Lay face down with your feet hip-distance apart and the tops of your feet on the mat. Upward facing dog is a prone backbend meaning that you begin by lying on your stomach feet hip-width apart. Downward Dog Pose Upward Dog Pose Flow Yoga Adho Mukha Svanasana Urdhva Mukha Svanasana Vinyasa Yoga Sequences Benefits Variations And Sanskrit Pronunci Backbend Yoga Poses Downward Dog Pose Yoga Backbend If your feet and ankles are stiff let your thighs come to the floor then turn your feet over one at a time. Upward Dog Variations . Upward-Facing Dog Urdhva Mukha Svanasana is a powerful pose that awakens upper-body strength and offers a wonderful stretch for the chest and abdomen. In this first variation instead of straightening the arms support yourself on your forearms with the tips of your elbows in line with your shoulders. Now untuck your toes and place the tops of your feet on the floor. Variations in the Upward-Facing Dog Pose Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana Variation A. Pose varia