try to slowly lift them.
Lower slowly also.
Yoga Push Ups, Part Four, Adding it all Together
A smoooth continuation from the previous exercise is to bend your elbows and place your hands just ahead of your elbows.
- First lift your knees.
- Then lift your pelvis and belly.
- Then press your hands forwards and
down.
- Then lift your ribcage.
- Slowly relax.
- Repeat.
Usually I teach a low lift, just lifting a few inches off of the floor into the yoga pose called chaturanga dandasana. However you could also lift all the way up until your elbow are straight.
Another option is to lift knees, pelvis and chest all at the same time, but smoothly and mindfully.
And lower together also.
Elbows
When your practice pushing your hands forwards you may notice that your elbows point back as you push forwards. Your shoulders may move back and up at the same time.
As you lift up try to keep the forward pressure in your arms so that your elbows continue to point back.
If you are lifting all the way into an elbows straight position, allow your arms to rotate naturally. You may find that your elbows want to point out. I'd suggest letting them do so.
Fingers
For extra fun and for improved "tension integration" press your fingers into the floor prior to lifting up. Maintain finger tension until you lower and relax.
Rest
Rest on your belly for a few breaths afterwards to enjoy the after effects of yoga push ups. You might choose to follow with other arm strengthening yoga poses or with a chest stretch like lapasana.
Learn how to push all the way up
For a step-by-step follow along video of all of the above, plus detailed exercises for better feeling and controlling your arms, check out the Arm strength for push ups course.
This course teaches you the basics of activating your arms for lifting up and lowering down while doing push ups. You'll also learn some basic tips for adjusting. And perhaps best of all, you'll learn how to use your body so that you can do push ups with minimal effort.
Note that push ups will still be challenging. However you'll learn how you can operate your body so that the effort you expend is minimized and directed. Find out more about Arm strength for push ups.
Published: 2012 02 10
Updated: 2021 01 24
