In Downward Facing Dog, which cue relates to the heels?

In Downward Facing Dog, which cue relates to the heels?

• A. Press firmly into your hands and draw your heels closer to the mat
• B. Lift your heels away from the mat
• C. Keep heels slightly off the mat
• D. Bend the knees deeply

Answer: (A)

In Downward Facing Dog, the cue about the heels centers on grounding and lengthening the back of the legs. Pressing firmly into the hands creates a stable base in the shoulders and torso, then drawing the heels toward the mat actively lengthens the calves and Achilles. This helps you maintain a long spine as the hips lift and the chest softens toward the thighs. Lifting the heels away from the mat reduces that posterior-chain stretch and can make the pose feel less grounded. Keeping heels off the mat or bending the knees deeply also shortens the stretch and shifts weight away from the hands. So, the cue to press into the hands and draw the heels toward the mat best supports stability and a meaningful stretch.

In Downward Facing Dog, the cue about the heels centers on grounding and lengthening the back of the legs. Pressing firmly into the hands creates a stable base in the shoulders and torso, then drawing the heels toward the mat actively lengthens the calves and Achilles. This helps you maintain a long spine as the hips lift and the chest softens toward the thighs. Lifting the heels away from the mat reduces that posterior-chain stretch and can make the pose feel less grounded. Keeping heels off the mat or bending the knees deeply also shortens the stretch and shifts weight away from the hands. So, the cue to press into the hands and draw the heels toward the mat best supports stability and a meaningful stretch.