Giving the dog a drink
We bend forwards as if we were giving a dog some water, to practise bending down and reaching our feet.
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If you feel pain, stop. If you have a recent injury or surgery, check with your doctor before you start.
The steps, in writing
Hands behind your back, step two feet apart.
Hands to your groin.
Let's give the dog a drink: one, two, three, four.
Gently lift your hands and place them on your tummy.
Bring your feet together, come up, and breathe.
Safety notes
- Keep a chair nearby in case you need support when bending.
- Don't force the bend: go only as far as you can without pain.
- If you feel dizzy when coming up, do it slowly and calmly.
What you need
Nothing special: comfortable clothes and a firm chair.
Every step counts
This movement has levels: seated, holding a chair, and standing. Start at yours and stay there as long as you like — level 1 is already a complete practice, not a token version.
- Level 1 · Seated— On a firm chair, feet flat on the floorOn a firm chair, feet flat on the floor
- Level 2 · Holding a chair— Standing, holding on to a firm chairStanding, holding on to a firm chair
- Level 3 · Standing— Standing, with support nearby just in caseStanding, with support nearby just in case← this video
This exercise copies a very everyday action: bending down to give the dog some water. We practise bending forwards gently and with control, so your body gets used to going down and coming back up safely.
What Frank says
Translated from Frank’s Spanish narration.
Exercise 5B, giving the dog a drink with the other hand. Hands behind your back, step two feet apart, hands to your groin. Let’s give the dog a drink. One, two, three, four. Gently lift your hands, place them on your tummy, bring your feet together, come up, and breathe.
Related videos
Exercise 4
Looking at the ground
Bending your knees while looking down to practise the movement of squatting with control.
Watch the video
Exercise 5
Giving the dog a drink
We bend down and come back up, mimicking the movement of giving a dog some water, to practise lowering and rising with control.
Watch the video
Exercise 6
Placing a baby in its cot
We pretend to pick a baby up from the floor and place it in its cot, bending and straightening the back slowly.
Watch the video
Want to go deeper?
The complete method is in My Yoga Process, Frank Calber’s book.