Ever wonder what "Dog Days of Summer" means? According to this Almanac article:
The term “Dog Days” traditionally refers to a period of particularly hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months of July and August in the Northern Hemisphere.
In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when dogs and men alike would be driven mad by the extreme heat! . . .This period of sweltering weather coincides with the year’s heliacal (meaning “at sunrise”) rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Majoris—the “Greater Dog”—which is where Sirius gets its canine nickname. . .
It definitely is an intensely hot and sweaty time in south Florida, but I hope it's more manageable with air conditioning! I thought it was interesting that I felt inspired to make a video about Downward Facing Dog pose variations, then discovered that we are in that Dog Day period (7/3 - 8/11 this year).
Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) is a yoga pose where the body moves into an L or V shape position by bending at the hips. It is intended to lengthen the back part of the body, including the spine and the backs of legs and ankles. Depending on the variation you do, it can also strengthen the arms, shoulders, core, and legs.
The one tip I like to share the most about this pose: it's more important to lengthen the spine, than to get the legs straight. If your spine is rounding, bend your knees generously, then reach back / up with the hips for more length. Many of my students tells me that the pose really helps with back pain, when done properly.
If you want to practice yoga with me to learn different pose variations for your body, I provide many yoga options, including group classes or 1-on-1 sessions via Zoom or in-person, and video recordings.