What muscles does boat pose work?
People tend to think of boat pose as acore exercise, Dr. Harding tells SELF.
But there are more muscles at work too.
Katie Thompson / Amanda K Bailey
What are the benefits of boat pose?
Boat pose can also help withback painif you have weak hip flexors.
And that can trigger the aches.
Katie Thompson
A few caveats to all this.
Similar to a back thats yanked into a rounded position, this can cause discomfort.
Beyond the back pain benefits, boat pose can hone your ability tobreathe properlywhile simultaneouslyengaging your core.
Katie Thompson
This is something a lot of people can struggle with, Dr. Harding says.
Lastly, boat pose can imbue you with a pretty awesome sense of accomplishment, Dr. Harding says.
Depending on how long youre staying there, it really is a challenge, she explains.
And powering through that difficulty can leave you feeling strong and capable.
What makes boat pose so hard?
Its not just youthis pose is a doozy for a lot of people.
The challenge of breathing while your abs are braced, Dr. Harding says.
Whenever were focused really hard on something, we have a tendency to hold our breath, she explains.
Also, when we hold our breath, our muscles dont have as much oxygen to actually work.
The good news: you’re free to ease up the difficulty of boat pose with several modifications.
With either of these tweaks, youre reducing the core challenge, which makes the posture less intense.
What are some form mistakes to keep in mind?
It can also occur if your abs arent strong enough to hold your legs out straight, she explains.
If that doesnt work?
Modify the posture by bending your knees to return the strain on your abs.
Another common mistake is not lifting your legs high enough.
In this scenario, your body would look more like an L-shape than a V-shape.
If this is you, modify by bending both your legs.
Then theres your breathtempting as it may be, donothold it.
So remind yourself to breathe.
If that doesnt work, think about relaxing your face and neck, as this can get oxygen flowing.
Still having trouble inhaling and exhaling?
Try one of the modifications mentioned above.
Who shouldnt do boat pose?
Awesome as it may be, boat pose isnt for everyone.
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