Sphinx

Salamba Bhujangasana

Pose categories

Back bends

Primary body parts engaged

Lower Back, Middle Back / Lats, Shoulders, Spine

Secondary

Abs, Chest

Stretches back, opens chest

Stimulates abdominal organs, strengthens lungs

Relieves stress

How to perform sphinx

1. Lie on your stomach. Bring your feet hip distance wide, toes untucked. Align your elbows under your shoulders, forearms parallel and fingers spread wide.
2. Peel your head and chest from the floor with an inhale. Release your shoulders down your back and press your chest forward. Gaze forward.
3. Hold the pose and take slow, deep breaths.
4. Lower with an exhale.

Alignment cues

• Feet hip distance wide
• Draw shoulders down
• Press chest forward
• Forearms parallel

Avoid this pose if you have acute back injury.

Discover our best-selling Yoga Cards – professional study, class sequencing and practice guide for beginners and beyond.

Shop Yoga Cards

New to yoga? Our Yoga for Beginners pack covers everything you need to know to get started with your practice.

Check it out

Personal trainer? Try Train - our beautifully simple training platform you and your clients will love.

Discover Train

More yoga poses to discover

Tiger · Vyaghrasana

Bow · Dhanurasana

Extended Cobra · Saral Hasta Bhujangasana

Sphinx (Salamba Bhujangasana in Sanskrit) is a beginner yoga pose that belongs to the back bends categories. This asana targets lower back and middle back / lats and shoulders and spine and also involves abs and chest muscles. Sphinx stretches and strengthens legs, opens chest; rejuvenates abdominal organs and also reduces fatigue, increases energy. Refer to the illustration and instructions above for how to perform this posture correctly. Discover more yoga asanas and yogic breathing exercises in our free yoga pose directory.