untitled

Basic cat .............................................................................................

Looking much like a yoga pose (see Chapter 16), basic cat lengthens and

stretches the muscles around your spine.

1. Start on all fours, hands directly below your shoulders, with a natural
   sway in your spine (see Figure 17-4a).


2. As you inhale, arch your back a little (see Figure 17-4b).


3. Exhale, pull your navel in, tucking your butt under and pushing the
   middle of your back up toward the ceiling, and then push your hands
   into your mat. Round out your back, dropping your head and making
   your back look like the letter c(see Figure 17-4c).


4. Return to Step 1 and repeat three more times.

Photograph by David Herman and Jordan Levy

a. b.

c.

Figure 17-4:

Basic cat.

264 Part V: Cardio-Strength Workouts: Getting the Best of Both Worlds